The TV Chick

In the spirit of Valentine’s Day, The TV Chick has sought the writing skills of one very equally dedicated TV viewer, Christine Szudzik, to talk about her most memorable romantic TV moments! There’s so many good ones from Jim and Pam, to Pacey and Joey! Enjoy!!

‘Tis the season for love and romance! And whether your Valentine’s Day plans consist of roses and a romantic dinner or a night on the couch demolishing an extra-large bag of Sabor de Soledad cheese puffs, Liz Lemon-style, V-day is the perfect time of year to look back at some of televisions’ most squee-worthy romantic moments. Here are a few of this TV fan’s all-time favorites.

The Office – It’s a Date

Jim and Pam’s will-they-or-won’t-they office romance kept viewers on the edge of their sofas for three seasons on The Office. And it’s easy to see why the couple has struck such a chord. Who can’t relate to crushing on someone who’s unavailable? Or to having a friend you wish was so much more than that? After Jim’s heartbreaking confession of love at the end of season two, Pam called off her wedding to her loser fiancee Roy, but couldn’t quite muster up the courage to go after Jim, who had found a new girlfriend in the ambitious Karen. Over the course of season three, Pam slowly but surely built more confidence. After doing the coal walk at the office beach day, Pam finally admitted to Jim that she wished they were together. To the chagrin of many viewers, Jim told Pam he wasn’t ready to date her, and went to New York to interview for a job at corporate with Karen. But during the interview, when asked where he saw himself in 10 years, all Jim could think about was Pam. (Say it with me, awww.) He raced back to Scranton and asked Pam out for dinner, who said yes with no hesitation. It was a simple moment that at one point seemed impossible. Some Office viewers find Jim and Pam boring now that they’re happily married parents, and sure, I can agree with that sentiment. But for these characters, who had to go through so much to get there, I’m incredibly happy they got to have a happy ending, and that we viewers have been able to see it all unfold.

Dawson’s Creek – Joey and Pacey Set Sail

Dawson’s Creek’s initial hook was tomboy Joey’s unrequited love for her childhood friend Dawson, but the show hit gold when they decided to explore a relationship between Joey and Pacey, Dawson’s wise-cracking, teacher-dating best friend. At the beginning of season three, Dawson spurned Joey’s latest romantic advances and asked Pacey to look after Joey while he fooled around with the more alluring Eve. What followed Dawson’s request may have been predictable, (Joey and Pacey fall in love), but their budding relationship was heart-warming and enjoyable to watch. Pacey was adorably supportive of Joey throughout the season. He accompanied her to ballroom dance lessons, watched her sleep, rented a wall for her to paint when her mural at school gets defaced, and was basically every girl’s teenage dream. Pacey eventually was so overcome with his feelings for Joey, he pulled over his car, confessed he wants to be more than friends, and kissed her. They soon embarked on a relationship and struggled with how to break the news to Dawson. But when Jen accidentally spilled the beans, Dawson cemented his status as the most unlikable main character in teen drama history when he told Joey their friendship is over if she continues to date Pacey. Joey ended it with Pacey, who, heartbroken, decided to leave town for the summer and sail the high seas on his boat, the True Love. But before he left, Pacey adorably told Joey to ask him to stay. When Dawson realized the time had come to set Joey free (pardon me while I vomit), viewers were given two gifts: the greatest GIF in Internet history, and the sight of Pacey and Joey, finally together, sailing off into the sunset.

Glee – Mr. Schue’s Life Would Suck Without Emma

While I’m a fan of Glee, I do think the quality of the show has decreased as its popularity has increased. The early season one episodes seem like a completely different show than what currently airs on FOX on Tuesday nights. One of the aspects of early Glee I that really enjoyed was the potential romance between Will and Emma. The guidance counselor had feelings for the Spanish teacher from the start, but Will was married to the hateful, hysterically pregnant Terri. Whether it was sharing a PB&J before the Vocal Adrenaline concert, or Will teaching Emma to dance, it was easy to see that these two were MFEO. After all, it was Emma who convinced Mr. Schue to stay on as the glee club director instead of leaving for a higher paying job. But with Will determined to stay by his pregnant wife’s side and Emma settling for the creepy football coach, it seemed as if Will and Emma’s story was destined to have a bittersweet ending. Until…Will found out his wife was faking her pregnancy and the creepy football coach dumped Emma for having feelings for Will! An embarrassed Emma decided to leave McKinley High just as Will realized he has feelings for Emma, too. As the glee club’s version of “My Life Would Suck Without You” reaches a crescendo, Will runs to find Emma, and they finally kiss. What has happened since their kiss hasn’t been nearly as squee-worthy (is Emma even on the show anymore?!) but this scene is a perfect example of the uniquely poignant show that Glee can be…sometimes.

Gilmore Girls – Luke and Lorelai Just Stand Still

There was more than just coffee brewing in Luke’s Diner whenever Lorelai Gilmore came around. The no-nonsense diner owner always had a thing for the free-spirited single mom. Luke was always there for Lorelai and her daughter Rory, in all things practical (like fixing things at the Gilmore house) and fun (like making Lorelai a Santa burger). In season four, however, a lonely Luke gets a self-help tape and comes to the realization that his longtime friend is actually the one. He then pulls out all the stops and pursues Lorelai after four years of standing on the sidelines. Things come to a head during the Dragonfly Inn’s test run, when Lorelai’s ex shows up and tells Luke they’re back together. Showing that his self-help tape did wonders, Luke confronts Lorelai, and the rest is history, as they finally admit their feelings for one another and share their first kiss. To say I wasn’t always happy with the direction Gilmore Girls went in after these two got together is putting it mildly. Giving Luke a long-lost daughter was out-of-character and a plot development I like to pretend never happened. Thankfully, the series’ perfect last scene makes that really easy to do.

So, even if your real-life love life isn’t fairy tale perfect (and if yours is, I’m jealous!), you can always count on these great TV moments to help you believe in the power of love. Happy Valentine’s Day! Feel free to weigh in with your favorite romantic TV moments!