Best Office Romances in TV History

Throughout TV history, many romances have resulted from a few lingering stares, impromptu meetings, and shared secrets, a formula proven to captivate nearly any audience. When it comes to on-screen attraction, there’s nothing viewers don’t love more than a scandalous romance, and few things are as scandalous as an office affair. In honor of the last few days of our Office Romance Survey, we have compiled a list of notable office romances that would make even the most innocent employee blush. Take the survey and let us know what you've been up to in your office!

Thank goodness the producers decided to keep Carol on the show after the pilot, in which she was scheduled to die, or we would’ve missed one of the steamiest work romances in TV history. The on-screen chemistry between Doug and Carol was intensified by Doug’s notorious bad-boy ways and Carol’s ability to see through this. Their story kept viewers coming back until the very end, which ended with one of TV history’s best-kept secrets when Doug made an appearance for Carol’s final episode. 

It took many inside jokes, pranks, lingering gazes, and office camera confessions before Pam and Jim finally got together and went for it to create one of the most iconic office couples, Jam. Their union was as tender and cute as their friendship had been throughout the previous four seasons. Their attempts at keeping it secret from the rest of Dunder Mifflin employees proved futile and fittingly ended at their wedding in Niagara Falls, with the entire office in attendance.  

She was a secretary and he was an ad exec, but that’s where the stereotypes end. Throughout the show’s entirety, Joan and Roger shared an affinity for each other that coasted on tenderness and a mutual respect. Although the series does not finish with the two together romantically, it does conclude with Joan and Roger speaking in the honest, true way they always had. 

Few relationships enthralled viewers in the 1980s as much as Sam and Diane’s on-and-off romance did. Their chemistry was built upon the notion that opposites attract, and it never veered off that. Sam’s backstory as a recovering alcoholic baseball player and Diane’s intelligence and sophistication caused for multiple marriage proposals, breakups, and abrupt departures. In the end, the two get together for a bittersweet moment that puts a finale on their passionate relationship. 

It’s not hard to imagine how an office romance ignited when one of the characters is nicknamed “McDreamy”, although to Meredith’s credit, she did sleep with him before the fact. The two’s romance was present since the show’s pilot episode and has survived breakups, near-death experiences, and adultery, to name a few things. One of the couple’s most telling moments happened when they got “married” via Post-It note, solidifying the image for viewers that only they understood each other. 

The strength of David and Maddie’s sexual tension led to 30 million viewers tuning in for the episode following their first kiss. The two’s love-hate relationship circled around their differences, with her being a model and him being a private eye and all that. Even though the show died down quickly after their romance was established, their legacy lives on.   

If any other couple was nicknamed “Caskett,” it might raise eyebrows, but not for this mystery novelist and NYPD detective. Castle and Beckett’s romance started as (playful) annoyance, where the two could hardly stand each other. Flash forward to five seasons, past numerous murders, near-death scares, and witty banter, and you finally arrive at the two’s loving wedding. 

Political powerhouses Remy Danton and Jackie Sharp began their romance out of perhaps questionable motives (read: to gather information) but the attraction was undeniable from the get-go. However, it ended on a bittersweet note when Remy proclaimed Sharp as “cold” due to her job. Although this relationship seems uncertain of its future, viewers keep hoping for a rekindling, especially after their late night hook-up. The actors have even speculated off-screen about the potential for a rekindling, meaning viewers have to stay tuned. 

This romance was potentially one of the slowest evolving romances in TV history. It is only after post-traumatic stress disorder, a roadside bomb injury, a career departure, and several outside love interests that these two share a kiss that even Donna labeled as “bound to happen sometime.” Their emotional relationship from the show’s start finishes with their physical, of the two waking up together and inferring to viewers that finally, the two had found their stride.  

“You’re my 1 in 5 billion.” That quote alone pretty much sums up everything you need to know about the relationship between these two hard-ass FBI agents. Although they had different views on certain work issues, the bond between these two never wavered, especially evident in the series finale where they are right back in the same position as they were in the pilot: in a hotel room, but finally together. 

Few things are more charming than Leslie and Ben’s quirky beginnings. The two fought, and then once they realized the didn't actually hate each other, they fought to keep a professional relationship, but as Leslie once said, "we have to remember what's most important in life: friends, waffles and work. Or waffles, friends, work. But work has to come third." Once they gave in somewhere during season three, their nerdiness culminated to become one of the most adorable office romances in TV history. 

While the relationship between Fitz and Olivia began on the campaign trail prior to the show's start, their intense attraction captivated audiences from the get-go. The pair's belief they were each others soulmate kept viewers tuned throughout all the polling schemes, white house emergencies, kidnappings, and murders. It wasn't until Fitz fully let go of the first lady that the two settled down and got an actual chance at their "house in Vermont." It is an Office romance like no other.