Even back when TV sex scenes were mostly about a lingering kiss, a strategically placed sheet, and a quick fade to black, moments of intimacy were integral to storytelling. Now that romance is back on our small screens in a big way, with sweeping love stories, messy hookups, and couples viewers are genuinely invested in. And, naturally, all that romance comes with more sex — and a lot more of it on screen.
Whether you're here for a forbidden affair, a simmering friends-to-lovers romance, or the kind of chemistry that makes a yearning glance feel NSFW, these are some of the hottest TV sex scenes ever to grace our screens. We know some of your faves may not make the list but these are the small-screen sex scenes stand out from the rest. Was it good for you?
*This story has been updated.
If only Connell (Paul Mescal) and Marianne (Daisy Edgar Jones) could get over their communication issues. But they always got one thing right: their undeniable, steamy chemistry between the sheets.
When Hannah Wells tutors hockey captain Garrett Graham to win over her crush, their fauxmance turns very real and very hot. We love this show for its sexy scenes, but also for the care and intention that went into Hannah's exploration of sex after sexual assault.
The Judy Blume book this series is based on was banned for its depiction of sex between two consenting teens finding themselves and each other. Well, we think it's the perfect portrayal of first love — sex and all. From the soft moments to the more, ahem, physical, Keisha and Justin are one of the best couples on TV.
We had to wait three seasons for a sex scene as good as Jamie and Claire's wedding scene to happen, but it happened. After 20 years apart, Claire and Jamie come together — and the stakes are high. As Sam Heughan, who plays Jamie, said in an exclusive video, "How do you come to terms with seeing someone who you thought was dead, that you gave your life and soul to — and there they are, standing in front of you?"
Let's be honest: There were a lot of scenes to showcase from Scandal, because Olivia and Fitz's chemistry is off the charts. There was that time on the campaign trail, "If you want me, earn me," and the cabin in Vermont. We're choosing the phone sex, though, because how often do you witness truly hot phone sex on TV?
Would this list be complete without these two? Absolutely not. There's not much to say other than that Shane (Hudson Williams) and Illya (Connor Storrie) have such intense and incredible chemistry, this show (and its sensual scenes) skyrocketed them into superstardom.
What starts as yet another conversation about whatever is going down on the Southside turns into a steamy couch hookup that ends with Betty saying she wants "all" of Jughead tonight.
For the first several seasons of the series, this married pair of spies have a business relationship. When Elizabeth finally opens up, they have the best sex of their married lives.
It's animalistic and hot, except you can't help but wonder how Kate's armpits are still hairless when she's been imprisoned on a deserted island for so long.
The Handmaid's Tale takes place in a future in which sex is stripped of its association to love and passion. Instead, it's an act with only one motive: Impregnation. And it's always a rape — handmaids have to have sex with their commanders in a rigid ceremony. That's what makes this scene so remarkable. Nick and June come together in a way that people once could. With mutual satisfaction, and consent, and pleasure.
It was the exam room scene heard 'round the world and one of the many reasons Patrick Dempsey's Derek Shepherd will forever be our McDreamy.
When he's not being Superman, turns out Henry Cavill is a time-traveler. He played Charles in the Showtime show The Tudors, and in one scene, makes a bet with Henry (Jonathan Rhys Meyers) that he can seduce the Duke of Buckingham's daughter, Anne.
In Season 5 of Friends, the whole group finds out that Monica and Chandler are sleeping together, one by one.
Chemistry was so good Katie Holmes and Joshua Jackson have reunited onscreen 25 years later. We're excited for their new movie but it's going to be hard to top the love scenes that made us all fall in love and say, "Joey + Pacey, forever".
On Season 1 of Game of Thrones, audiences were shocked by Cersei and Jaime's incest. By Season 7, we were cheering for Jon to get it on with his aunt, Daenerys. And no: That's not Kit Harington's butt — we checked.
The scene Dexter fans are sure to remember starts how all of Dexter's kill routines do. Hannah is on his table, wrapped in plastic. But instead of plunging, he uses the knife to rip off the plastic and takes her right on the table.
Always an amazing friend, Miranda lets Charlotte give her Rabbit vibrator a whirl. Charlotte is rendered completely unable to leave the house as a result. In order to get her to rejoin society, Carrie and Miranda have to confiscate the Rabbit.
After seasons of simmering sexual tension, Daenerys' right hand man and woman finally get together. Though Grey Worm is initially ashamed of his eunuch body, he bares himself at Missandei's urging. She says she wants to see "all of him."
In the most explicit gay sex scene in TV history, a struggling Omani immigrant and a djinn with flaming red eyes have a sensual evening in a hotel room. Only in New York, am I right?
Jane may have been a virgin when the show started, but she’s ready for some NSA action now.
This couple found themselves brought together by grief. Like, totally together with no clothes on.
When a first kiss leads to first time sex, the chemistry is tight.
Have you ever had someone sing to you while you make love? It sounds horrible, but the way Rachel and Josh do it is pretty great.
The sweetest taboo is the man you know is bad for you — if you're Alice.
These two take it into the studio and elevate the meaning behind the sexual power struggle in the hottest, rawest scene imaginable.
Somehow there has been no delayed gratification in Eleanor and Jasper's relationship, and yet all their gratification is constantly delayed. It's hard to be royal.
Sure, this entire sex scene is a dream, and a byproduct of Jason's hungering for Eric Northman's vampire blood. But trust us: The unreality of this scene does not take away from the hotness of it.
When these two reunited, it was ON.
Ask not if Adam and Jessa should be a couple. Ask instead how hot is their sex?
Supernatural generally foregoes hot sex for slaying evil in its various forms, but the Dean and Anna the angel relationship was one sexy sex bomb (sorry to the Destiel shippers).
This couple has given us some of the show's greatest fights but did you know they also shared one of the hottest sex scenes — and in a bathroom, to boot!
Extra credit goes to the foley artist, who timed the subtle clanging of pots, pans, and drawer-slamming perfectly to Fiona and Steve's first romp in the kitchen.
Ah, remember the season one heyday of The Affair when Alison and Noah were gleefully and (nearly) guiltlessly doing it just everywhere?
Who knew that two robots having sex could look so lifelike?
Their love is forbidden, thanks to a grudge between their people, but it's also the only thing holding two civilizations together.
If sex gets hotter when someone else watches, Abraham and Rosita were having very, very hot sex.
When Carrie and Big started the affair that destroyed both of their relationships, it was one of the steamiest moments of their relationship.
They get together and break up with enough frequency (and velocity) to break your neck, but when they do come together it's a powerful physical connection.
There were a lot of couples in this show, but Damon and Elena were always the hottest...and the most star-crossed.
When Stella gets her groove on in The Fall, it is always hot.
When a group of people around the world find themselves mentally linked, "group sex" takes on a completely different meaning.
Call it tit for tat: after Abby gets Hank off his jail sentence, Hank gets Abby off.
Don Draper had a lot of affairs, but his love for married store owner Rachel Katz was the hottest, deepest, and realest relationship he seemed to get into.
Imagine if your love literally made the world crumble around you.
Lip's forbidden affair with his older female professor created some of his hottest scenes on the series to date -- in part because he finally got emotionally invested in his sex life.
Only when Rachel finally learns Mike's big secret and the truth is out can they give into their intense feelings for each other in the file room.
The sexual tension between these two finally came to a head when Casey told Henry she was getting a divorce.
Whether you were Team Bill or Team Eric, we has to admit that this dream sequence brought us the best of all worlds.
On fire chemistry. Is it getting hot in here?
They fight, they make up, wash, rinse and repeat -- that is the formula for hot sex on a nighttime soap.
It took a long time, as was the custom for the time period, but when Francis and Mary finally consummated their marriage it was magical.
If you ever wonder what keeps Jimmy and Gretchen together, it's their amazing sex life.
He's a bad man and she's a spy, but when they finally come together it's worth crossing enemy lines.
The hotness just jumps off these two whenever they're together, and they get together in some really sexy spots.
The hair pulling is only beginning of this sexy scene revolving around domination.
Anticipation is the key to Buffy and Angel's love, but when they finally do connect physically, it turns sour — quickly. But goodness, all the time we spent waiting for that moment to come!
There's a lot of sex in this series about the life of a call girl, but most of it is not terribly sexy. When Belle is reminiscing about a meeting with her favorite client, however, things get really, really hot.
Emison is born with one hot kiss under the covers, while a longing version of "I'll Be Watching You" plays in the background — sexy and mysterious.
When two superheroes get carnal, everything around them gets destroyed. It's super sex.
Ben Whishaw and Edward Holcroft steam up the screens in this British spy drama. The scene drew some viewer complaints, but they weren't from us.
This limo scene started one of the greatest relationships of our time. #Chair forever.
It turns out Jon Snow does know something.
Pictured: Kit Harington and Rose Leslie in Game of ThronesPhoto: Courtesy of HBO.
"He did this thing to my ass that made my eyes water," Pax said after their copy room hookup.
In which Nicky makes Morello see God.
Pictured: Natasha Lyonne and Yael Stone in Orange Is the New BlackPhoto: Courtesy of Netflix.
One second, they're discussing the roles to which society confines them, the next, they’re making rapturous love on the kitchen floor.
Pictured: Caitlin Fitzgerald and Jocko Sims in Masters of SexPhoto: Courtesy of Showtime.
Do Brits do TV sex better? A very important case study.
Kalinda employs a creative manipulation technique here. Alas, the uncooperative Lana is left with some proverbial blue balls.
Almost every member of the SAMCRO gang is getting it on in the explicit opening montage of an episode called "Faith and Despondency." Also note Wendy engaging in some battery-operated self-loving.
Pictured: Charlie Hunnam in Sons of AnarchyPhoto: Courtesy of FX.
It's nice to see Marnie trying new things.
Pictured: Ebon Moss-Bachrach and Allison Williams in GirlsPhoto: Courtesy of HBO.
She can't believe he'd find her sexy in her glasses. The bachelor pad in which he's squatting is repulsive. Neither of things matter because it's on.
She’s conflicted because of her overwhelming attraction to the young Scot and the fact that she’s technically married to someone else in the 20th century. He’s nervous because he’s a virgin. They figure it out in no time flat on their wedding night.Photo: Courtesy of Starz.
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