29 Acting Duos (And One Trio And One Cast) Whose Chemistry On TV Was So Amazing That It Was Simply The Best Of The Year
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To celebrate 2022, we recently asked the BuzzFeed Community to tell us which TV actors had the very best chemistry of the year. Here are some of the best responses:
🚨 In order to show some of their very best moments, there are some MAJOR spoilers in the photos below! 🚨
1.First, Jonathan Bailey and Simone Ashley as Anthony and Kate on Bridgerton
"I wanted to throw my phone at the TV waiting for them to finally kiss. So much sexual tension."
2.Quinta Brunson and Tyler James Williams on Abbott Elementary
"Their relationship is so adorable, and they just have so much potential and chemistry!"
3.Christina Applegate and Linda Cardellini as Jen and Judy on Dead to Me
"Christina and Linda have the best chemistry I’ve ever seen in a TV show. Christina has said in interviews that she and Linda are closer than Jen and Judy are, and oh my god if that isn’t evident by their outstanding performances, I don’t know what is."
4.Alba Baptista and Kristina Tonteri-Young as Ava and Beatrice on Warrior Nun
"The chemistry was palpable in Season 1, and then Season 2 played off of it so well. Every glance, the way they spoke to each other, the way they looked at each other, the way they physically moved *around* each other was just...perfect. They were oozing chemistry in every scene they were in, and the transition of Ava from presumed straight to bi felt so natural. Her chemistry with Beatrice was largely to thank for that, I think. They shared a kiss to seal the deal, but you could tell from Episode 1, without anyone saying a thing out loud, that they were perfect together."
5.Caitriona Balfe and Sam Heughan as Claire and Jamie on Outlander
"Throwing my vote in for Caitriona and Sam. Explosive chemistry!"
6.Rhys Darby and Taika Waititi as Stede and Ed on Our Flag Means Death
"It's even better because they're best friends in real life!"
7.Jenna Ortega and Emma Myers as Wednesday and Enid on Wednesday
"They worked so well with each other. The moment at the end when Enid hugs Wednesday, she pulls away, then hugs back even tighter?! Ugh, my heart melted! I cannot wait for more seasons to see where that friendship goes."
8.Matt Smith and Milly Alcock as Daemon and Rhaenyra on House of the Dragon
Suggested by: sparklesherlock
9.Emma D'Arcy and Olivia Cooke as Rhaenyra and Alicent on House of the Dragon
"Milly Alcock and Matt Smith brought the fire to Rhaenyra and Daemon, and while Emma's chemistry with Matt was great too, their chemistry was more palpable in scenes with Olivia."
10.Joseph Quinn and Grace Van Dien as Eddie and Chrissy on Stranger Things
"In just one episode and a few short scenes, two completely new characters had people rooting for them because of their incredible chemistry. Apparently the Duffer brothers regretted killing off Chrissy because they didn't realize how good her and Eddie were together until the scenes were done. I don't know how true that is, but I can absolutely believe it."
11.Joe Locke and Kit Connor as Charlie and Nick on Heartstopper
"I was a fan of Alice Oseman's graphic novels, so watching how brilliantly this entire show was cast was so incredible. In particular, Joe and Kit were the perfect Charlie and Nick. I can't imagine anyone else playing these two as brilliantly as they have already. Their chemistry is stellar."
12.Tori Anderson and Yasmine Al-Bustami as Kate and Lucy on NCIS: Hawai'i
"As Kate and Lucy they burned up the screen in 2022. Even when they were separated after a misstep, they couldn't keep away from each other and reconciled in an epic reunion with the help of a little Adele! And domestic 'Kacy' in Season 2 is everything fans could hope for and more!"
13.Rachel Brosnahan and Luke Kirby as Midge and Lenny on The Marvelous Mrs. Maisel
"Finally after four seasons of waiting, they got together, and it was everything I could’ve hoped for. They were never supposed to hook up, and Rachel and Amy Sherman-Palladino even denied for years that it would ever happen, but their chemistry is just that powerful. The blue room scene? The Carnegie Hall scene? Some of the best TV moments of the year."
14.Jacob Anderson and Sam Reid as Louis and Lestat on Interview With the Vampire
15.Steve Martin, Martin Short, and Selena Gomez as Charles, Oliver, and Mabel on Only Murders in the Building
"Seriously, every scene with the three of them was gold."
16.Edvin Ryding and Omar Rudberg as Wilhelm and Simon on Young Royals
"I couldn't get enough of them. They had the best and most natural-looking chemistry I've seen onscreen. Helps that they're really close friends off screen too."
17.Lola Tung and Christopher Briney as Belly and Conrad on The Summer I Turned Pretty
Suggested by: canyonmoonhs
18.D'Arcy Carden and Abbi Jacobson as Greta and Carson on A League of Their Own
"It’s obviously Greta and Carson in A League of Their Own. I love them so much. 🥲."
19.Chanté Adams and Gbemisola Ikumelo as Max and Clance on A League of Their Own
"They felt like true friends. When they said, 'You are my team,' I cried every time."
20.Tom Sturridge and Ferdinand Kingsley as Morpheus and Hob on The Sandman
"Barely a whole episode together, but they have launched so many — MANY — ships."
21.Mariska Hargitay and Christopher Meloni as Benson and Stabler on Law & Order: SVU and Law & Order: Organized Crime
"Did they get many scenes together on their Law and Order shows? No. Was their chemistry absolutely LIT UP when they did get a scene together as Elliot Stabler and Olivia Benson? YES AND YES. Just get them together already!"
22.Kelli Giddish and Peter Scanavino as Rollins and Carisi on Law & Order: SVU
Suggested by: rorydouglas10
23.Eric Winter and Melissa O'Neil as Tim and Lucy on The Rookie
"The slow burn they’ve been building between them for the past five seasons is incredible, and they have perfected their banter!"
24.Lauren Cohan and Jeffrey Dean Morgan as Maggie and Negan on The Walking Dead
"Lauren and Jeffrey had amazing 'former enemies turned reluctant allies' chemistry as Maggie and Negan in the last episodes. I'm looking forward to their spinoff!"
25.Robert Sheehan and Aidan Gallagher as Klaus and Five on The Umbrella Academy
"Specifically, when Klaus and Five went on the road trip together. Bickering, bonding, and looking at giant balls of twine, they were super cute."
26.Jasmin Savoy Brown and Liv Hewson as Taissa and Van on Yellowjackets
"I absolutely adore everything about Yellowjackets, that's no secret. But in a show with so much darkness and tension, Jasmin and Liv serve as Yellowjackets' true sunshine. Watching them onscreen really makes me feel like I'm floating on air just because of how real their chemistry feels. I will root for them always."
27.Taron Egerton and Sepideh Moafi as James and Lauren on Black Bird
"Taron and Sepideh were incredible in Black Bird."
28.Ewan McGregor and Indira Varma as Obi-Wan and Tala on Obi-Wan Kenobi
"Part of it may be because Indira said that she was playing Tala as being in love with Obi-Wan (she was originally conceived as a love interest for him before it was dropped at some point in the script writing process), but it's also because both Ewan and Indira know how to linger just long enough to make the audience think that something might happen. Also the way she jumped to help rescue Leia and the way he screamed her name before her death was just *chef's kiss.*"
29.Morfydd Clark and Charlie Vickers as Galadriel and Halbrand on Lord of the Rings: The Rings of Power
"Spoilers: I know they didn’t end up together, but Galadriel and Halbrand had such powerful chemistry! Totally didn’t see that twist coming. I figured they might have a fling, maybe he’d die in the war or something, but man, that was wild. Genius acting and storytelling. Can’t wait for the next season — two years better go by fast!"
30.Manu Rios and Andre Lamoglia as Patrick and Iván on Elite
"The show has definitely gone downhill in the past few seasons, but I still love the chemistry between the actors who play Patrick and Iván. Those two are the only reason I’ve kept watching the past two seasons."
31.And finally, the entire cast of Ghosts
"Everyone is so amazing on that show — it’s hard to pick a favorite character."
We know we can't fit everyone into one post, so which other actors had the very best TV onscreen chemistry this year? Tell us in the comments below!
Note: Submissions have been edited for length and/or clarity.
