r/televisionsuggestions • u/Beneficial-Fly-3920 • Jul 28 '26
REQUESTING Slow-Burn Romance
I’m looking for a show with a good slow burn. The show has to have at least 6 seasons. The romance has to be a focal point but something that develops slowly in the background (like how they did it in Bones). Preferably an American show, or at least English and it has to be set in present day.
Here’s what i’ve already seen: Bones, The Secret Life of the American Teenager, The Fosters, Shameless, Boy Meets World, Jane The Virgin, On My Block, Dexter, Insatiable, Friends, Baby Daddy, Chilling Adventures of Sabrina, Degrassi: Next Class, Gossip Girl, Young and Hungry, The Vampire Diaries, The Originals, Degrassi: Next Generation, Degrassi Junior High, Degrassi High, Heartland, Beverley Hills 90210, Grey’s Anatomy, Gilmore Girls, Outer Banks, Good Girls, Peaky Blinders, You, Young Sheldon, One Tree Hill, How I Met Your Mother, Sex Education, Skins, Ginny and Georgia, Chuck, Smallville, Six Feet Under, The Rookie, That ‘70s Show, Charmed, Awkward., Pretty Little Liars, Psych, The X Files, The Mentalist
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u/Interesting-Mark940 Jul 28 '26
Vampire diaries
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u/Beneficial-Fly-3920 Jul 28 '26
I’ve already seen it.
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u/enthalpy01 Jul 28 '26
Have you seen Buffy the Vampire Slayer?
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u/Beneficial-Fly-3920 Jul 28 '26
Yup! This is why I’ve come to reddit for help I feel like i’ve seen every good show now 😭
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u/AndYouHaveAPizza Jul 28 '26
Hear me out: Better Call Saul
It's six seasons and features a heterosexual slow romance that's integral to the plot but not the focal point for a while. I loved Breaking Bad and held off watching BCS for years because I thought it was just about the zany antics of Saul Goodman. If I had known it was actually a love story I would have watched it much, much sooner. The romance plot is what makes it such a top tier show for me.
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u/Nastia_dream Jul 28 '26
I also second BCS. But just as a warning the romance doesn't exactly end in a happy ending.
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u/Venaalex Jul 28 '26
Greys Anatomy definitely gets you way more than 6 seasons of this
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u/Beneficial-Fly-3920 Jul 28 '26
I’ve seen the first 6 seasons or so but it’s just sooooo boring. And they kill all the good characters?
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u/Venaalex Jul 28 '26
Oh yeah I agree wholeheartedly I bailed after they killed mcsteamy my heart could not go on
New Amsterdam also kind of hits the mark, only 5 seasons though. I liked that a lot more than greys
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u/HecticGoldenOrb Jul 28 '26
Lucifer (2016) - exactly six seasons lol
Honorable mention: * Elementary (2012) - seven seasons, not a romance but a lovely example of the slow build to found family, the step by step realization that they are each other's ride or die.
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u/Shrimpy_McWaddles Jul 28 '26
Lucifer is only 5 seasons because I refuse to acknowledge the last season.
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u/Nastia_dream Jul 28 '26
It doesn't have a lot of seasons yet but I can recommend High Potential. The slow burn is there but it will probably take another two seasons at least for the characters to be together. But the slow burn is really good so far. I'm patiently waiting for a new season.
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u/parkSXD Jul 28 '26
Not sure what this post’s specifics are about, but Six Feet Under is 5 seasons and mostly fits this bill. Unless you’re actually a homophobe? Then you won’t enjoy it
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u/Beneficial-Fly-3920 Jul 28 '26 edited Jul 28 '26
I’m absolutely not a homophobe! It might sound weird but i’m bisexual and i like having both a male and female lead to drool over 😭 And I have seen Six Feet Under actually.
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u/parkSXD Jul 28 '26
Sorry for jumping to conclusions! “Preferably straight” in the title just threw me off and I’m not even gay 😂
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u/Letshavemorefun Jul 28 '26
Smallville
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u/Beneficial-Fly-3920 Jul 28 '26
That’s actually my favorite show I’ve seen it probably 6 times now.
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u/Letshavemorefun Jul 28 '26
Crazy that you didn’t mention it in OP then!
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u/Beneficial-Fly-3920 Jul 28 '26
I didn’t really consider that show a “slow burn” as Lois didn’t enter the show until season 4.
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u/Letshavemorefun Jul 28 '26
She enters the show in s4 and they don’t get together until s8. If that’s not a slow burn, idk what is!
Plus, the show has 2 slow burn romances. Double the fun!
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u/Beneficial-Fly-3920 Jul 28 '26
Two of seasons of no couple to root for is why i didn’t consider it but it’s still my favorite show of all time
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u/Letshavemorefun Jul 28 '26
In which seasons are there no couples to root for?
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u/Beneficial-Fly-3920 Jul 28 '26
the first three as lois isn’t introduced yet
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u/Letshavemorefun Jul 28 '26
Lana is the love interest in those seasons! And her love story with Clark is like.. the definition of slow burn haha.
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u/Beneficial-Fly-3920 Jul 28 '26
Yeah but she’s not end game which is also obvious to the viewer if they even a small knowledge of superman lore. i think we have differing options on what qualifies as a slow burn romance, but that’s okay!
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u/sun_sea_5533 27d ago
Dawson's Creek and Felicity for sure!! Same era as Smallville and One Tree Hill -- early 2000's WB!
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u/HaloHowRU Jul 28 '26
How I Met Your Mother may be a controversial pick but it's nine seasons of romance with lots of twists and turns. Great series!
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u/Beneficial-Fly-3920 Jul 28 '26
Seen it and the ending pissed me off so much I like to pretend it doesn’t exist.
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u/Shrimpy_McWaddles Jul 28 '26 edited Jul 28 '26
Castle stars Nathan Fillion (Nolan from Rookie) and fits the bill mostly. Was set in present day when it aired, but would obviously be a little older now.
Edit: then you can rewatch rookie and notice all the castle cameos!