2024 was a good year for ‘ships on television, but there’s always room for improvement, right?
From the ‘ships that should have gotten together years ago to some newer ones that have recently popped on the scene, there are many romantic relationships we’d like to see set sail in the new year.
We’ve compiled a list of some of the ones we’re clamoring for the most, and hey, never say never when it comes to your favorite ‘ships finally getting their chance in the spotlight!
Ericka and Jacob – Brilliant Minds
We’re resigned to the fact that the Brilliant Minds love triangle is not even close to being over anytime soon. So, if we must indulge it, then 2025 should be the year for Ericka and Jacob, right?
They’re slowly building up to be an endearing potential rivals to lovers, and Ericka has already expressed that she has feelings for Jacob. It’s also evident that the feelings are mutual, even if he missed his chance to express them.
There is a certain inevitability to Ericka and Jacob. The chemistry between them is too strong for the series not to explore deeper, and while 2024 may have been endearingly sweet Van’s time to shine with his pursuit of Ericka, he may have to watch out for Jacob in the coming year.
Wolf and Nichols – Brilliant Minds
A show with such great potential for romance that it finds itself on the list twice!
Doctors Oliver Wolf and Josh Nichols have been a refreshing surprise on Brilliant Minds.
We rarely see an adult LGTBQ relationship develop as they have, and it’s been beautiful to witness their changing dynamic evolve. While the two started as rivals, they always had a healthy respect for one another, which grew into an unlikely friendship and a sizzling attraction.
These two understand each other well, and we can’t wait to see more of their relationship.
Watch Brilliant Minds Online
Karl and Cassandra – Murder in a Small Town
Karl Alberg and Cassandra Lee immediately drew viewers to Murder in a Small Town.
Showing them on a blind date and integrating their relationship with a weekly murder mystery was smart. While they were opposites, they connected on an emotional and physical level.
They had their share of issues, which made us want to know more. Since they only reunited in the season finale, if the series is renewed, we hope to see more of them in 2025.
And it BETTER get renewed!
Watch Murder in a Small Town Online
Gibbs and Lala – NCIS: Origins
From the first episode, NCIS: Origins has teased that this story is about “her,” and her in question is fierce, no-nonsense Lala Dominguez.
It’s easy to assume that Gibbs implemented the infamous “Rule Number 12: Never Date a Coworker” because of Lala.
She and Gibbs have a crackling chemistry that keeps viewers on the edge of their seats, wondering what’s going on between them and when it’ll inevitably come to a head.
It’s undoubtedly “complicated,” with Gibbs still a grieving widow mourning the tragic murder of his wife and daughter.
The tension between these two is thick, and it’s certainly palpable enough that Mike Franks has noticed and made his feelings known about the subject matter.
Still, it’s impossible to stop what’s so obviously brewing between these two. Could 2025 be the year for them? We’re holding out hope!
Watch NCIS: Origins Online
Kitty and Yuri – XO, Kitty
Kitty Song Covey has had her fair share of suitors as she’s embarked on a self-discovery journey in South Korea at KISS.
While Kitty may have gone to Korea for Dae, and she’s had simmering sexual tension with the charismatic Min Ho, Kitty came to grips with something about herself in the first season that completely shook up the love triangle.
Kitty has feelings for Yuri. And we’re 100% into this ship and keeping our fingers crossed that when the new season drops, we’ll finally get that Kitty/Yuri ship we’ve been clamoring for.
Kitty has realized that she’s completely in love with Yuri, so much so that she had to break things off with Dae for good. But now we have to wonder if she’ll ever be brave enough to tell her best friend how she really feels. The new year better deliver!
Watch XO, Kitty Online
Lacey and Zeke – Found
Gabi and all her associates have had a difficult road, and it has only gotten more challenging since the truth about Sir came out.
If you’ve been following along, then you’re familiar with how emotionally taxiing the second season has been, and any bright lights at the end of the tunnel and glimmers of hope would make everything worthwhile.
If the second season has done anything, it’s reminded us how much Lacey is the heart of the agency and that she brings a warm light to everything and everyone around her.
Of course, that includes Zeke, who appears desperately in love with her and has been over the moon about spending more time with her amid their trying times.
It would be nice if, within a series where every other romantic prospect and angle is fraught at best, there could be some love between Lacey and Zeke, who have grown infinitely closer in time.
Watch Found Online
Torres and Cook – Chicago P.D.
OK, OK, hear us out, though.
How can you not enjoy the natural and easy chemistry between Torres and Cook?
From the second they crossed paths, they had such an easy connection that gave us a peek into what the future could hold for those two as partners.
But there is also this undercurrent between them, a bond forged in mutual respect and understanding that illuminates more of what we didn’t know about both characters.
They have a strong connection, and now that trust is fractured, but that’s more of the reason why it’ll be exciting to see the two work through their issues and continue to evolve, especially as the next generation of intelligence, if you will.
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Sydney and Luca – The Bear
Yeah, we know what the shipping situation is like in The Bear fandom. Sydney and Carmy spark all the discourse in the world, and Luca and Marcus have been a popular sideship since The Bear Season 2 Episode 4.
But can we take a moment to appreciate the insane chemistry between Sydney and Luca during the season finale? They’re fantastic together, complement one another like a Michelin star dish, and Luca is everything that Carmy can’t quite be for Sydney as a friend, mentor, partner, or anything else.
The two share similar passions and drives and match one another’s energy. It would be nice to see Sydney let her hair down and pursue something romantically with someone who shares her passions and has the emotional bandwidth to handle her and life.
Meanwhile, Luca already looks at Sydney as if she holds the secrets of the universe behind her eyes. Plus, if it means we’d get more Will Poulter on The Bear, then so be it.
Watch The Bear Online
Buck and Eddie – 9-1-1
Buck and Eddie will always be family, whether things turn romantic or otherwise. But what’s wrong with wishing for romance?
After a rocky start that lasted for a single episode, the two firefighters have been the best of friends and pillars for each other in all aspects of their lives. They are partners at work and top people in one other’s worlds, each etching a place in the other’s lives that no one else can touch.
The two exist together comfortably and easily, as evidenced by the countless times the two have been there for one another. They have a strong bond and endless respect and admiration for one another.
It always helps when the actors of said potential romantic pairing have otherworldly chemistry, which stars Ryan Guzman and Oliver Stark do indeed have. They can make the most mundane of interactions crackle on screen.
Some of the greatest romantic pairings of all time started as friends first, and a slow-burn friends-to-lovers storyline between the two would be unlike anything else currently on television. Exploring a romance doesn’t erase their friendship. That will always be the foundation of their relationship.
Yes, 2025 should be the year to see what may be brewing under that intense connection. Fans have been here for years and will continue to be because this is a ship worth rooting for.
Watch 9-1-1 Online
Colter and Reenie – Tracker
Colter has more than a few options for romance, with Camille and Billie being both people Colteris is connected to. But let’s remember Reenie when thinking about potential endgame ships for our favorite reward seeker.
Colter and Reenie greatly respect and admire each other, which is truly at the core of their friendship. They care for one another, and in Tracker Season 2, we’ve seen their friendship blossom more.
But we couldn’t help but notice Colter’s just-under-the-surface jealousy during Tracker Season 2 Episode 2 when brother Russell talked about taking Reenie on a date, and during Tracker Season 2 Episode 4 when a case at a fancy winery had Colter crashing his friend’s weekend date getaway with an old flame.
We already know these two have a past, and while it was short-lived, they aren’t the same people they were back then, and they have a great foundation with which to start something romantic.
Watch Tracker-2024 Online
Cameron and Declan – Rivals
You may be thinking, Cameron and Declan? But isn’t he married to Maud? And isn’t she in a situationship with Rupert? Well, yes, but this is Rivals, a show with seemingly no rules regarding who you fancy.
Cameron’s one of those rare characters who has chemistry with just about everyone, and while her dalliance with Rupert has been decidedly hot, we all know his eyes are fixated elsewhere. And with Lord Baddingham hopefully out of the picture, Cameron is left with an empty dance card.
It’s unclear where Declan and Maud stand at the end of Rivals Season 1, but their marriage has been on life support for quite some time. With her leaving the family at the end of the season, it seems unlikely they’ll find their way back to one another.
Cameron and Declan started off on the wrong foot, but there’s an ease to their dynamic that just fits. On a show where there are enemies everywhere, it would be interesting to see these two former enemies discover they have more in common than they thought.
Watch Rivals Online
Hina and Kainalu – Rescue: HI-Surf
Rescue: HI-Surf has two main couples at the forefront, and while Em and Will have whatever they have going on, there’s a much more intriguing pairing blossoming in the background.
Hina and Kainalu got off on the wrong foot, but Kainalu repeatedly tried to win Hina over. When the two became reluctant roommates, they started to learn more about each other outside of the confines of their beach tower.
The two are from two different worlds, and many romances blossom between people from opposite sides of the track. But even though they have many differences on the surface, they have much in common.
They both want to save people, and they’re both kindhearted and compassionate people striving to be their best.
Their hookup at the end of Rescue: HI-Surf Season 1 Episode 9 was a long time coming, and hopefully, in the new year, they give their budding romance a chance because they both deserve something good, and they could find that in each other.
Watch Rescue HI: Surf Online
Tabitha and Jade – FROM
We realize that Jim’s death is still very fresh, but how do you drop the bomb that Jade and Tabitha are connected through their past lives and always fated to end up in the FROM town at the same time and expect us NOT to ship it?
Admittedly, there isn’t much time for feelings and love when you’re fighting for your life daily, but Jade and Tabitha have slowly formed a bond since they arrived in town, one that we now know wasn’t a coincidence.
Jade is many things, but over time, he’s softened a bit, at least regarding his interpersonal dynamics. He’s listened to Tabitha and made her feel heard in a way that not many others always did.
Tabitha will have a lot on her plate when the series returns and romance is the furthest thing from her mind, but these two have a connection, and they may be powerless against the forces that want to see them together in one way or another.
Watch FROM Online
Morgan and Karadec – High Potential
High Potential has been a breakout hit this season, with audiences falling in love with single mother Morgan, a high-potential intellectual who uses her skills to assist the Los Angeles Police Department with various cases.
One of the department’s detectives, Karadec, is initially mighty skeptical of Morgan, and she’s not exactly his biggest fan either. Still, the two have managed to find a more balanced working relationship.
And while it’s all business and no fun thus far, it feels like there’s SOMETHING there.
A will-they/won’t-they pairing isn’t always needed on a series. Still, it does add an interesting new layer to their relationship as they navigate working closely and any potentially burgeoning romantic feelings.
We’d be here for these two, exploring the tension between them.
Watch High Potential Online
Monica and Amelia – Grey’s Anatomy
Amelia Shepherd has been unlucky in love since we met her on Private Practice, and unfortunately, Grey’s Anatomy hasn’t been much kinder to her. We’ve been rooting for her to find her person for years now.
Monica Beltran joined the cast during Grey’s Anatomy Season 20 Episode 3, and sparks almost immediately started flying between her and the chief of neurosurgery. Professional disagreements led to a short-lived rivalry, but the underlying romantic tension was there from the jump.
So far, the closest we’ve come to seeing this ship sail was when Amelia asked Monica on a date last season and was apologetically rejected. Beltran explained that she was going through a messy divorce and wasn’t ready for a relationship.
Since then, several flirtatious exchanges and meaningful moments of connection have kept our hopes alive for these two. While neither doctor has made any overt moves again, we’re hopeful to see this slow burn start to heat up in 2025.
Watch Grey’s Anatomy Online
Well, now that you’ve seen our list, let us know in the comments which ‘ships you are looking forward to seeing when the new year rolls around!
Hopefully, 2025 will be the year your OTP comes to (canon) life!
The post ‘Ships We Need To See In 2025! appeared first on TV Fanatic.
