Scandal, Felicity, The O.C. and More: TV's Best Grand Romantic Gestures

We've compiled a list of the small screen's most swoon-worthy moments in honor of Danny's big move on tonight's episode of The Mindy Project

By Tierney Bricker Dec 03, 2013 7:07 PMTags
Chris Messina, Mindy Kaling, The Mindy ProjectJordin Althaus/FOX

Who doesn't love a GRG?

That would be a grand romantic gesture, for those of you not raised on a healthy diet of romantic comedies and unrealistic relationship ideals. Sure, we know they are completely ridiculous and could never happen in real life, but we can't help but swoon over one on the small screen. And tonight, The Mindy Project fans should prepare to see jaded cynical divorcee Danny Castellano's (Chris Messina) version of a romantic gesture for Mindy (Mindy Kaling). We've seen the episode, which also serves as the Fox sitcom's Christmas episode, and we have one tip for you: Gird your loins now.

And in honor of Danny's epic move, we've compiled a list of some of our favorite grand romantic gestures that have ever graced the small screen. Please strap in and prepare for maximum swoonage now. (Note: Marriage proposals were not included. No one said this should be easy!)

The O.C.: "Acknowledge me now or lose me forever." And with that line the nerd (albeit the coolest one ever) Seth Cohen officially lands the hottest girl in school, Summer, who was afraid for people to find out she was dating the emo-music lover. The setting? Atop a freakin' kissing booth.

Everwood: In a nice twist, the girl pulls off the GRG in the WB underrated charmer's series finale. Realizing she's in love with Ephram, Amy rented a ferris wheel as her backdrop for her epic speech about him changing her life completely when he moved to her sleepy little town. Swoon.

Veronica Mars: OK, so it's not a gesture, but it's the grandest of grand speeches that Logan delivers to Veronica: "I thought our story was epic, you know, you and me…spanning years and continents. Lives ruined, bloodshed. Epic. But summer's almost here, and we won't see each other at all. And then you leave town...and then it's over…No one writes songs about the ones that come easy." What was that noise? Just the sound of our ovaries exploding into a million pieces.

Adam Rose/FOX

Glee: For a lot of people, the definition of true love is caring more for someone else than you do for yourself. Finn proved this sentiment to be true in the season three finale, when he took Rachel to the train station to go to New York City instead of the courthouse to get married. Though he wanted to marry her, he couldn't let her throw away her dreams, deciding to "set her free" instead. It was heartbreakingly realistic for a show that often veers into the cartoonish when it comes to relationships and an astonishingly mature and selfless move from Finn.

Virginia Sherwood/NBC

Friday Night Lights: Oh boy, there were a few. (C'mon, we're talking about the Taylor family of perfection here!) How about Eric asking Tami, "Will you take me to Philadelphia please?" They were little, but they were big. You know?

The WB/ Richard Cartwright

Felicity: While Noel may have gotten to say the grand line ("Stay in New York or perish!"), Ben got the grand gesture when he builds Felicity a time machine. OK, so it's a film canister, but it's a symbolic time machine as it contains the Charlie Chaplin film he was supposed to see her with when he stood her up (aka his biggest regret). So, of course, the two watch it projected on a brick wall. And you are still Team Noel why?!

Vivian Zink/NBC

The Office: How do you choose just one moment from Jim and Pam's ordinarily epic romance? It's tough, but we'll go with an object: the tea pot. When Jim got Pam for Secret Santa, he bought her a tea pot (which he stuffed with inside jokes) because he knew she needed one. But when he gave her the gift, he took out the card at the last moment. Cut to the series finale, when he finally gives her the card and we all melted. (Even better? We never learned what it said, it was just for the two of them.) Honorable mention: Jim enlisting the documentary crew to cut together a video documenting their relationship. Why so perfect, Jim Halpert?!

The CW

Gilmore Girls: Luke Danes, master of the subtle gesture. He'll make you a Santa Claus burger to cheer you up on Christmas Eve. He'll build a rain tent for your daughter's going-away party (sewing raincoats together). He'll build you an ice rink. All of which he did for Lorelai, who returned the GRG favor with a drunk rendition of "I Will Always Love You." (Who hasn't been there, right?)  

Grey's Anatomy: After four seasons of will-they-or-won't-they, Meredith did "a stupid, embarrassing, humiliating, corny thing" that proved just how ready she was to (finally!) commit to a life with Derek. With candles, she made a floor plan of their dream house, aka the house of candles. It was messy and cheesy and perfect and so them.

Scandal: OK, so this one is slightly controversial as many fans swooned when Fitz revealed to Olivia that he built their dream house in Vermont. But others were quick to raise an eyebrow over Olivia Pope seeming content to just stay home and make jam in her free time....with the man she thought killed her mother. We're conflicted and we think Shonda Rhimes wouldn't have it any other way.

The Mindy Project airs tonight at 9:30 p.m. on Fox.