Ships make the world go round, and ships sometimes make us watch and invest in TV. Plus, we won’t deny ships often give us moments that we watch and re-watch and then re-watch about ten thousand more times, because …perfection.
That’s what this list is about. About capturing that moment. That feeling. That I cannot stop watching this I hope it never ends kinda vibe. These are the moments that made us feel. These are the ones we couldn’t stop watching. The moments that made our OTPS, well …our OTPS. And though narrowing down this list was an unfathomable task, we somehow did it.
Starting with…
Wayhaught Wedding, Wynonna Earp
Even now, these vows give us the feels. Seriously, it felt like a long time coming when we first watched it. And months later we’re still in awe that nothing went wrong during these vows. It was just them, Waverly and Nicole, with their families witnessing one of the happiest moments in their lives. This is a really important distinction for these too. Yes, this was beautiful and the LGBTQ community still needs all the representation, but this wasn’t the happiest moment. This was one of them. Because Wayhaught started a new adventure born out of the love they hold. And it’s evident in their vows.
“No Saint ever watched over me, not like you have” Kanej Scene, Shadow and Bone
This moment between Kaz and Inej doesn’t require them to touch for it to mean so much, not just within the context of the show, but as a ship moment outside of it. Affection, love, isn’t …shouldn’t be constrained by rules. Kaz and Inej don’t touch, can’t touch, but that doesn’t make what they feel for each other any less important. And that doesn’t make the moment of Kaz finding, if not the right words, at least some words to perhaps start to scrape the surface of what he feels, any less important.
For Inej, it’s not enough, but it’s more than what she had before. It’s confirmation that she matters. That she isn’t alone. That the part of her that thinks she’s just a thing to be discarded when she isn’t useful is a lie. Kaz cares, like she cares. And though this is just the beginning of their story, that matters. It matters a lot.
There will be more words. More moments. But in a season where their relationship played off more as subtext than anything, this is confirmation for the characters (and the viewers) that we’re all on the same page. And it is, indeed a romantic one.
TK & Carlos Have a Heart-to-Heart, 9-1-1: Lone Star
This scene goes from practical to emotional in the blink of an eye, and perhaps that’s what makes it feel so real. We don’t really need the words to know that TK and Carlos love each other, but the words are always good, and the words are true to the moment they’re living. If you think you might die the first thing on your mind is making sure the person you love knows you love them.
Carlos is panicking a bit, as expected, but TK isn’t, and he doesn’t even need Carlos to get out the words to understand him. They get rescued soon after, but that doesn’t make the moment, and the certainty, any less important or make us feel any less compromised as we rewatch this moment.
Kensi and Deeks Discuss Adoption, NCIS: Los Angeles
The storyline that has seen Kensi and Deeks struggle to get pregnant has been going for over a season. NCIS: Los Angeles is nothing if not good at giving the Densi storylines time to breathe. And as heartbreaking as it’s been seeing their struggle — struggles many couples go through — Densi has still provided a roadmap for how to handle external issues as an unit. Which, if we’re being fair, it’s how they’ve always handled everything, how the show has always allowed them to. Perhaps no better moment exemplifies this than their first conversation about adoption.
Deeks and Kensi have wanted a family for what feels like ages. And as the two discuss adoption and we see them not come to terms with it, but embrace the idea, we are reminded of why these two click, why they work so perfectly. They don’t just love each other, they fit together, and one of the main reasons why is that they always, always communicate.
Sharpwin Shower Scene, New Amsterdam
Sharpwin had a lot of ship moments that could, perhaps should have made our list this year. They got together! They confessed their love! They moved to London together. Plus, there was beautiful domesticity, and them being a team. It’s been an embarrassment of riches for Sharpwin fans, and absolutely no one is complaining — well, maybe some people think this isn’t “that kind of a show,” but we don’t pay attention to them. And yet as gut-wrenching as it was to pick just one moment, it was also impossible to pick a different one than this …the one that sort of started it all, the one that proved that we weren’t seeing things. A moment of pure feeling and intimacy the likes of which TV has rarely seen.
There were no words said, but none are needed. Freema and Ryan gave us everything we wanted ….and probably more than we expected with the way they looked at each other, the way the clung to each other and yes, the way Max and Helen always just sort of …get lost in one another every time they are together. We’ve seen it before, this seen just …made it clear. Took away the distractions.
You want to know what true love looks like? Look no further than this scene.
“Wherever you are, that’s where I’m gonna be” Grace/Judd Scene, 9-1-1: Lone Star
Grace and Judd are one of those couples that make your heart grow three sizes, and one of the biggest reasons 9-1-1: Lone Star is one of our favorite shows. This might seem like a small scene, in the grand scheme of things, just reaffirmation that they are steady, they love each other — but then they get baby news, and just …everything about the joy from seeing each other again, safe, the way they drink each other in and the love that’s absolutely obvious in every second just makes us swoon.
No, but seriously, get yourself someone who looks at you like these two look at each other. And then follow that up with a relationship based on mutual respect, like the one Grace and Judd have.
Stellaride Gets Engaged, Chicago Fire
Stella Kidd and Kelly Severide are meant for each other, plan and simple. They complement each other, they make each other better and yes, they are the only couple we could truly believe would get engaged this way, in the middle of a raging fire. No one else would have us thinking aww, that’s so romantic and so them! And yet here we are, and it is 100% them.
We’re going to ignore the mess Chicago Fire has made of their storyline in the first half of season 10, because this is just about celebrating the good. And one thing we believe in is Stellaride supremacy. Whatever happens, no matter the obstacles, these two are the definition of soulmates, and we have to believe that means they’ll find their way back to each other –even if they have to suffer through some bad writing to get there.
Brettsey Confesses their Love, Chicago Fire
Their feelings were pretty obvious to us by the time Brettsey finally confessed it, but that doesn’t make the actual confession any less emotional. Because Sylvie and Matt deserved this. They deserved this chance to be together, to have the feelings out in the open. They deserved that moment of peace that can only be found in the arms of the person you love.
And yes, it got both easier and harder after that. Easier because now there were no more secrets, and harder because they’re now doing long distance. But that doesn’t take away from tis moment, from what we had or from their love for each other.
“I choose you because …I love you” Deckerstar Scene, Lucifer
Lucifer had already chosen Chloe, time and time again, even if he never knew what that meant, could never put into words why. Chloe, however, understood, even if he’d never found the right words. And yet, in this moment, as Lucifer proves that he doesn’t only love Chloe more than he loves himself — something that was pretty obvious — he loves her more than he loves anything or anyone, it all comes full circle.
He’s choosing her, and she’s choosing him and though it seems like there’s a sacrifice involved, in the end, Lucifer choosing not just to put someone else above himself, but to do so knowingly meant that he didn’t actually lose her. Because their love is the kind that stays. The kind that transcends.
Mazeve Wedding, Lucifer
Maze and Eve had a bumpy journey, one that required them to be apart before they could finally be together. One that meant understanding what it was about their individual journeys that meant they worked better as a couple. And each of them had their doubts, but in the end, they didn’t matter. Nothing did but each other. So they married in a ceremony that was absolutely theirs in a way nothing else could be.
Their differences didn’t break them apart. Instead, the thins they disagreed on became opportunities to compromise, and Maze and Eve found themselves stronger for the fact that they weren’t that similar. They learned from each other, they loved each other and they said yes completely sure that life could continue to allow them to do just that.
Roy and Keeley Navigate Needing Time Apart, Ted Lasso
Ted Lasso got Roy and Keeley together in season 1, which in TV means season 2 was going to be a complicated season. And though these two did have their ups and downs, one thing the show did extremely well was allow them to navigate those together. One primer example was how the two navigated something that is super common in couples: need for space. Sure, at first Keeley didn’t know how to express it, even felt bad for needing it. And sure, at first Roy didn’t get it.
But it wasn’t a big drama, just a learning opportunity. And the two did just that, took the moment to learn how to be better, for each other.
“Let’s Go Home” Burzek Scene, Chicago P.D.
Adam and Kim aren’t even together right now (though, honestly, at this point …we’re not exactly sure why), but their family dynamics are one of our favorite things going on in the show right now. And though this scene doesn’t have to be interpreted in a romantic light, what it means is pretty dang big. Because what Kim is saying is …I got you. Your family’s got you. Come home to us.
There’s no hesitation on Adam’s part. No fight. He’s the man who wants to come home to Kim, to Makayla. He’s the man who has been coming home to them. And if that’s not love, then we’re not sure what to call it.
Dansen Wedding, Supergirl
2021 was the year that kept giving when it comes to Dansen. And that was especially true for the last couple of episodes of Supergirl. The show didn’t shy away from their relationship. Nor did they hide who these women were, how much they love each other, or the life they want to build together with their child. Their vows were a culmination of all of that love and devotion to each other while acknowledging the way that they have changed for the better because of each other and for each other. That’s love. That’s endgame.
Max and Zoey Sing Time After Time, Zoey’s Extraordinary Christmas
We’ve love to show you the scene, but you should absolutely go watch Zoey’s Extraordinary Christmas on the Roku Channel if you haven’t (it’s free!!) and then watch it again and again so we can get more of these two. Particularly as they serenade each other with “Time After Time,” a song that is not just about who they were before, but who they’ve become, together.
Zoey’s Extraordinary Christmas wasn’t exactly smooth sailing for Max and Zoey, it was even better. It was the two of them struggling at times, not seeing eye to eye and learning to appreciate each other more, to understand each other more. The most important thing? This is just the beginning of their story.
Upstead Gets Married, Chicago P.D.
It might seem rushed, but it’s actually very much in character. For the entirety of season 9 Jay was terrified that the woman he loved would be taken from him, that he would lose her before they had a chance to really start their life together, and once the ghost of that possibility was gone, all Jay wanted to do was the same thing Hailey tried to do during the season 8 finale: grab on with both hands and never, ever let go. And so they went and got married. Just like that.
They didn’t need anyone else. They didn’t want anyone else. There will be time to celebrate with the world, but for Hailey and Jay that moment was about the two of them choosing each other, for better or worse. They already had, of course, but there’s nothing wrong with making it official.
“Hey, my friend Olivia,” Law & Order: Organized Crime
Benson and Stabler. Liv and El. Elliot and Olivia. Bensler. EO…It doesn’t matter what you call them, they are 23 years in the making and finally moving forward. A lot can be said about Elliot Stabler asking the Olivia Benson over for Christmas, but what we never thought we would say is how shy and vulnerable he was when he finally asked for Liv to be there for him, without a crisis in the way. There’s a reason some of us have watched this final EO moment of 2021 over and over again, dissecting every boyish grin from Elliot and every moment of being overcome from Olivia…And that reason is: This is everything.
The emphasis on this relationship being a friendship “for now” is a clear indication we’re finally getting where, let’s be real, we’ve been headed since 1999. And the pure joy, the way El just lit up when the one true love of his life so much as accepted his friendship, was the perfect ship moment for EO. (And yeah, we’re probably gonna die when they name this thing between them what it actually is.)
This moment had so much hope, and light, and just…adorable grownups, acting like they’re pre-teens with their first crush. It’s them, being reborn and coming out of a very long and difficult darkness. Which. Sure. We probably still have some rough patches ahead, but for now? This is a man, asking the woman he loves for something outside of their original boundaries of “partners,” without being drugged, without being in the middle of a traumatic event… just… because. Because he wants her by his side, for better or worse. He wants to be part of her life, to find balance in this thing that’s always been bigger than both of them. And Liv? She might just be daring to hope again, too.
Lucy and Tim Are Each Other’s Rock, The Rookie
Lucy Chen and Tim Bradford have been there for each other from the beginning. And in The Rookie midseason finale, they once again proved that they will be each other’s rock, no matter what. Sometimes, that means speaking common sense when the other person doesn’t want to hear it. Sometimes that means providing physical comfort. But it always, always means being there. No questions asked.
Because that’s the kind of relationship they have. The one that, at this point, requires no questions, no caveats. Yes, they will support each other first and think second. How could it be otherwise?
Agree? Disagree? What other moments make the list of your favorite ship moments of the year? Share with us in the comments below!
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Wonderful list! From Shadow & Bone, Chicago Fire, NCIS LA (Densi shows all the others the way), Lone Star, Zoey’s, New Amsterdam, and Lucifer they all produced something special! They all tackle love from different directions (love is love, and comes in many beautiful and varied ways) and many were refreshing to see. New Amsterdam & Lucifer in particular showed couples committed to one another that they were willing to sacrifice everything to be together. However for me it was Chicago PD and specifically, The Halstead’s that was four long, arduous years in the making. I feel connect to Jays character in particular because of his background and that he is a romantic at heart (his journey has always been to protect others & to find love). As Voight says about Jay “… wired through the heart.” The chemistry was one sided at first (because guys are clueless), but eventually it was electric and lit up the screen. Their devotion for one another was evident for years now and once Hailey learned the Jay wasn’t going to hurt or abandon her she was all in. You could almost see the weight lift from Hailey’s shoulders once she understood how Jay felt. The wedding/consummation scene was brilliantly executed and so well acted that let’s just say many believed it to be more than acting. It was also the best example of the act of physical love I have ever seen on network TV. Congratulations to all the shows for doing a wonderful job exemplifying love in many forms. AND LONG LIVE THE HALSTEADS!!!