Unresolved Sexual Tension: Difference between revisions

{{quote|''"Unresolved sexual tension. It's the engine that makes television run."''|'''Michael Weatherly''', in an ''[[NCIS]]'' episode commentary}}

[[Belligerent Sexual Tension]] is a way to keep the UST by having the couple fight each other too much to actually get together.

Compare [[Will They or Won't They?]], [[Just Friends]], [[Moment Killer]] (a staple of a UST relationship), [[My Sensors Indicate You Want to Tap That]] (a funny way to [[Lampshade Hanging]] UST), [[But I Would Really Enjoy It]].

Not to be confused with the University of Santo Tomás (in the Philippines), or the infamous ''Universidad Santo Tomás'' in [[Useful Notes/Chile|Chile]], or the University of St. Thomas (Missouri, Texas, OR Minnesota).[[hottip:*:[[Bilingual Bonus|Santo Tomás refers to St. Thomas.]]

== Anime & Manga ==

** To illustrate her oblivious nature, when they were standing in front of a love motel in the rain and Keiichi was wondering whether to go in with her, Belldandy grabbed his hand, appearing to give him a signal that she was ready, turns out she just wanted to know if she should make the rain stop and was totally unaware of the love motel.

*** And the only thing Keichii could bring himself to do when they went inside was ask the desk clerk if they could borrow an umbrella.

* ''[[Code Geass]]''. The shippers probably went ballistic over the romance of this series: three valid pairings for the male lead alone, and enough done by one side or the other to establish the attraction as canon. The relationship between the two [[Tsundere|Tsunderes]], Kallen and Lelouch, was especially frustrating because practically all the moments they had were interrupted by a character or an event, that is until {{spoiler|she stole a kiss from him near the end, only to get completely ignored by him, for a good reason.}}. The other two love interests were [[Naive Everygirl|Shirley]] {{spoiler|who spent most of the series with a crush on Lelouch and then died one episode after [[Relationship Upgrade|Lelouch finally come to actually notice and acknowledge the girl's feelings]]}} and [[Kuudere|C.C.]] {{spoiler|who spent most of the series helping Lelouch just so she could pass her curse of immortality onto him in the end and die}}. There was also that fact that [[Relationship Writing Fumble|she]] ''[[Relationship Writing Fumble|kissed]]'' [[Relationship Writing Fumble|him a lot]].<br /><br />And there's Kaguya, who's certain that the Unresolved Sexual Tension between Zero and his Number Two and Red Queen has been [[Tenchi Solution|resolved, as it were]]. ("We are Zero's three court ladies~!") She then plots to get in on the action, in-line with her actual romantic aspirations, and suspected dubious sexuality. Too bad she doesn't get that much screentime.

* ''[[Ergo Proxy]]'', Vincent and Re-l. The definition of their relationship.

** Pretty much ''every'' female Vincent comes into contact with, [[Squick|barring Pino of course.]]

* [[Troperiffic|Of course]], the ''[[Suzumiya Haruhi]]'' series features this between Mikuru and Kyon, although this tends to [[Die for Our Ship|depend on your camp]] and [[Suzumiya Haruhi no Yuutsu/WMG|which theories you may subscribe to]]. Unfortunately for them, [[Reality Warper|Haruhi]] isn't about to allow that come hell or high water due to her own UST with him (as exemplified by {{spoiler|how Kyon saved the world from being remade by stealing a kiss from Haruhi, and the ending of Someday in the Rain}}), and on top of that it's also forbidden for Mikuru by [[Time Travel|time traveller]]-rules. Her {{spoiler|future self tells him she's glad to see him again, which strongly implies that nothing ever came of it.}}

** If you believe [[Unreliable Narrator]] Kyon, {{spoiler|he doesn't take future Mikuru's suggestion that he kiss her younger self while she's asleep.}} But considering that he's likely to get written out of existence if he upsets Haruhi, he's got ample reason to not tell anyone if he did.

* Spike and Faye from ''[[Cowboy Bebop]]''. Mostly [[All Love Is Unrequited|one-sided]], on Faye's part. Spike seems rather hung up on Julia. However, Watanabe once stated in an interview that "Spike may have feelings for Faye, he's just not one to outwardly express them." Considering the type of person Spike is, it makes sense.

** No, it's that he's still holding a torch for [[Star-Crossed Lovers|Julia]] after all these years, and even Faye confesses her feelings as being [[True Companions|familial]] as opposed to sexual.

** [[Word of God]] in the third art book says that {{spoiler|the series ended without them getting married because of the military's anti-fraternization law}}. The ''Chronicles'' book released in autumn 2011 does confirm that {{spoiler|they remain side by side for pretty much the rest of their lives, though whether [[They Do]] ever happens is still left open for interpretation}}.

* In ''[[Full Metal Panic]]'', [[Tsundere|Kaname]] and [[The Stoic|Sôsuke]] -- namely the anime. At the end of the third season, ''just'' when it looks like they're finally at ''least'' going to hug, they're [[Moment Killer|interrupted]]. Also, [[Cool Big Sis|Mao]] and [[Chivalrous Pervert|Kurz]] have a ''lot'' of UST {{spoiler|which is eventually resolved in the [[Light Novel|Light Novels]]}}.

* ''[[Vassalord]]'' IS this trope. Except it kind of gets resolved. Kind of. But not really as Charley and Johnny still haven't done it despite obviously WANTING to. Charley walks in on Johnny showering without a problem.

* In ''[[Princess Tutu]]'', once {{spoiler|Fakir}} finds out about Ahiru's secret there starts to be a ''lot'' of UST between the two, normally centered around {{spoiler|Fakir}} accidentally being around when Ahiru turns from a duck into a (naked) girl.

** It doesn't help that another character repeatedly forces her to change in front of him on purpose

* Daisuke Moriyama's ''[[World Embryo]]'', repeats ''[[Chrono Crusade]]'''s structure. Amane x Riku was interrupted by Amane's death. So now we have Rena x Riku (lampshaded massively due to them being "Mom" and "Dad" to Nene, potential kiss interrupted by [[Moment Killer|Nene]]), [[Squick|Riku x Nene]], Yui x Riku (averted), {{spoiler|Yui x Takao (averted by death)}}, Hayato x Suzu (come on, she helps him with going to the toilet and bathing...), Kota x Mizaki, etc.

* Kirihara from ''[[Darker Than Black]]'' had a few potential love interests that never went anywhere. Most of the tension is with the protagonist Hei (despite the fact that she's trying to catch him), who she seems to have developed a crush on in his [[Obfuscating Stupidity]] [[Nice Guy]] persona, while he mostly doesn't seem to notice. Another is her second-in-command, a man too shy to admit it who later professes his love for her-- unfortunately for him, [[Reset Button|both of them lost their memory of the incident afterward]] and it was one-sided. Her interactions with Jack Simon/November 11 could potentially be seen this way as well.

* Rito from ''[[To Love Ru]]'' is practically made of this trope, towards Lala and Haruna especially. He'd had a crush on Haruna that was at least a year old by the start of the story, and all of there interaction is chock full of UST. It's little better with Lala, who he refuses to admit to even the possibility for 100 chapters.

** Let's not even get started on the UST [[Harem|the girls]] have towards him either, which include one girl sneaking into his bed and another freaking out over sending him a text message. In fact it wouldn't be too much of a stretch to declare ''[[To Love Ru]]'' one big pile of [[UST]].

** Also counts as [[Belligerent Sexual Tension]] , seeing as how, you know... [[Blood Knight|Revy]] has ''shot'' at Rock on ''several'' different occasions with full intent to kill, and reguarly points her gun at him with death threats whenever he [[Sliding Scale of Idealism Versus Cynicism|gets particuarly idealistic]]... [[Aw, Look -- They Really Do Love Each Other|only to share a nice little romantic scene together]] [[Slap Slap Kiss|just moments after she tried to murder him]]. They ''really'' push [[Belligerent Sexual Tension]] to the limit.

* ''[[Hajime no Ippo]]'' is a very shounen manga and all, but, I mean.. [http://www.onemanga.com/Hajime_no_Ippo/749/14/ This] and [http://www.onemanga.com/Hajime_no_Ippo/749/15/ this] I mean, come on!

** Sapphire and Ruby aren't much better. Which becomes interesting when you think about who their mentors are. (Hint, look up.)

** And that's ''before'' you look at Wataru.

* There's truckloads of this between Ushio and Sumika from ''[[Sasameki Koto]]''.

* Orcelito and Kiliko of +C: Sword and Cornett. There's just no other way to describe it.

* ''[[Spice and Wolf]]'' revolves around Holo and Lawrence growing closer and closer over the course of a complicated game of banter and flirtation, while also being kept apart by [[Mayfly-December Romance|Lawrence's mortality]] and other issues. The tension seems like it's resolving itself in incremental steps, however.

** In one episode, American and England are arguing and France actually says (in the English dub) "When you two are done relieving sexual tensions, we have a meeting we need to finish!" Then there's Switzerland when he bumps into Austria at the grocery store and a painfully awkward lunch follows...

* When you really think about it, ''[[Soul Eater]]'' seems to be leaning toward this, despite [[Word of God]] saying that most of the relationships were going to remain platonic.

** Tsubaki proves to be {{spoiler|the horniest member}} of the [[True Companions]], which is explained when Black*Star admits that they {{spoiler|[[Not What It Looks Like|sleep together in the same room]]}}.

** Soul constantly uses Maka's [[Suspiciously Specific Denial|lack of sex appeal]] as the reason for everything from why they don't get along earlier on in the manga to why no one has requested her as a partner in the more recent chapters. The chapter of Lust, however, would suggest he's lying, although [[Your Mileage May Vary]] on who, exactly, Soul and Maka look like when genderbent. Maka also complains that he doesn't refer to her as being like an angel, despite Ox referring to Kim the same way. Doesn't quite work out when you consider the fact that Ox and Kim are ''[[Official Couple|boyfriend and girlfriend]]'', not partners. Soul does eventually give in and call her an angel during their fight with [[Yandere|Gopher]], although [[The Lancer|he]] might just be being [[Sarcasm Mode|sarcastic]].

** Also, Pip and Seras, {{spoiler|at least in the beginning.}}

** Superman and Lois had a good 55 year run of this in the comics (although, their Earth 2 counterparts tied the knot decades ago, they got together in the movies, and they had even started dating in the comics current continuity about 6 years prior). Superman was either too Super for an earth woman or too alien or he had to stay dedicated to his mission. [[Post-Crisis]], it was more that he wanted Lois to love him as Clark since he considered that to be his [[True Self]].

*** And now with the DC relaunch of September 2011 we come back to this. Just read ''Superman'' #1.

* [[Spider-Man (Comic Book)|Spider-Man]] and [[Ms. Marvel]] when written by Brian Reed.

* [[Empowered (Comic Book)|Empowered]] and Thugboy are the official couple, but there is mutual UST between [[OT 3|both of them and Ninjette]]. And [[The Imp|the Caged Demonwolf]] likes to [[Lampshade|point it out]].

* The [[Scott Pilgrim]] series has a ''massive'' amount of UST between Scott and his [[Unlucky Childhood Friend]] Lisa.

== Fanfic ==

* Take it as read, ninety percent of fanfiction is all about resolving this very trope. The other ten percent? Slash resolving perceived sexual tension.

== Films -- Live Action ==

** Picard and Crusher-Never resolved in canon. They get over themselves in one of the novels, though.

** A bit squicky, but Graverobber for Shilo in "Needle Through a Bug".

* In ''L.627'', a French film directed by Bertrand Tavernier, narcotics cop "Lulu" Marguet is in love with HIV-positive prostitute Cecile, but they are kept apart by the disease.

* For the first [[Star Wars|two]] [[The Empire Strikes Back|films,]] Luke Skywalker and Princess Leia. In light of, ah, [[Long Lost Sibling|later revelations,]] it is a ''[[Squick|very]]'' good thing that nothing comes of this.

* ''Cairo Time''. Unresolved sexual tension is the plot of the movie. Seriously, nothing happens ''but'' sexual tension. Absolutely nothing. And yet it's lovely. In that ''Brief Encounter'' sort of way.

* In ''[[Inception]]'', Arthur asks Ariadne to kiss him so that Fischer's dream projections don't detect them.

* ''[[Pulp Fiction]]'' never resolves the obvious sexual tension between Vincent and Mia.

* The [[Audrey Hepburn]] film ''The Nun's Story'' has UST between Sister Luke (Hepburn) and the doctor she works for, Dr. Fortunati (Peter Finch), while she is in the Congo.

* From the same time period, ''[[Persuasion]]'' also packs a pretty good punch. The first scene where Anne and Captain Wentworth are reunited after so many years, even though they do no more than exchange awkward pleasantries, is ridiculously charged.

* {{spoiler|Leafpool and Crowfeather}} in the third ''[[Warrior Cats]]'' series after being forced to "go their separate ways" by the freakin' Warrior Code. Also a lot of tension between them in ''Starlight'' before {{spoiler|Crowfeather}} confesses his feelings at the end of the book. According to the narrator, the tension ''literally'' crackles like lightning.

* The '90s [[Hardy Boys]]/[[Nancy Drew]] crossover books included a ''ton'' of UST between Nancy and Frank, including at least one illicit kiss; it could never come to anything, of course, since they both had steady love interests in their own series.

* [[Jane Austen]]'s ''[[Pride and Prejudice]]'' runs on subtle but pervasive UST, at least for the second half. Before that, almost the entire story is Elizabeth POV and she insists she's very much not interested in Darcy.

* [[The Inheritance Cycle]]. Oh, dear Guntera, [[The Inheritance Cycle|those books]]. The most fun thing is that {{spoiler|even AFTER the last book is over, the sexual tension between Arya/Eragon and Murtagh/Nasuada is STILL unresolved and will likely remain so.}} Ah, well... that's what [[Fanfic]] is for.

** At least {{spoiler|Roran is [[Happily Married]] to Katrina, and Saphira finally found a mate in Fírnen (despite the unfortunately brief nature of their relationship).}}

* In ''[[A Song of Ice and Fire]]'', there's Sandor "The Hound" Clegane and Sansa. Beginning with him [[Belligerent Sexual Tension|making sarcastic japes and mocking innocent Sansa's ideals]] to breaking into her room during the night, getting drunk and sleeping in her bed while waiting for her, and then putting a knife to her throat which culminates in what looks to be an almost rape scene. Sansa gets away with just singing a song for him, and he [[Tragic Keepsake|leaves behind his bloody cloak]]. As of currently, Sansa has been having dreams about Sandor having a wedding night with her, constantly compares every man that makes a move on her to him, and has convinced herself that Sandor kissed her that night ([[Fake Memories|he didn't]]) and is disappointed that he only left her with his cloak.

* Joel and Maggie in ''[[Northern Exposure]]''. Resolved, unresolved, averted, inverted, subverted, lampshades, and every other durn thing under the sun.

* On ''[[Chuck]]'', virtually every semi-regular female character except his sister has this with Chuck. In the first season, people thought there was even UST with her.

* ''[[Xena: Warrior Princess]]''. Xena and {{spoiler|Gabrielle}}. So much.

** And Xena and {{spoiler|Ares}}. And Xena and {{spoiler|Hercules}}. And Xena and {{spoiler|Iolaus}}. And Xena and {{spoiler|Draco}}. And Xena and {{spoiler|Borias}}. You get the pattern?

** Also, Gabrielle and {{spoiler|Joxer}}.

** Also, Buffy and {{spoiler|Xander}} in the comic continuation "Season 9".

** "Take me, sir. Take me hard."

*** "Now somethin' about that is just downright unsettlin'."

** And there is also plenty of tension between, surprisingly, [[Foe Yay|River and Jayne]]. And the fans seem to like it, what with all of those [[Portmanteau Couple Name|Rayne]] fics.

** As for Simon and Kaylee, {{spoiler|the U turns into an R in the [[Big Damn Movie]]. [[Crowning Moment of Funny|While River]] [[Covert Pervert|watches.]]}}

* There were also hints of this with Mike and Connie on the [[Law and Order|original series]].

* And in the [[Law and Order UK|UK version]], it's strongly implied that DS Matt Devlin and CP James Steel have feelings for CP Alesha Philips. It actually becomes fairly obvious in each man's separate, but similar reactions to the video of her rape--James seems thoroughly sickened by it and can barely stand to watch it, while Matt can't watch it at all, but is clearly just as sickened by what he can still hear.

** Probably the most shining example of their UST would be the final scene of "The Unnatural" with Mulder "teaching" Scully to play baseball. Lots of touching, lots of double talk, and three little words (no, not ''those'' three little words): "Hips before hands."

* Many fans commented on a particular, serious case with [[Real Life]] actors Selena Gomez and David Henrie, who play Alex Russo and Justin Russo, from ''[[Wizards of Waverly Place]]''. The case is serious due to the actors' strong chemistry that turned the recent film's heartwarming, brother-sister scenes into almost romantic, flirtatious moments. And because it's a [[Disney]] production.

* Essentially the series spanning relationship of Harm and Mac in ''[[JAG]]'', as half of their spats in and outside the courtroom liked to play with this. The wake of failed relationships also seemed to keep their UST alive and well, as both Harm and Mac would have a new love interest by mid-season or the start of a new season. This lasted until the final episode where they decide to finally get married.

* ''[[Friends]]'', obviously. That show lived off UST, primarily that of Ross and Rachel. They would resolve it once, then something will go wrong, cue angry break up, the UST will slowly build up again over time, over and over again. When Chandler and Monica started up a sexual relationship that deepened into love, it was a relief.

* Shawn and Juliet from ''[[Psych]]'' are definitely showing what looks like some UST, granted it's not the premise around which the show is built (thank God). There was a moment in season 2 where {{spoiler|Shawn and Jules ''almost'' kissed but Jules wound up rebuking him}} and in season 3 {{spoiler|Shawn was turned down for a date with the girl from the aquarium because she didn't want to ''get in the way''.}}<br /><br />Shawn himself has a high school potential sweetheart "The one who got away" named Abigail. They met again at their high school reunion which led to resolving a lot of their UST. But just when Abigail seemed interested in pursuing a new relationship, Juliet was in Shawn's line of sight and he clumsily but politely backs out of it. Several episodes later he decides to go for it with Abigail and just as he gets popcorn for her, Juliet tries to resolve their UST.

* Shawn and Jules FINALLY give into their feeling for each other in season 5, and start dating.

** Lampshaded by Gibbs in "Smoked". {{spoiler|"You two done playing grabass?"}}

** Even lampshaded in McGee's book Deep Six, where the characters based of Tony and Ziva are in a romantic relationship.

** Abby and McGee are a case of Resolved Sexual Tension. They were involved for a few episodes in season one, but after their break-up have continued to flirt and get jealous of each other's love interests.

** Gibbs and Director Shepard used to go out--and more--and there's still an odd sort of flirty banter going on between them. While they still seem to have feelings, they don't bother to pursue them. Possibly because she's his boss.

** {{spoiler|And the fact that she is dead.}}

* Used effectively in Season 4 of ''[[The Sopranos]]'' between {{spoiler|Carmela and Furio.}} It ends painfully when {{spoiler|Furio panics about his feelings for Carmela, due to the fact that she's The Boss's wife, and moves back to Italy.}} In the season finale, it becomes an important factor in {{spoiler|Tony and Carmela's separation}}.

** And of course, Tony and Dr. Melfi, who knows him ''emotionally'' perhaps better than any other woman in the series--being his therapist and all.

* This is the entire point of ''[[Castle]]'', which has been described as "''Moonlighting'' meets ''Murder She Wrote''". More [[Belligerent Sexual Tension|belligerent]] in the first season, but after some [[Character Development]] settled into a serious case of this. It doesn't help that [[The Charmer|Castle's a flirt]] and [[Fetish Fuel|Beckett's a tease]].

* ''[[Smallville]]''. At some point on the show, [[Love Dodecahedron|everybody crushes after everybody]]. But almost [[All Love Is Unrequited|never in pairs]]. Since half the crushes involve [[Creator's Pet|Lana Lang]], the effectiveness of the UST depends very much on viewers liking that character.

* The Doctor and Rose in ''[[Doctor Who]]''. Even in their last goodbye, it takes a clone of him to admit his feelings.

** The 11th Doctor and River Song have ridiculous levels of UST. Which isn't surprising, considering the Timey-Wimey nature of their relationship, it's entirely possible that from River's perspective, they've, ah...''resolved'' it in her past, (and therefore his future).

*** {{spoiler|Rigsby and Van Pelt got found out and it led to their breakup. Rigsby still loves Van Pelt, she started dating a new guy. They get engaged, but then the new guy turns out to be a [[Mook]] for [[Big Bad|Red John]], and is shot. So, back to square one.}}

** Jane and Lisbon also have some UST, and a fair amount of [[Ship Tease]].

** B'Elanna and Tom Paris, for the first few seasons at least, before they get married.

** Then there's Seven and the Doctor. He started to become attracted to her in "Someone To Watch Over Me" and certain episodes hinted that she may have had feelings for him as well.

** And Captain Picard and Doctor Crusher - who eventually (in what may be an averted alternate future) marry, and then divorce, though she keeps his name.

* Daisy and Tim in ''[[Spaced]]''. Incredibly frustrating as the show ended because of Simon Pegg getting distracted with a movie career that came out of nowhere, just as the two seemed to be realising what the audience was rooting for since episode 1.

*** Additionally, the DVD complete series boxset featured a behind the scenes documentary on the show, ending with Simon and Jess standing outside the house that doubled as Daisy and Tim's flat. After they've wrapped up the documentary and thanked the fans for watching, they walk off, but the camera stays on the entrance to the house... {{spoiler|which is when we see them emerge, as Daisy and Tim, with a baby, clearly an item. [[Crowning Moment of Heartwarming|Aww.]]}}

* ''[[Primeval]]'' had multiple UST's going on at any point during the shows run. The most prominent being Jenny (or Claudia depending on which series you're watching) and Cutter...this is never resolved. No worries though, because Connor and Abby picked up right where they left off in series 3, just in time for the show to be canceled. Looks like the show may be [[Un Cancelled]] though -- at least two new seasons have been confirmed, starting to air in 2011, so it looks like something might well come of Connor and Abby's UST after all. Especially when you consider the two of them are effectively trapped alone with only each other for company, as of the Series 3 finale.

* ''[[The Sarah Connor Chronicles]]'' has enough of this between John & Cameron to lift a blimp. {{spoiler|Semi-resolved during a scene in the final episode where John checks her power source, inside her body. It is played as losing their virginities, complete with nervousness, awkwardness, instructions ("take your hand and put it here") and reassurances ("that's good, John") and that it doesn't hurt. This charged scene is open to interpretation. It is possible Cameron is deliberately resolving the sexual tension, especially when she asks John how it feels in there and he has to reply. "Cold."}}

** Cameron is really one of those characters who has sexual tension with ''everyone''. There's tension between her an every single one of the show's lead characters, [[Belligerent Sexual Tension|belligerent]] or otherwise. There's even some between her and Riley, and she's flat-out terrified of Cameron.

* ''[[Dollhouse]]'' Head Adelle Dewitt and her [[Number Two|head of security]] Laurence Dominic ooze UST during their morally grey [[Power Walk|power walks]]. At least, until: {{spoiler|he was revealed to be a spy. She sounds a ''lot'' like a jilted lover when chewing him out.}}<br /><br />Also Topher and Dr. Saunders, at least until the arrival of Bennett.

{{quote| '''Steed:''' All this time I've known you, and I never knew you could sew!<br />

'''Emma:''' Well, our relationship hasn't been exactly domestic, has it? }}

** Not as of the season 4 finale. Carter and Allison are still together (though more time travel was still involved to keep Allison alive)

* During the [[Crossover]] of ''[[Eureka]]'' and ''[[Warehouse 13]]'', Fargo and Claudia had a full serving of geeky sexual tension in the first half of the crossover, which looked like it would go nowhere until Claudia's boyfriend dumped her at the end of the first half. In the 2nd half, back in Eureka, they got their [[Crossover Ship]] sailing, making out after they geekily disabled a mine that would've killed them.

* Jane Rizzoli and Maura Isles of, unsurprisingly, ''[[Rizzoli and Isles]]'', ooze this. [[Some Anvils Need to Be Dropped]]; two women are ''very'' rarely the primary [[UST]] couple, and never in a police procedural ([[Heteronormative Crusader]] meets [[Executive Meddling]]), and some of us are very pleased indeed to see a ''[[Bones]]''-worthy level of UST between them. [[Fan Yay|For obvious reasons]]. It helps that one of them is [[Law and Order|Abbie Carmichael]] and the other is [[NCIS|Kate Todd]]. (Amusingly, fanon says [[Blonde Republican Sex Kitten]] Abbie was gay as well.)

* ''[[Degrassi]]'' plays with this whenever a pairing is not put into effect immediately. How well it works [[Your Mileage May Vary|depends on the couple]]. Clare and Eli's UST is certainly the most recent.

* ''[[Glee]]'' played this between Will and Emma in the first season (though, ironically, once they'd gotten together they broke up because she was too mysophobic to have sex). In the second season, the major [[UST]] is between Kurt and Blaine. Kurt [[Anchored Ship|swears they're just friends]], but try telling that to audiences after their duet of "Baby, It's Cold Outside".

** One wonders if [[William H Macy]] (the real life husband of [[Felicity Huffman]], aka Dana) was cast as Sam because of the planned direction things would go between the characters, or if Sorkin played up that angle in response to the casting. Chicken and egg.

{{quote| '''Abed:''' To be blunt, Jeff and Britta is no [[Friends|Ross and Rachel]]. Your sexual tension and lack of chemistry are putting us all on edge. Which is why, ironically - and hear this on every level - [[Incredibly Lame Pun|you're keeping us from being]] ''[[Friends]]''.<br />

'''Britta:''' Jeff and I do not have sexual tension. We just argue all the time.<br />

== Video Games ==

* Link and Zelda (as well as Marin, Midna and any number of his female companions throughout the years) in the ''Zelda'' series. However, [[Word of God]] has suggested Link and Zelda won't be portrayed as more than friends.

* The player and either Carth or Bastila (depending on gender) for most of the first [[Knights of the Old Republic]], and the player with Atton or the Handmaiden in the sequel.

* Ada Wong and Leon Kennedy from ''[[Resident Evil]]''. Some could also be argued for Billy Coen and Rebecca Chambers, but with Ada and Leon, it's definitely harder arguing ''against'' it. Ada's thoughts and actions are a pretty clear indication that Ada genuinely loves Leon, but can't seem to act on it due to circumstances. Ada is pretty much [[Dating Catwoman|"Catwoman" to Leon's "Batman"]].

** Chris Redfield and Jill Valentine also seem to have plenty of this going on as well. Ever since ''REmake'' the series has been filled with not-that-subtle signs of a deeper affection whenever the two are onscreen, even though it's never been taken further. Even Chris's new (working) partner Sheva in ''[[Resident Evil 5]]'' makes the quick deduction [[Everyone Can See It|that he and Jill were "close"]] after he recounts a brief description about her.

* ''[[Metal Gear Solid]]'' - Solid Snake and Otacon are suspected of this. Even creator Hideo Kojima is a fan of the unstated pairing. This is essentially confirmed in interviews with the voice cast, where David Hayter has admitted that he and Christopher Randolph played Snake and Otacon as a gay couple.

* ''[[Mass Effect|Mass Effect 2]]'' has this develop between Shepard and Samara if a relationship with her is pursued. Considering Samara is a [[Celibate Hero]], it remains in the "Unresolved" stage.

** Conversations between Shepard and Liara, and (male) Shepard and Miranda have shades of this in [[Mass Effect|Mass Effect 3]], if they were left unromanced through the course of the trilogy.

** [[Your Mileage May Vary|Some believe]] this trope applies to Sora and Riku instead.

* People believe Lara Croft and Larson in ''[[Tomb Raider]] Anniversary'' behave this way. Larson doesn't try to kill Lara over the first Scion piece until he is losing the fight and Lara never makes an attempt to shoot Larson at all, but uses fancy acrobatics to knock him down. In another scene, Lara attempts to escape from Natla's goons and Larson had a clear shot at Lara, but purposely misses his shot. In the two characters' final meeting, Larson gloats that Lara doesn't have what it takes to kill him and he just stands there believing it until Lara actually starts shooting him in a [[Quick Time Event]]. Should you fail the QTE here, Lara gets killed and Larson regrets that he had to kill her.

== Visual Novels ==

* Likewise in ''[[Tsukihime]]''; every heroine (that hasn't been [[Demoted to Extra]]) has a sex scene somewhere on their route.

* Except in the True Ending for ''[[Kara no Shoujo]],'' Toko and Reiji have immense amounts of UST that is picked up on by the rest of the cast, who come to the conclusion that they must be sleeping together.

** There's also tension between Agatha and Tarvek. It's not for nothing that one of the images for the [[Girl Genius]] website's main page has one of Agatha's clanks running off with her diary, shedding love letters to both Gil ''and'' Tarvek.

** And between Gil and Tarvek, [[Ho Yay|if you ask the right people]].

* The early ''[[Questionable Content]]'' strips had this entirely. Now that {{spoiler|Dora and Marten are together, we have Faye and Angus tension}}

** As of comic 1799 {{spoiler|Dora and Marten have broken up AND Faye and Angus are together, so there's a surprising lack of tension and boredom.}}

*** A [[Suspiciously Similar Substitute]] has appeared as Marten's new infatuation.

** It seems [http://www.collectedcurios.com/sequentialart.php?s=748 obvious] to others what is happening.

* This has been simmering awkwardly between Bob and Voluptua since the beginning of ''[[The Inexplicable Adventures of Bob]],'' despite his relationship with Jean.

== Web Original ==

* [[Sexy Secretary]] Sandra Telfer and [[Sad Clown]] Raimi Matthews in ''[[Broken Saints]]'', which unfortunately, {{spoiler|stays unresolved due to untimely demise.}}

* [[Thalias Musings]] has this between Thalia, the Muse of Comedy, and Apollo, Governor of the Muses.

* Sasha Hunter and Hashimoto Daichi from [[Greek Ninja]].

== Western Animation ==

* ''[[Justice League]]''

** [[Batman]] and [[Wonder Woman]]. However, it's more or less only unresolved on Batsy's part, due to his... "issues". Wonder Woman is very open, even aggressive, about her desire to get together with him. A comic published at the same time plays with the same concept, but goes further by showing what life would be like if Batman and Wonder Woman got together. The UST is so strong that even when they were turned into children by Morgan Le Fey, their attraction was still noticeable.

{{quote| '''Kid Green Lantern:''' ''(to an oblivious Superman)'' You know, for somebody with like fifty different kinds of vision, you are so blind.<br />

* ''[[Code Lyoko]]''. Ulrich and Yumi (used to be the picture of this page). To a level at which all [[Western Animation]] examples will be compared. This couple may live on in infamy as the only one to ever [[Getting Hot in Here|sit half-naked in a heat bath together]] at 4 PM on [[Cartoon Network]]. And ''still'' not hook up. It takes until ''the last few minutes of the last episode of the series'' before there's ''any'' kind of resolution, and even then it's only a tentative [[Will They or Won't They?|"they will"]]. It seriously borders on [[Mind Screw]].

* [[Kaeloo]] and Mr. Cat's relationship absolutely ''reeks'' of this. Their attraction to one another is painfully obvious, even to the other characters, who also happen to have had a few moments with the she-half of the budding couple.

** It should be noted that Kylie showed absolutely no attraction to him whatsoever, appearing to tolerate him at best. Her attraction was often more focused towards men with high intelligence, something Edwardo definitely is not.

** Also, in the last episode, Eduardo {{spoiler|is obviously attracted by a girl named Amanda. Kylie doesn't seem to mind.}}

** More so with Wally and Artemis...{{spoiler|until the end of season one}}.

* On [[Curious George]] it's pretty obvious there's something going on between The Man With The Yellow Hat and [[Hot Scientist]] Dr. Wiseman, but sadly they're in a children's educational cartoon so they can't act upon their feelings.

{{reflist}}