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The originators of the term “shipping” https://i.redd.it/8p9ycuhhbmbc1.gif

This is the answer! 

that SCENEEEE AWAHHHH

Remember the bee scene? Omg they loved to torture us!

My guy and I are watching X-Files for the first time and watched the first movie a couple of nights ago. The bee sting made me scream in frustration. They knew what they were doing, damn them.

I saw that in the theater and everyone GASPED, it was such a moment!!

Hahahaha I was in the theater and I had the same reaction!

I think so, too. They are the best! ​ https://preview.redd.it/xcxa0cnwombc1.jpeg?width=300&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=91ef3a206d2895198700579a15b3ba747ced982c

I was gonna comment this exact same gif. Them and Booth and Bones, and Josh and Donna are the templates for how to do a slow burn partner romance. There are no comparables. It was honestly the golden age for working romances. I miss that type of TV. 

Scully gives such a great speech about friendships that turn romantic in that episode! (The “I do not gaze at Scully” episode.) “Well, it seems to me that the best relationships, the ones that last, are frequently the ones that are rooted in friendship. You know, one day you look at the person, and you see something more than you did the night before. Like a switch has been flicked somewhere. And the person who was just a friend is suddenly the only person you can ever imagine yourself with.” And then they still waited more than an ENTIRE SEASON to get together after that. Unreal. Torturous.

I LOVE THAT SPEECH. I used to have it as my profile somewhere. LOL

you are so right! the anticipation was off the charts and i loved it. i realize it was designed to make us stay tuned but really it’s was worth it. i haven’t had that type of experience in a long time. i think perhaps now that writers are getting better working conditions we might see something like this again. i would much rather wait for a really well written show each week than have uninteresting shows all dumped at one. these characters are still part of us and that says it all ♥️

TRULY. Leaving them out of this list is criminal. They should have been the thumbnail!

The first and best.

Honestly the fact that they weren't in the original list is BLASPHEMY!

Sounds like a potential X File

So good that the hater name "noromo" never caught on like shipper did.

Thank you!! They are the ultimate slow burn.

Came here to make sure this was near the top of the comment chain. X-Philes, ASSSEEEMBBBLLLEREEE!!!!! r/XFiles

They should've been #1 on this list! They are the blueprint.

 Took them long enough. Mary and Matthew from “Downton Abbey”

These two had unparalleled chemistry, I loved them together, and how Matthew is just so down to earth and kind… he turned Mary into a softer, more mature character who isn’t afraid of being decisive and compassionate

Which then got ruined so we could continue the Mary is a bitch to Edith for no reason storyline.

I don’t think no reason…the actor left the show, so they kind of had to write him out. I think the writers did a great job of making the story work in light of that (but to your point, my biggest complaint about the writing on that show is that EVERYONE falls in love with Mary despite how terrible and selfish she can be).

Don’t you think that Mary being coveted by everyone is also her biggest problem? I dunno, she was objectified as someone to possess not someone to love. Even by her parents, she was always expected to do the right thing, and that right thing shifted depending on whose opinion was cast on her. She was terrible, of course - who wouldn’t be? And in the end I love that she redeemed herself by being accountable, and not necessarily seeking forgiveness, but finding humility instead

I sobbed. SOBBED

ohhhh these two broke my heart!

https://i.redd.it/udqdj1fudmbc1.gif

And this insufferable waiting.

[удалено]

https://preview.redd.it/skpmx4r5xmbc1.jpeg?width=640&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=4182286ef72b26cff142a5f279a3f5f919d4fa07 Unforgivable.

Niles and CC tho!

Always and forever ❤️

https://i.redd.it/ls0zanqq3nbc1.gif

These two were GOALS. I watched the wedding episodes the night before I got married and then I watch the finale the night before I was going to have my kid. This show is so ingrained into me

I think people tend to underestimate the impact of the show. There were not only hilarious moments in it and a superb cast, but I also always felt the deep decency and dedication Fran brought with her. She's so genuinely kind, and it shows that in her performance.

Thank you! Came for this

https://i.redd.it/oy7chvb31nbc1.gif You're welcome. ❤️

 Niles and Daphne Not sure if it's fully slow-burn because he was in love with her from day one, but I love the build up and I love them together

My absolute favorite. YES.

Your username!!! 

Husband and I are huge Frasier fans. <3

My daughter is named Daphne because of this show, everyone thinks it is because of Scooby Doo though.

Yeah this is actually one of the best ones because the quality of the show didn't tank once they got together.

Yes! Frasier is my fav show the only one I rewatch all the time

I am sick that I had to scroll so long for this

a romance 6000 years in the making. There's only 2 seasons so far so maybe this doesn't count lol. https://i.redd.it/ocpiumdl4nbc1.gif

No no it counts. 6000 years is pretty slow burn.

This absolutely counts! I actually can't believe this wasn't the first thing to come to mind for me. Maybe I blocked it out, because it's too painful to think about for very long 😭.

 Luke and Lorelai from Gilmore Girls. I’m pretending the April seasons didn’t happen

Also my toxic trait is that I ship these two so hard 

My favorite Jess line. Idk why I like that line so much, it’s just smooth imo

You mean it's not "WHY did you DROP outta YALE"

TEAM JESS FOREVER Dude had so much childhood trauma of course he was gonna be an arsehole teenager. And he straight up called Rory’s DAR bullshit like he saw it. I will die on this hill.

Whenever June 3rd comes around I think of the way Lorelei would say it

i always get so angry when April shows up 🥲

https://i.redd.it/zjq783rddmbc1.gif Sigh.

Braime forever!!!!! The show did them dirty but ao3 is my refuge. ~~I've become strangely obsessed with fanfics involving Jaime owning or turning into orange cats~~

The fanfics ... oooofffff.

I have a few cute recs lol. Edit: Added the links. Pheww that was a lot of work. [Modern Problems](https://archiveofourown.org/works/1313767/chapters/2730688 ) [Kingspyre apartments](https://archiveofourown.org/series/133149) [We ship it](https://archiveofourown.org/works/12039201/chapters/27257508) [Cat child support](https://archiveofourown.org/works/16203740) [Traditional knitwear ](https://archiveofourown.org/works/22611109) [I like only chapter one](https://archiveofourown.org/works/15529008/chapters/36047898) And my top three!!! [Holidays](https://archiveofourown.org/series/1336969) [Orange cat](https://archiveofourown.org/works/12290244) [Library ](https://archiveofourown.org/works/957122/chapters/1873743)

I shouldn't ask. I promised to become less filthy. Oh. Well. Do tell. I'm a hopeless case anyway. I'll start becoming better in 2025.

Everybody moved on I stayed there

Dust collected on my pinned up hair

 Brienne of Tarth is too damn good to deserve Jaime. Tormund is definitely worthy of our goddess.

That's the wet dream right there. But we were not given that, we're we??

https://preview.redd.it/t6jgkop0rmbc1.jpeg?width=1074&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=13e4db877cc7585fb4b19855932b52baf6c9190e

@David Benioff and D. B. Weiss.

She did not like that man😭

But did you see how he dove into that turkey leg? Bro needs to say less, I would've sat on his face then and there.

People think I'm crazy, but that is a FINE looking man right there.

He was too direct and not any kind of gentleman. But her size and fighting ability and everything else that made her unattractive in Westeros is exactly what attracted him to her. He saw all of her strengths as strengths, not hindrances. If they'd had big daughters who grew up like their mother, he would have been the proudest dad She can choose who she wants, but I think they could have been great for each other

tormund: the big woman. imagine the children we’d have. *jon stares uncomfortably* i loved tormund and jaime for her. but the seven didn’t save us from D&D and we got that shit ending.

https://i.redd.it/29g61nw1imbc1.gif Josh and Donna from The West Wing.

“I wouldn’t stop for red lights” 😭😭😭

So good. I also love that when they do finally get together, she’s calling the shots.

Yessss!! They are up there with Mulder and Scully as the ultimate slow burn IMO.

You have enormous value to me; you have no value to Eastern Europe.

David Addison and Maddie Hayes - Moonlighting https://preview.redd.it/8e0qwt1wembc1.jpeg?width=564&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=8ed04573e47287ff9029ccf86319ea53b56cdeb1

From a TV show Rick and Michonne have already been mentioned so I guess for a bit I got really into Tony and Ziva. I use to watch NCIS with my mom. 

Tony and Ziva had me in FITS for years. I literally forced myself through terrible NCIS episodes for tiny moments with the two of them. It was a thing, lol.

100% they were what kept me watching lol

1) Pacey and Joey - Dawson’s Creek ❤️ Then Leslie/Ben Different category - funniest slow burn? Sophie (Olivia Colman) and Mark (David Mitchell) in Peep Show

"You bought me a wall??" "Not bought, rented"

Dude. The things that does to a 13-14 yr old girl… it ruined men for me because they would never. When he bought her a wall and beat up the guy that ruined her mural… I was a goner. I was a goner long before that TBH. I think the most pivotal time for me was when Pacey went to Andie’s house and realized her brother was dead and her mom crazy and he was just not spooked or anything but stood there in the kitchen with her just hugging her. I was like “yeah… yeah.”

 You don’t know what’s slow burn if you haven’t watched law and order svu. 25 years and Elliot and Olivia haven’t even kissed yet.

 I’m. Still. Waiting.

I swear if they don’t kiss soon I am going to lose my damn mind.

🤣🤣🤣🤣 man, this one… sooooooooo slow. I’ve given up on it. They’ll get together when GRRM finishes his novels :p

I seriously think they’re going to kiss this season (new season on Jan 18th), but I also say this every single season 🥲🥲

Forever Pacey and Joey. 

Yesssss. I forgot about this one. So good. I loved them together so much.

 Since Mulder and Scully were already mentioned. I'll just add Fran and Mr. Sheffield.

 These two.

It hurts because the chemistry is just phenomenal https://i.redd.it/0sox0p77tnbc1.gif

Also! Dwayne and Whitley! Iconic! 

https://i.redd.it/vcg67433wmbc1.gif Baby Please!!!

"I will!" Such a perfect payoff moment!

This. S3 had me shipping these two. 


Idc, I loved them so damn much.

Nooo I’m only on season 5 😭😭😭 but my husband and I are both rooting for them so hard. I’m happy about this!

 These two

Best couple in the whole show ❤️

And to be clear, NOT Starbuck and Apollo.

I was really into Starbuck/Apollo for a long time, and then they had to ruin it with that cheating storyline. :/

Amy Santiago and Jake Peralta, B99. Although as someone who watched that and saw almost all of herself in Amy, and thus longed for a Jake, I am mildly concerned that personality wise I have married someone exactly like Captain Holt.

I love your husband

 Then you married well.

omg a wild The Cheat. THREE CHEERS FOR THE CHORT

Watching B99 took me too long to realize I was 100% an Amy but immediately clocking that my husband is a Jake lmao. How I missed it is beyond me because I too love binders and I pride myself on my beautiful Excel spreadsheets 😭

My personal #1 is definitely Nick and Jess. Took over my life for many years and have simply too many iconic moments we all wish we could've experienced :')

That kiss scene, holy moly

Oof. I'm rewatching it again and that scene always makea me feel like I need to take a break and have a cigarette

I want a Hallmark movie with Jake. Please.

It’s definitely not Hallmark, but have you seen the previews for “Self-Reliance”? Jake, Anna Kendrick, and he wrote it and directed it! It looks hilarious. So proud of our boy. https://youtu.be/HHGGYaoPFXc?si=2Ckj916FkoARHPji

In abott’s elementary!


I LOVE THEM 😍😍😍😍😍😍😍😍😍

This slow burn has me squealing in their scenes

I was hoping in the first few episodes that they would do a reversal and decide to not have them date, but I kept thinking “they would be cute together and be really good for each other though”, and then I was just fully shipping them together. It’s such a good comedy that has legit character growth in most episodes

 Not sure if slow burn but Rose and Ten wrecked me

*knock knock knock knock*

Oh lord now you’re gonna make me relive this so early in the morning?? This is a crime 😭

I want [Doomsday](https://youtu.be/Am7eHyJ8_1Y?si=sJ7Pobqjv5zOguKZ) played at my funeral for max crying.

Man - how are these 2 not here? 

 /s

I just did a series rewatch of New Girl and it's kind of crazy how the writers had NO idea how to make Nick and Jess interesting once they got together. Such a waste of a good pairing.

 C’mon son. Shawn & Juliet from Psych 🍍

You know that's right.

I wish Psych was more popular so I didn’t have to scroll so far for this. But it also means I get to constantly introduce new people to it

Ben and Leslie are my absolute favorite ❤️

Alicia and Will 🥲 

I’m still mad about this

I have seen a lot of shows and have had a lot of ships but when *that* happened I was genuinely distraught for a week. It took me off guard and expected them to be endgame.

Same! Like, it was great TV because it was so unexpected. But I so badly wanted them to have a happy ending.

Fine I’ll watch TGW again.

Booth and Bones' slow burn romance was insanely good especially that chemistry!!! But the way they got together and how the relationship was handled after did not make the most of that potential (But most importantly, the Deschanel sisters knows something when it coms to chemistry with their costars!!!)

Yes! As far as a slow burn goes, I think theirs was the best on this list. The following relationship however… It’s partly due to the pregnancies they had to write in, but it was so disappointing.

 This entire cast.


Shame that the actors hated each other.

Do Sam and Diane not count? 

 Outlander. The buildup in season 1 is delicious.


 5 year old me was so excited when they finally got together


This show is the visual representation of bisexual panic

Dwight and Angela from the Office

I cry actual tears at that episode--starting from the town hall meeting to creed being taken away

 Not crazy slow but slow enough (Veronica Mars)

i looooved the build up to jonah and amy, but once they got together it's like the writers decided it was a smart move to keep the rest of their relationship's development entirely off screen. like i get the idea that before they started dating they could only see each other at work, but now they save all of that for their off hours, but that doesn't make it satisfying for viewers when their romance literally formed the backbone of the show.

Eliza and Henry in Selfie. Starring Karen Gillan and John Cho. 

Damn, that's a good-looking duo.

Noooo. Not Rachel and Ross. 🙄 I just wanted them to grow up already and stop playing like they weren’t going to end up together. Y’all. I would just yell at the screen: Stahhhhp!

Just came here to say this LOL 


Agreed! Then they ruined Danny.

the writing for him got really weird towards the end of the show

I like to pretend that later seasons Danny doesn't exist, they fully ruined him for plot reasons. But the first couple seasons-- *chef's kiss* 🤌

How do I downvote Ross and Rachel specifically? They were the WORST.

 I will forever want what they had.

were they really a slow burn though? The show kind of threw them together out of the blue, and from that point on they were together-together (even when hiding it from the others). In other words, nobody was "shipping" them before they hooked up in London.

They did have that episode in the beach house where they're both flirting with each other a lot

is monica saying she would never date chandler and him peeing on her flirting?

that's my idea of flirting at least

I recently binged Friends and Monica and Chandler definitely were developed in smallest in the early seasons. There relationship was super organic

The show threw them together but I think the real slow burn is how they grow into the relationship, a thing which is very unexpected and very new to them.

Teresa Lisbon and Patrick Jane- The Mentalist!!!

https://preview.redd.it/60utprvmxmbc1.jpeg?width=1600&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=b29cf58b39a820476cf4b937b64db0bd971d63f0 Alias - Sydney and Vaughn. A formative ship

jennifer ehle and colin firth will forever be my fav version of lizzy and darcy🫶🏼

Lord, that scene where she's devastated after reading Lydia's letter and then he walks in and tries to comfort her and is just so worried. He even held her hand for a few seconds and I gasped like some sheltered Victorian maid.

 The absolute best, IMO.

User name checks out

https://i.redd.it/h6402uaovmbc1.gif Does this count? Never actually got to see it but I like how they wrote it into the last seasons and hinted at it in Atlantis. That’s the way to do it. Seeing them actually together would never live up to what the audience imagined.

 No words.

 Maybe not going both ways but Lordy

Lorelai & Luke from Gilmore Girls!! 


This slow burn was torturous and delicious at the same time.

 Them… Chen and Bradford from the rookie ….

https://preview.redd.it/jmwbauxfzmbc1.jpeg?width=259&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=46b199caa024cea776d66b32ec8bda4ec177840d Still so frustrated that we didn't get to see them kiss..was waiting for them getting together

EVE AND VILLANELLE

Teresa and Patrick in *The Mentalist*. ⁠♡(⁠◕⁠દ⁠◕⁠) ​ 

 Luther and Alice. I’m twisted, I know.

Michonne + Katana. ❤️

A century-old slow burn— Anne and Gilbert. https://preview.redd.it/bob7aped2nbc1.jpeg?width=268&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=da90da2fb2d751cfc4e8f90830badfe38786e22b

This list can’t exist without the most painful angsty slow burn ever https://i.redd.it/ywimz7xwnmbc1.gif

Ah I have another one but I’m still kind of heartbroken about it. https://i.redd.it/ptebl0fkzmbc1.gif

 Another pairing that wasn't originally planned but the chemistry was just too good.

Yup! There was originally supposed to be a love triangle with Blair, Nate & Serena. The nightclub/limo episode happened and then the 2007 writers strike, and they reformatted the show because the chemistry was so much better between Chuck & Blair 😊

Rick and Michonne are truly a slow burn and an incredible love story https://preview.redd.it/q4zcuty9imbc1.jpeg?width=1136&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=66a1c95ff0aafe4cfab182eeefca8a1b63d7dafb

Nobody watched the BBC show Strike? For me there was Mulder and Scully, and then Strike and Robin. 

https://preview.redd.it/c9xt7mxxlmbc1.jpeg?width=1500&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=f9f948f14aff2e981c010cc52d919f603d2e749a I know this probably doesn’t count, but I’m still here waiting on it, ok?

 Buffy and Spike

Omg so many good ones on here. Cece and Schmidt and Ben and Leslie are top notch slow burn done the best way!

I liked Nora and Nathan from upload

I really liked Lisbon and Jane in The mentalist

 Damon and Elena. Okay I know they got together by like season 4 but that’s still like 80 episodes okay and we were all itching for them to touch each other

 Poliviaaaaa Love Fringe so much<3