13 TV Partners with Undeniable Chemistry

Partners on television have sometimes an interesting, but complicated dynamic. These people learn so much about each other but sometimes can’t act on feelings due to regulations or social norms.

Regardless, these circumstances can lead to delightful slow burns, scenes filled with emotional (and sexual) tension, and sometimes these couples are never allowed to proceed at all, despite the obvious chemistry that lies between them.

Let’s take a little break from the recently popular trope of enemies-to-lovers, and soak in the longing from partners who have undeniable chemistry.

13 TV Partners with Undeniable Chemistry:

1. Mulder and Scully (The X-Files)

The blueprint. The moment. The culture. 

There is no way to start this list without mentioning Mulder and Scully. With unspoken chemistry since day one and a seasons-long build-up that inspired a legion of fans and became an influence still present in shipping fandom today, Mulder and Scully are the only pairing on this list that is ranked. 

The X-Files was unique in its time for its inventive mythology and combination of procedural TV with science fiction. Mulder and Scully reigned intensely due to this plot direction, building a relationship from trust, passion, and emotional intimacy. 

And while other pairings had immaculate chemistry before, Mulder and Scully came at the right time — the 90s and 00s.

Not only did these two have the chemistry and development that is just special but they came at a time where fans could really begin to connect with forums over the internet, celebrating the couple and ensuring creators and fans alike would notice the equation that touched fans for decades to come. 

2. Natalie and Crockett (Chicago Med)

Chicago Med pushed the Natalie/Will pairing for too long, but when Crockett was introduced to the scene, the show finally granted Will and Natalie the space they needed to not overpower Chicago Med’s narrative with not only their messy professional lives but their personal lives as well. 

Despite his stint with April (which really was more of a device to destabilize April and Ethan’s relationship), Crockett and Natalie were put on cases together, and it was clear that they had the chemistry that Chicago Med pretended that Natalie and Will had.

Even when Crockett and Natalie get into the same ethical issues that she used to get into with Will, for some reason, it’s not quite as annoying. These two just have something that works, even if it seems that it’s accidental. 

Despite the drama they faced, the two’s relationship was a breath of fresh air on Chicago Med and a greatly needed shake-up that ended too early due to Torrey DeVitto’s departure from Chicago Med. 

3. OA and Maggie (FBI)

OA and Maggie aren’t the first pairing on this list from the Dick Wolf Universe (The DWU) and they certainly won’t be the last. 

OA and Maggie’s chemistry is much more nuanced than many of the other couples on this list, and with FBI only being on its third season, the two are towards the beginning of their journey. They work seamlessly as a team and their subtle touches don’t go unnoticed. 

FBI Season 3 even doubles down by hinting at the romantic potential of the two by playing with the jealousy trope in its first few episodes.

OA’s jealousy dies down, but FBI pushed this relationship to the brink, giving us a taste of the feelings that could be there. The two may be slowly burning to a romantic moment, but there are certainly some obstacles in the way if this is any indication. 

But, maybe it’s time to just enjoy the ride and fight the urge for instant gratification. 

4. Kirk and Spock (Star Trek) 

While technically Spock serves as Kirk’s first officer in the Star Trek series and movies, the two-act more as a team than anything else. They might as well be the originators of the head and heart dynamic that many couples have taken on since they premiere in the late 60s (making these two also the oldest pairing on the list).

But that’s not the only aspect that makes them legendary, as they also are greatly responsible for the creation of slash fanfiction, ‘slash’ meaning a pairing comprising of two men. 

Kirk and Spock have a dynamic that keeps fans interested and creating content, even over fifty years later.

With performances that span multiple seasons of television, a considerable run of movies (including The Wrath of Khan and The Search for Spock, which together are a love letter to the two’s relationships in itself), and a reboot that spawned another iteration with almost just as much chemistry, ‘Spirk’ will undoubtedly always be remembered for their partnership. 

5. Carisi and Rollins (Law and Order: SVU)

For a series that has been on-air for over two decades, Law and Order: SVU understood the assignment of a slow burn.

Law and Order: SVU ended its previous season on a high note finally bringing Rollins and Carisi together while also continuing the ignite the hope of the headliner partnership of the series, Benson and Stabler. 

However, Rollins and Carisi deserve to be on this list in their own right. These two have always had a close and intimate partnership, with it extending to a deep friendship outside of work. They spent holidays together, Carisi knows Amanda’s kids, and he was even there through the struggles she had with her father.

Having arcs not only just over the series but also an insulated Season 22 arc lead to a natural and beautiful conclusion in the finale.

Even though they brought on a slew of frustrating almost or should-have moments, waiting ended up serving these two the best, clearing an easier path for a hopeful endgame scenario, which is hard to come by in the DWU. 

6. Tandy and Tyrone (Marvel’s Cloak and Dagger)

Tandy and Tyrone are two sides of the same coin, quite literally. The two vigilantes have a deep connection and while it stems from their shared traumatic experience, they also feel a similar drive to do good in New Orleans. Even when they’re at odds, they still have a dynamic that’s intriguing and a special type of intimate. 

Cloak and Dagger does well to test these two’s relationship and partnership, and if allowed to continue (the show was axed when most non-Disney+ Marvel property was canceled), this show was on the track to push the partnership in a romantic direction as well.

With both characters still so young and dealing with too much outside of their newfound powers, the dedication they have to their calling and each other is impressive, considering the average age of the characters on this list. 

Tandy and Tyrone still could have done so much to impact its fans further, but yet are another victim to early cancelation. 

7. AJ and Mina (The Resident)

While AJ and Mina’s story met its ending, at least for now, these two still deserve their spot on this list.

While playing with will-they/won’t-they for many seasons, it’s always been clear that these two work flawlessly together, especially in the operating room. Even though Mina took a place as his student, Mina and AJ grew together to act as equals, despite the actual hospital food chain. 

The Resident also made their bond clear through the reactions and comments made by the other staff of Chastain. When characters begin to break the mold that sits around their characterization, it shows the importance of the other person who drives them to be their best.

The Resident never failed to show Mina and AJ’s push and pull that made them such a fiery team. 

Even as Mina’s time as a main character on The Resident comes to an end, the partnership between Mina and AJ leaves a permanent mark on the show, and possibly more important, a mark on AJ that will never cease to exist. And their banter will be sorely forgotten. 

8. Eddie and Buck (9-1-1)

Eddie and Buck could be one of the most frustrating pairings on television right now. From the moment that Eddie was introduced to 9-1-1, it was clear that these two were going to garner a fanbase. Their interactions were just good from the get-go. 

Seasons later, their relationship is one of the most intimate between two men on primetime TV, and yet, still completely platonic (or perhaps familial at this point).

While there’s something to be said about showing more intimate male friendships, that explanation, along with the fast-tracked gay relationship deemed ‘tarlos’, it feels like 9-1-1 is doing all that it can to avoid the actual conversation. 

So, what gives? 

9. Benson and Stabler (Law and Order: SVU / Law and Order: Organized Crime)

This wouldn’t be a list about iconic ships between partners without Stabler and Benson. With Law & Order’s flagship series, Law & Order: SVU, the two had something that fans had wanted to follow through with since the beginning of the show in 1999. Talk about a slow burn. 

The two have come back, better than ever. A decade between Christopher Meloni’s exit and return to the DWU re-ignited a fandom that has become even larger than before, thanks to binging and a new era of fans matured enough to start the show. After Meloni’s exit, nobody expected the possibility of these two together. 

Meloni didn’t just return to Law & Order, but he even returned without a wife, making these two’s inevitable consummation a narrative possibility as well (and the characters won’t shut up about it either). Now, it’s just a waiting game. 

10. Hailey and Jay (Chicago P.D.)

Jay and Hailey have been a long time coming. Their partnership made their feelings for each other difficult, but it is also the way these two work together and constantly have each other’s backs that makes this relationship so appealing and popular.

Couples, however, don’t have the best track record of lasting on Chicago P.D., and the two face plenty of challenges in Season 8.

However, there’s still hope for this pairing. They’ve only just gotten together, and it would be a huge disappointment if they were driven apart so quickly, not to mention the lies and deception that they face come from good intentions.

But in the DWU, anything can happen.

11. Loki and Mobius (Loki)

Loki and Mobius are certainly one of the most unique pairings on this list.

Loki doesn’t particularly work well with most people, but the Loki series decided to test that character train surrounding him with more than one person who helped spur his second round of character growth. 

However, Loki and Mobius shared chemistry right off the bat. Loki only contained six episodes in their first season to make the show and its relationships work, which means both characters had to put in serious effort to achieve a bond that could cause angst at the end of the season and be believable. 

Loki shows how only a few episodes are needed to achieve something that sizzles through the screen and even the oddest pairings can get the audience hooked. 

12. Bellamy and Clarke (The 100)

Ignoring the final season that felt like a fever dream, these two’s chemistry is undeniable (even if some argue whether it truly was fully romantic). Along with the Blake sibling bond, Bellamy and Clarke’s relationship is one of the core driving forces of The 100.

Even the plot drove in the idea that when Bellamy and Clarke weren’t on the same side, bad things usually happened. And the arcs that these two journeyed through mirrored romantic relationships and tropes from plenty of other sources (some of them on this list).

Their relationship was even obvious to the characters in the show, with Diyoza, Octavia, and Monty all making comments about the two’s connection one way or another.

The 100 knew the power that the two leads had with their connection and chemistry, but was almost afraid to take that step forward, for reasons that pretty much everyone can disagree on.

13. Bradford and Chen (The Rookie)

Bradford and Chen’s working relationship has changed over the seasons, giving audiences the perfect example of a slow-burn in today’s TV climate. Eric Winter and Melissa O’Neil have an instant chemistry so strong that feels like has guided The Rookie in an unexpected way.

Bradford and Chen probably would win the award for the most changed relationship on The Rookie. But even towards the end of his mentorship, they worked in a complimentary way.

Now, this show has made it all but official, having Officer Chen work with him as his gofer, indicating that real progress could be among the couple, giving them plenty of time to realize their feelings and act on them in the season to come.

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Did your favorite partners make the list? Share your thoughts in the comments below!

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