History Main / HeldGaze

[[folder:Anime & Manga]]
* In ''Anime/{{Pokemon}}'', Jessie and James from Team Rocket do this at the end of the episode "Holy Matrimony!". When Jessie and Meowth think James has got married and left forever, he suddenly returns in a hot air balloon, ''literally'' whisking Jessie off her feet. And then the two stare into each other's eyes while reaffirming their partnership, while Meowth runs after them, complaining that they forgot about him ''again''. It's a very popular episode with Rocketshippers, [[SarcasmMode for some reason]].
* ''Manga/InuYasha'': Occurs several times between different pairs, including a [[TearJerker moment]] between [[TheStoic Sesshoumaru]] and [[BrokenBird Kagura]]. [[spoiler:As her life ebbs away, they talk, run out of words, and finally hold each other's gaze as she [[NoBodyLeftBehind disintegrates]] into [[IDieFree the wind]].]]
* ''Anime/MazingerZ'': Kouji and Sayaka do this in the ''Mazinger-Z vs Great General of Darkness'', right when Kouji is going to sortie with Mazinger-Z to fight a battle he knows he can not win, and thinking he'll die. Sayaka stops him to give him his little brother's birthday gift, and both stare into each other's eyes for a long while. In the movie, Kouji finally turns around and leaves. In the manga version of that moment, they DO kiss.
* The anime adaptation of the ''LightNovel/AiNoKusabi'' novel has the StarCrossedLovers doing this near the end.
* In the ''Manga/DragonBall'' anime, Goku and Chi-Chi do this and an off-screen kiss after he recovers from his heart virus.
* Parodied in ''Manga/RanmaOneHalf''. Ranma and Akane are in a SchoolPlay, playing the parts of Romeo and Juliet. At one point, they look into each other's eyes for a long time. The audience thinks that they're pausing for dramatic effect and building the romantic tension. In reality, Ranma just forgot his lines.
* [[LikeAnOldMarriedCouple Haruka and Makoto]] from ''Anime/{{Free}}'' are pros at this. Whenever they have [[HoYay a moment together]], which seems to happen [[OnceAnEpisode quite often]], there ''will be'' a HeldGaze.
* This happens a lot between Italy and Holy Roman Empire in the chibitalia part of the ''Hetalia: Axis Powers'' anime.
* In Act 1 of ''Anime/SailorMoonCrystal'', after sniping at each other without really meeting eyes, Usagi pulls her test paper away from her face to further chastise Mamoru for mocking her low score, only to gasp as they both stare open mouthed, the scene turns mutually {{Gaussian|Girl}} and LoveBubbles appear. Usagi breaks the gaze and makes an awkward retreat, acutely aware that she finds the nameless boy attractive.
* ''Manga/RosarioToVampire'': Moka and Tsukune do this to RunningGag levels, often spending several minutes at a time just staring into each other's eyes and saying each other's names.
* ''Manga/SangatsuNoLion'' has one of animosity between Hina and Kyoko. The intimidating effect that Hina aims for during the scene falters due to her own nervousness, in large part due to the fact that she's a middle schooler trying to stare down a taller, adult woman, and they both know it.
* ''Manga/{{Naruto}}'' and Hinata had a few throughout the series, as an indication of their ongoing UnresolvedSexualTension. It gets ramped in ''Film/TheLastNarutoTheMovie'', [[spoiler:culminating in their FirstKiss and signifying the start of their relationship]].
* [[HoYay Mika and Yuu]] occasionally have this in ''Manga/SeraphOfTheEnd''.
* In ''Anime/DanganRonpa3'' ''Side: Despair'' Episode 8, Chiaki and Izuru spend several long moments just gazing at each other after [[spoiler:she recognizes him as her LoveInterest Hajime, now mind-wiped into another person]]. [[BigBad Junko]] [[MomentKiller even tells them to stop acting]] [[LampshadeHanging like they're in some shojo manga]].
* Victor and Yuri from ''Anime/YuriOnIce'' do this [[spoiler: after Victor tackles and kisses Yuri]] in Episode 7.
[[/folder]]

[[folder:Fan Works]]
* ''Fanfic/ACrownOfStars'': Used by future Asuka and Shinji at the beginning of the story and frequently for their younger selves after getting together.
* ''Fanfic/AdviceAndTrust'': In chapter 1 Shinji and Asuka gaze straight at each other eyes deeply as they talk about their pasts. They can not break contact eye as they open up and realize how alike they are.
* ''Manga/{{Evangelion 303}}'': Between Shinji and Asuka [[http://eva303.smackjeeves.com/comics/913421/026/ in this scene,]] shortly after [[BelligerentSexualTension a fight and kind-of-reconciliation]].
* ''Fanfic/{{HERZ}}'': In chapter 11 Shinji and Asuka did this right before the FinalBattle:
-->''Husband and wife nodded and rose from the bench. They looked at each other. There were so many words. Good luck. Be careful. I love you. Come back home safely. So many words. But there were no words as those would have failed them. Looking in each other's eyes, all that could be said and more passed between the two. And then they strode out to face their destinies.''
* ''Fanfic/LastChildOfKrypton'':
** In chapter 2 Shinji and Asuka met for first time and they gazed straight at each other’s eyes for several seconds. Asuka broke eye contact off before he realized she was staring, and Shinji was simultaneously relieved that she was looking away him and wanting to be under her gaze again.
** In chapter 4 Shinji and Asuka are in the school yard. Shinji is gazing at her and for a moment their stares met. They gazed at each other during seconds before Shinji blushed and looked away.
* ''Fanfic/SOE2LoneHeirOfKrypton'': In chapter 12 when they come home back from their no-date, they lock stares several times as they talk, before nearly kissing.
* In the ''Fanfic/LostInTimeSeries'', this type of gaze appears ''twice'' in chapter thirty - both versions, too, both [[HeterosexualLifePartner platonic]] and romantic.[[spoiler: Once between Diego and Terry as they fight Soto's army, locking gazes gratefully after Terry has just saved Diego's life and then time appears to slow for Frank and Claire as he holds the gaze of his darling wife for the last time.]]
* ''FanFic/RosarioVampireBrightestDarkness'': Several of the couples in the fic (Tsukune x Moka, Rason x Kurumu, Ahakon x Yukari, etc.) often do this, sometimes even in the middle of a combat situation.
* In ''Fanfic/TheSecondTry'' Shinji and Asuka do this whenever they have the chance.
* In ''Fanfic/GameTheoryFanFic'', this happens between Nanoha and Fate [[spoiler:culminating in Nanoha deciding to abandon everyone and everything she had ever known to stay with Fate.]]
* In ''Fanfic/WeightlessMassEffect'', Shepard and Garrus do this [[LoveAtFirstSight right from the first time they meet]] and every changes they have after that. Naturally, a lot people catch on that (like Kaidan and Thane) really fast.
* In ''Fanfic/ThousandShinji'', after destroying [[EldritchAbomination Leliel]], Shinji and Asuka have celebratory sex. When they’re done, they spend a while gazing into each other’s eyes.
-->All that was left was to gaze into the eyes of the other, and to see your own eyes superimposed from their point of view.
* Several instances in ''Fanfic/NeonGenesisEvangelionGenocide'':
** In chapter 10, Shinji and Asuka's eyes locked on another when she revealed that she was scared because her synch-ratio had dropped again.
--->The German redhead seemed to consider his question for an eternity, rolling it in her mind and wondering if she should answer. For the first time in the night, their eyes locked on one another.
** In chapter 11, after kissing, Shinji and Asuka lock eyes for a while.
--->When the kiss finally broke they both gasped for air, and locked eyes with each other again.
* ''Fanfic/CorrinReacts'': Flora and Corrin share one of these at the end of the Festival two-parter, increasing the ShipTease between the two.
[[/folder]]

[[folder:Films -- Live-Action]]
* ''Film/OurMissBrooks'': Just before, and after, Miss Brooks and Mr. Boynton share a kiss in the [[TheMovie cinematic]] [[GrandFinale series finale]] of the series of the same name.
* Parodied in ''Film/{{Soapdish}}'', as the characters in the ShowWithinAShow do this UpToEleven.
* In the ''Literature/LittleWomen 1994'' adaptation starring WinonaRyder and Creator/ChristianBale, Jo and Laurie share one before Laurie's AnguishedDeclarationOfLove and their BigDamnKiss.
* ''Franchise/PiratesOfTheCaribbean'':
** Will and Elizabeth have this quite regularly between them as their romance blossoms in ''Film/PiratesOfTheCaribbeanTheCurseOfTheBlackPearl''.
** Philip and Syrena have a lot of gaze-holding going on in ''Film/PiratesOfTheCaribbeanOnStrangerTides''.
* Anne and Gilbert share a Passionate Look when the two reconnect in a gazebo in Kevin Sullivan's adaptation ''[[Literature/AnneOfGreenGables Anne of Avonlea]]'' (1987). They also hold each other's gazes at least ''twice'' in ''Anne of Green Gables'' (1985) during important tests at school.
* ''Literature/{{Twilight}}'' consists of Edward and Bella doing this for two straight hours.
** [[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0gugBiEkLwU As noted here.]]
* RomanticComedy will ''often'' employ this trope, as it's very effective for {{UST}} and creating a [[RuleofRomantic moment]] between the two LoveInterests.
* ''Film/{{Enchanted}}'' has Robert and Giselle doing this at the ball during their DanceOfRomance.
* In Creator/PeterJackson's ''Film/KingKong2005'', Ann and Kong find themselves gazing into each other's eyes often during her captivity and their reunion in New York features a very meaningful one. Heck, even the ''poster'' for the film has them doing this!
* Doc Brown and Clara share one in ''Film/BackToTheFuturePartIII''.
* In ''Film/NationalTreasure'', the first variant occurs twice between Ben and Abigail twice. First, when they are arguing about her coming along with them to keep the Declaration safe: they gaze deeply into each other's eyes and Ben gives in to Abigail, with the Jefferson Memorial in the background. The second time it happens is when the adventurers are down in the tunnel beneath Trinity Church; Ben grabs Abigail, and they look deeply into each other's eyes soulfully before they [[BigDamnKiss kiss]].
* The "long distance love-scene" from Creator/LaurenceOlivier's film version of ''Theatre/{{Hamlet}}'', where Hamlet and Ophelia hold each others' gaze from opposite ends of a corridor.
* In ''Franchise/StarWars: Film/AttackOfTheClones'' this happens between Anakin and Padme twice: once as a gentle lover's gaze into each other's eyes, and then later as an indicator they are about to BigDamnKiss - and they do.
* In ''Film/TheSoundOfMusic'', Captain Von Trapp and Maria are doing this for most of the time they're [[DanceOfRomance dancing the Laendler]], but by the time Maria stops dancing it's become so intense that they're practically [[AlmostKiss making out]].
* In ''Film/LemonadeMouth'', this happens between Wen and Olivia while writing 'Determinate'. They then go back to awkwardly writing the song.
* A platonic version is used at the end of ''Film/GoodbyeSolo'', when William and Solo part ways for the last time. It's particularly effective because [[spoiler:William is leaving to commit suicide, something that Solo has spent the entire film trying to prevent him from doing. And they both know that Solo has failed.]]
* In ''Film/WhenInRome'', lead protagonists Nick and Beth share two extremely passionate {{Held Gaze}}s, one right after they meet and one that ultimately leads to a BigDamnKiss while at the museum.
* In ''Film/TheVow'', a very blatant HeldGaze - employed when the two meet each other in a line waiting for permits - kicks off the romance between Paige and Leo, the two protagonists.
* In ''Film/TheWeddingPlanner'', this happens in a MeetCute that combines LiterallyFallingInLove with HeldGaze when the eponymous wedding planner, played by Music/JenniferLopez is saved by MatthewMcConaughey. Actually, this trope is a prime motivator for the sparking {{UST}} the engaged doctor ([=McConaughey=]) and Lopez's character display towards each other in the film.
* Katniss and Peeta do their fair share of this in ''Film/TheHungerGames''. Especially when they're in the cave.
HeldGaze: Magnus and Alec have one when they first meet. Cue the squeals of fangirls everywhere.
--> "Him. The one with the blue eyes."
** Clary and Jace also share one of these when Clary accidentally falls on top of him.
* In ''Film/PacificRim'', Raleigh Beckett and Mako Mori share several long gazes with each other. The film doesn't really elaborate on their growing feelings for each other, but the unspoken words in the stares they give each other says enough.
* In the Olivier version of ''Theatre/RichardIII'', Lady Anne has a deer-in-the-headlights version with Richard during the seduction scene.
* ''Film/CirqueDuSoleilWorldsAway'': Between Mia and the Aerialist at the beginning, which causes him to miss a trapeze and fall DownTheRabbitHole.
* The lead couple in ''[[Film/{{Underworld1927}} Underworld (1927)]]'' share a lot of those looks.
* Film/BeyondTheLights: Kaz and Noni share a particularly long gaze after he saves her from jumping off a balcony. And thus their relationship begins.
* In ''Film/TheDuff'', one happens between Wes and Bianca on the think rock which leads to a brief BigDamnKiss.
* Bender and Claire have a lot of these in ''Film/TheBreakfastClub.'' Allison and Andy also share a few after her [[TheMakeover makeover,]] a sign of their growing feelings towards one another.
* A non-romantic example in ''Film/TheForceAwakens'' between [[spoiler: Luke Skywalker and Rey]] at the end, while [[spoiler: she is holding out his father's lightsaber for him to take. Rey]] in particular looks to be on the verge of tears.
* A possibly romantic though still ambiguous one takes place between Jyn and Cassian in ''Film/RogueOne'', in which they spend an entire elevator ride gazing intently into each other's eyes.
* Jack in ''Film/ApartmentZero'' does this with half the characters and a cat.
* ''Film/WifeVsSecretary'': Whitey is the "secretary" part of the love triangle that also includes her boss Van. While Van never actually cheats on his wife they ''do'' have an attraction for each other, as seen in the long held gaze that happens after Whitey helps a drunk Van to his hotel room.
* ''Film/ExMachina''. [[FemBot Ava]] lampshades this trope when asking if Caleb is attracted to her. [[spoiler:At the end of the movie Ava gives a LongLastLook at the body of her fellow FemBot Kyoko, barely glancing at Caleb as she leaves him trapped in a room where he's probably going to starve to death. This shows she's been faking her attraction to Caleb all this time.]]
[[/folder]]

[[folder:Live-Action TV]]
* ''Series/OurMissBrooks'': In ''The Magic Tree", before Mr. Boynton kisses Miss Brooks. [[spoiler: It's AllJustADream]].
* Done a lot in ''Series/{{Smallville}}'', but straightest in ''Bound'' when [[FanPreferredCouple Clark and Chloe]] have a moment in an elevator. [[spoiler:Curse you, MomentKiller!]]
* This is a prominent part of Jeff and Annie's UnresolvedSexualTension in ''Series/{{Community}}''
* Mulder and Scully of ''Series/TheXFiles'' used this trope frequently throughout the series, to the point of FacialDialogue. It has a habit of shutting out everyone else in the room and making even small moments ridiculously intimate.
* Frequently featured between Lee Adama and Kara Thrace in the reimagined ''Series/{{Battlestar Galactica|2003}}'', ''especially'' when they're with other love interests. Fans like to call this "[[FanNickname the eyefrak]]".
* {{Soap Opera}}s often use this trope to show the high tension between lovers--usually in the passionate look form.
* ''Series/HowIMetYourMother'': This is one of Barney's "moves" to invoke intimacy and seduce women ([[HoYay and Ted]]).
* In the ''NedsDeclassifiedSchoolSurvivalGuide'' episode "Guide to: Positives and Negatives", Sarah Gothman and Mark Downing have this before they kiss. [[spoiler:[[IncrediblyLamePun It's electrifying]]]].
* ''Series/{{Supernatural}}'':
** There's the platonic (HoYay-inducing) version: Dean and Castiel have been sharing long, tension-filled gazes since their first confrontation. At first, it's just because Dean's rather aggressive and Cas, being an [[OurAngelsAreDifferent angel]], has [[NoSocialSkills no idea]] about little things like how long it's appropriate to stare into someone's eyes [[NoSenseOfPersonalSpace from two feet away]], but they ''keep doing it''. It eventually became so blatant that when Castiel gives him a dirty look after Dean's near-betrayal, Dean lampshades it by joking, "Gee, Cas. Last time somebody looked at me like that--I got laid." (That was less than two years after Cas first showed up at the beginning of season 4. They haven't stopped yet, and it's currently season '''11'''. Cas still doesn't get "personal space" around Dean, either.) There's also a supercut--[[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Zwul2uv0RUA "Literally 10 minutes of every time Dean and Cas do the thing with the eyes"]].
** On Website/{{Tumblr}}, there is a "How to Look at Your Brother" blog, with images/[=GIFs=] of some of the long, emotional, tearful looks the brothers have exchanged throughout the series.
* ''Series/{{Friends}}'': Monica and Chandler do this frequently: when each of the other Friends find out about their SecretRelationship (TOW the Kips, TOW Everybody Finds Out, TOW The Girl Who Hits Joey) their immediate response is to look at each other, obviously appreciating that they can use the HeldGaze without suspicion.
* ''Series/MadMen'': This is combined with the LongingLook at the end of "The Rejected". Peggy and Pete lock eyes wistfully as they each follow their separate paths (her with new counterculture friends, him with businessmen in suits). However, you can tell there's always going to be a bit of longing and a "what could have been" vibe between them, even though neither one wants to travel down that path again.
* ''Series/StarTrekTheOriginalSeries'': Kirk and Spock do this all. the. damn. ''time''. In the episode "Miri," they held each others' gaze for a full twelve seconds, in complete silence, as the camera flicked back and forth between closeups of their faces. They're still doing the exact same thing twenty years later in ''[[Film/StarTrekVITheUndiscoveredCountry The Undiscovered Country]]'', when Kirk whispers in Spock's ear and then pulls away just far enough to lock gazes with him.
** Kirk and [=McCoy=] engage in the purely platonic "meaningful look" variant when they drop the friendly banter and display the fact that they are rock-solid best friends.
* ''Series/StarTrekVoyager'': Chakotay and Janeway after Chakotay reveals his feelings for her in the episode "Resolutions".
* Series/InspectorLynley and his partner DS Havers do this frequently, often immediately before solving the Case of the Week and proceeding to kick the villain's butt. They also do it a lot when they make up after a fight, or when they act as each other's confidantes, or...yeah. Suffice it to say that while this trope might not be ''intentionally'' romantic between them, it certainly played a major role in their {{UST}}, and spoke whole volumes about the characters' feelings for each other. In fact, during many of the most significant moments of their relationship, the words coming out of their mouths were completely incidental to the conversation they were having with their eyes.
* ''Series/{{Glee}}'''s Kurt and Blaine, right from their very first episode when Blaine sings "Teenage Dream" straight to Kurt. The ridiculously {{UST}}-ful gazes continue nonstop after that. They finally get their RelationshipUpgrade in "Original Song"--and, later that episode, proceed to sing a duet together while staring dreamily into each other's eyes the entire time. Kurt and Blaine like this trope a lot.
* Everyone does this to everyone else in ''Series/{{Merlin|2008}}''. ''Everyone''.
** Especially Arthur, Merlin, and Guinevere. These three are capable of having lengthy conversations with each other without ever saying a word.
** Nicely done in the episode "The Hunter's Heart" in which Arthur is considering marriage to a visiting princess, even though Merlin is urging him to get back together with Guinevere. After finding Guinevere's ring in the forest, Arthur and Merlin exchange a deep, wordless gaze. Behind them, Princess Mithian tries to get their attention, quickly realizing that something beyond her understanding is silently passing between the two men. Although Arthur/Guinevere was a ForegoneConclusion anyway, ''that's'' the moment the audience knows that Mithian is about to be sent packing.
* ''Series/BabylonFive'': The more Sheridan and Delenn do this, the closer they get. Or rather, the closer they get, the more they do this.
* In the ''Series/{{Sherlock}}'' episode "A Scandal in Belgravia", Sherlock and Irene Adler share intense, passionate gazes with each other at least twice in under five seconds, causing John Watson to snark out baby names since they are so obviously forgetting his presence in the room.
** John and Sherlock are not exempt from this. No wonder everyone thinks they're together...
* Parodied on ''[[Series/{{Thirty Rock}} 30 Rock]]'':
-->'''Liz:''' You know, some people actually craft stories, and when the story doesn't have an ending you don't just create one out of thin air by playing music or having people give each other meaningful looks. ''[music swells]'' Sure, that might manipulate an audience into THINKING they're feeling something, but it sucks.
-->'''Jack:''' ''[gives Lemon meaningful stare, their eyes lock]''
-->'''Liz:''' ''[spins and locks eyes with Jack]''
* The platonic version happens between Shawn and Gus of ''Series/{{Psych}}'' at the end of "An Evening with Mr. Yang". After saving his mom's life and helping catch the bad guy, Shawn finally gets to have his date with Abby. Shawn then turns around to look at Gus who is chilling in the backseat, still watching Shawn's back, even after the danger has passed.
* ''Series/{{Warehouse 13}}'': There is almost no scene where Myka and HG are in the same room that this trope doesn't apply.
* ''Series/BuffyTheVampireSlayer''. When Buffy is brought BackFromTheDead in Season 6 she keeps avoiding the gaze of her sister and friends, but when she first catches sight of Spike the two [[ShipTease keep staring at each other]] until the Scoobies [[MomentKiller barge in and spoil the moment]]. A platonic love version occurs in the following episode when Buffy's ParentalSubstitute Giles returns to Sunnydale.
** Its importance is lampshaded when Kennedy is on a date with Willow.
-->"It's like flirting in code, it's using body language, and laughing at the right jokes. And looking into her eyes and knowing she's still whispering to you, even though she's not saying a word."
** In Season 4, Willow is (justifiably) alarmed when she sees how her boyfriend Oz and sultry nightclub singer Veruca keep staring at each other as she sings.
* Terrifyingly {{inverted}} in the episode "Midnight" of ''Series/DoctorWho'' in which the Doctor goes face-to-face for a period of time with a woman possessed by some strange alien entity. He's already tried to argue to others present that they have no right to judge the creature, only to concede defeat with one of the show's most chilling lines: "I'd like to believe you're harmless...but your eyes are telling me a different story." Later it's hinted that the creature's prolonged HeldGaze with the Doctor allows it to [[spoiler:paralyze him]].
** Try to find an episode in Part B of Series 7 where Clara and the Doctor are [[NoSenseOfPersonalSpace near each other]] and ''aren't'' [[ShipTease holding]] [[UnresolvedSexualTension each other's gaze.]]
** And that goes double for Series 8 where the held gazes between Clara and the Twelfth Doctor last even longer.
** The Doctor and The Master Sometimes do this, especially during the 5/Ainley era.
* Richard Series/{{Castle}} and Kate Beckett have a tendency to do this as part of their {{UST}} in general, but one particularly notable example occurs in "Poof! You're Dead", wherein one of their usual "getting so caught up in theorizing about the case they finish each other's sentences" moments ends with them staring into each other's eyes, with the look on Castle's face almost pinpointing the exact second he realizes that he's fallen in love with her. Unfortunately for him, however, Beckett isn't quite on the same page and just asks him what he's looking at, prompting a rapid changing of the topic which only confuses her.
* Chuck and Blair on ''Literature/GossipGirl'' are all over this trope. Also known as them having "eye sex".
* Donna and Eric have one of these in ''Series/That70sShow'' during her parents' wedding vows (that she wrote for them with Eric in mind). [[TheirFirstTime Then they have sex]].
* ''Series/StarTrekDeepSpaceNine''. The Klingons actually have their own word for this, at least the platonic version. Worf is explaining where his loyalty to General Martok comes from.
-->'''Worf:''' You know that I was forced to fight the Jem'Hadar guards in the camp. Each day they would call me to the ring, and each day I would fight. But then there came a day when I...wavered.
-->'''Sisko:''' You mean you didn't want to go back into the ring?
-->'''Worf:''' No, I mean I [[DrivenToSuicide considered letting them kill me]]. It seemed like the only way out. Just before I went into the ring, Martok turned to wish me success. And then he saw what I was planning, he saw it in my eyes. It was a moment of ''tova'dok''.
-->'''Sisko:''' Of what?
-->'''Worf:''' There is no Human word for it. It is a moment of...clarity, between two warriors on a field of battle. Much is said without the need for words. In that moment, he knew what was in my mind. Once I realized that he saw my intention to give up I could no longer go through with it. I went back into the ring and fought once more. He had given me his warrior's heart. Perhaps it is something a Human cannot understand.
* ''Series/CallTheMidwife'' has [[BirdsOfAFeather Dr Turner and Sister Bernadette]], who can't seem to stop doing this. Unfortunately for them both, Sister Bernadette is a ''nun'', which is a bit of an obstacle, to say the least. [[spoiler:In the episode where she leaves the convent to be with him, they ''literally'' do not look away from each other for more than five seconds at a time when they're in the same scene. Understandable, since they're finally able to be together after months of mutual and very painful pining]].
* On ''Series/{{NCIS}}'', this happens between Tony and Ziva at times. The most notable moment is in season 7's "Reunion," after Ziva returns from Somalia. Ziva unexpectedly shows up at the Navy Yard, and suggests something to Tony and [=McGee=] for the Case of the Week. She and Tony end up in a HeldGaze, completely oblivious to anyone else in the room. [=McGee=] notices and tries to give them some privacy. Awkwardly.
-->'''[=McGee=]:''' And I'm going to go do that...right after I get a...[[INeedToIronMyDog Nutter Butter]]. ''[rolls eyes, leaves]''
* On ''Series/{{Community}}'', this happens several times between Jeff Winger and Annie Edison in the first season. And then again in the second season. And again in the third. And the fourth. And again in the fifth. In short, the HeldGaze is Jeff and Annie's {{UST}} M.O. In an attempt to downplay it Jeff describes an instance of this as "platonic shoulder-holding" and demonstrates on Leonard to show how normal and non-intimate it is, and Leonard promptly responds by trying to kiss him.
* ''Series/GameOfThrones'':
** In "The Kingsroad", bed-slave Doreah instructs Daenerys on the importance of this trope during her LesYay-filled {{sexposition}} on the art of making love to a man.
** Averted when Daenerys discovers that [[spoiler:her friend and adviser Jorah Mormont was originally sent to spy on her, and has him banished from her service]]. She spends most of their conversation looking over his head, [[ThisIsUnforgivable either in disdain]] or because she's [[TheWomanWearingTheQueenlyMask worried that she might feel sympathy]] if she looks him in the eye.
** In the same episode, Oberyn shares a triumphant look with his paramour Ellaria Sand during his duel [[spoiler:but that causes him to take his eyes off his opponent at a crucial moment]].
* In ''Series/RobinHood'', Allan-a-Dale is on the verge of being found out as TheMole within the outlaws, and in desperation goes to [[TheHeart Djaq]] to halfheartedly confess. She turns to look at him and says "I believe you're a good man," with such intense PuppyDogEyes that he has to break eye contact.
* Derek and Stiles have had many of these in the series Teen Wolf. Usually these looks are shared when Derek is in grave danger or when the two are having private conversations.
** In "Magic Bullet" when Stiles first realized that Derek may die.
** When Derek is dreaming of Stiles in season 3B, the two of them share prolonged eye contact before Derek wakes up.
** While in the van with Liam, the two of them have an entire conversation nonverbally. This happens frequently in season 4.
* The platonic variant happens frequently on ''Series/TheRachelMaddowShow'' when Rachel's dear friend Richard Engel[[labelnote:*]]NBC's Chief Foreign Correspondent[[/labelnote]] appears, particularly (but not always) when he's actually in-studio. Though other close friends of Rachel's do interviews with her frequently -- Chris Hayes, Steve Kornacki, and Nicolle Wallace are just a few -- and she's always glad to see them, something particularly special happens whenever Engel comes to visit. Unlike with anyone else, they sometimes seem to forget that the camera is there at all, instead taking visible and unrestrained delight in each other's company even when Engel is thousands of miles and multiple time zones away. When he's actually in the studio with her, they might as well be sitting on her sofa, just entirely focused on each other and geeking out over foreign policy.
* ''Series/HolbyCity'' has Serena Campbell and Berenice "Bernie" Wolfe, who have been sharing long, meaningful looks practically since the moment they first met. These only get more intense as time goes on, as they catch and hold each other's eyes up to and including while getting each other through tricky surgeries. Between them, Catherine Russell (Serena) and Jemma Redgrave (Bernie) are probably responsible for quite a few forest fires. Lampshaded by one of the producers after [[spoiler:the episode where the two ''finally'' snog]], who noted that "they could only play the sizzling glances for so long" before [[spoiler:things turned physical]].
* ''Series/PennyDreadful'': In the Season 2 episode "Above the Vaulted Sky", no less than three different CoitusEnsues moments are interspersed with Ethan and Vanessa sharing an intense held gaze moment, although [[{{UnresolvedSexualTension}} nothing ends up happening between them]] that night.
* ''Series/LawAndOrderSVU'' has this between detective Olivia Benson and ADA Rafael Barba, whose mutual ShipTease has been noticeable since the latter first appeared in season 14. In season 18, however, this gets turned UpToEleven; these two can't seem to go half a scene with each other without a long, meaningful, sensually-charged gaze that frequently lasts for half a minute or more.
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* In ''Film/TheMortalInstrumentsCityOfBones'', Magnus and Alec have one when they first meet. Cue the squeals of fangirls everywhere.

* The platonic variant happens frequently on ''Series/TheRachelMaddowShow'' when Rachel's dear friend Richard Engel[[labelnote:*]]NBC's Chief Foreign Correspondent[[/labelnote]] appears on her show, particularly (but not always) when he's actually in-studio. Though other close friends of Rachel's do interviews with her frequently -- Chris Hayes, Steve Kornacki, and Nicolle Wallace are just a few -- and she's always glad to see them, something particularly special happens whenever Engel comes to visit. Unlike with anyone else, they sometimes seem to forget that the camera is there at all, instead taking visible and unrestrained delight in each other's company even when Engel is thousands of miles and multiple time zones away. When he's actually in the studio with her, they might as well be sitting on her sofa, just entirely focused on each other and geeking out over foreign policy.

* Jack in ''Film/ApartmentZero does this with half the characters and a cat.

* Donnie [=DuPre=] from ''WebVideo/DemoReel'' does with nearly every single cast member, male or female. Let's just say there's a reason why he personally asked for SlashFic.

* Couples on ''WesternAnimation/PhineasAndFerb'' often employ this trope for ShipTease. For instance, Ferb and Vanessa share one when he first meets her, and Phineas and Isabella have also held each other's gaze - most notably in the special ''Summer Belongs to You!'', when they are stranded on the island, and in "Act Your Age", [[spoiler: when they become a couple.]]

* ''WesternAnimation/AvatarTheLastAirbender'' has a few of these. One with Mai and Zuko in the Boiling Rock episodes after being forced to lock the cell door on her (this one is more of deep hurt though), one with Suki and Sokka on the Serpent's Pass leading to an AlmostKiss. Then finally the one between Aang and Katara which leads to the BigDamnKiss and end of the series.

* The "long distance love-scene" from LaurenceOlivier's film version of ''Theatre/{{Hamlet}}'', where Hamlet and Ophelia hold each others' gaze from opposite ends of a corridor.

* Victor and Yuri from '''Anime/YuriOnIce''' do this [[spoiler: after Victor tackles and kisses Yuri]] in Episode 7.

** Often people's first flirtings are eye contact and held gazes.
* RealLife aversion: While true for ''H. sapiens'', when other primates (and many other animals) lock gazes, that is a ''threat display''. Because of this, some zoos have have signs near the monkey enclosure warning visitors to not look directly into the monkeys' eyes because it will scare them. Staring into your pet cat or dog's eyes can also make them uncomfortable.
** This can happen with humans too, in some circumstances: sustained eye contact can be perceived as a challenge. Responses can range from breaking eye contact (conceding defeat) all the way to retaliatory violence.

* Another RealLife example - It has been speculated that humans evolved "whites of the eyes" (visible sclera) to enhance nonverbal communication by making it easier to tell what direction people are looking towards. According to the Other Wiki, dogs, during their domestication, developed the ability to pick up visual cues from the eyes of humans.

* Victor and Yuuri from Anime/YuriOnIce do this [[spoiler: after Victor tackles and kisses Yuuri]] in episode 7.

* In ''Anime/DanganRonpa3'' ''Side: Despair'' Episode 8, Chiaki with [[spoiler:Izuru]], as [[spoiler:she recognizes him as her LoveInterest Hajime, now mind-wiped into another person]], and the pair spend several long moments just gazing at each other. [[BigBad Junko]] [[MomentKiller even tells them to stop acting]] [[LampshadeHanging like they're in some shojo manga]].

* InspectorLynley and his partner DS Havers do this frequently, often immediately before solving the Case of the Week and proceeding to kick the villain's butt. They also do it a lot when they make up after a fight, or when they act as each other's confidantes, or...yeah. Suffice it to say that while this trope might not be ''intentionally'' romantic between them, it certainly played a major role in their {{UST}}, and spoke whole volumes about the characters' feelings for each other. In fact, during many of the most significant moments of their relationship, the words coming out of their mouths were completely incidental to the conversation they were having with their eyes.

* Everyone does this to everyone else in ''Series/{{Merlin}}''. ''Everyone''.

* In ''Disney's HouseOfMouse'', on the episode "Max's Embarrassing Date", Max and Roxanne stare into each other's eyes before they AlmostKiss, wherein Minnie interrupts them.

* ''Fanfic/CorrinReacts'' Flora and Corrin share one of these at the end of the Festival two-parter, increasing the ShipTease between the two.

# If it is a romance, this will appear at least once, accompanied by some passion on one (or both) of the partners in the gaze, hence it fits into the passionate look variant of the trope.
# In a platonic situation, where the two men will hold each other's gaze meaningfully to either encourage the other or to just let them know that they are there for them, like the [[HeterosexualLifePartners platonic]] examples below.
# If the two of them are rivals or enemies, however, this becomes a classic [[StaringContest staredown]], with both characters trying their level best to out-intimidate the other.
# The final version of this trope is a supernatural one--a shared gaze where souls gaze into the other person's soul, all at once having a deeper experience than the other two versions mentioned above can have.

* ''Manga/InuYasha'': Occurs several times between different pairs, including a [[TearJerker moment]] between [[TheStoic Sesshoumaru]] and [[BrokenBird Kagura]]. [[spoiler:As her life ebbs away, they talk, run out of words, and finally hold each other's gaze as she [[NoBodyLeftBehind disintegrates]] into [[IDieFree the wind]]]].

* ''VideoGame/RuleOfRose'': During the introductory FMV, you can see Wendy and another girl doing this, before initiating a HeadbuttOfLove. [[spoiler:[[RomanticTwoGirlFriendship It's Jennifer as a young girl, when she and Wendy swore their eternal love to one another]]]].
* ''MetalGearSolidVThePhantomPain'' pulls this off during a cutscene, where Venom Snake and Quiet look into each other's eyes after a heartwarming dance in the rain. It also serves as one of the biggest confirmations that they're in love with each other.

* In ''Anime/DanganRonpa3'' ''Side: Despair'' Episode 8, Chiaki recognizes [[spoiler:Izuru]] as [[spoiler:she recognizes him as her LoveInterest Hajime, now mind-wiped into another person]], and the pair spend several long moments just gazing at each other. [[BigBad Junko]] [[MomentKiller even tells them to stop acting]] [[LampshadeHanging like they're in some shojo manga]].

** There's the platonic (HoYay-inducing) version: Dean and Castiel have been sharing long, tension-filled gazes since their first confrontation. At first, it's just because Dean's rather aggressive and Cas, being an [[OurAngelsAreDifferent angel]], has [[NoSocialSkills no idea]] about little things like how long it's appropriate to stare into someone's eyes [[NoSenseOfPersonalSpace from two feet away]], but they ''keep doing it''. It eventually became so blatant that when Castiel gives him a dirty look after Dean's near-betrayal, Dean lampshades it by joking, "Gee, Cas. Last time somebody looked at me like that--I got laid." (That was less than two years after Cas first showed up at the beginning of season 4. They haven't stopped yet, and it's currently season '''10'''. Cas still doesn't get "personal space" around Dean, either.) There's also a supercut--[[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Zwul2uv0RUA "Literally 10 minutes of every time Dean and Cas do the thing with the eyes"]].

* ''Series/HolbyCity'' has Serena Campbell and Berenice "Bernie" Wolfe, who have been sharing long, meaningful looks practically since the moment they first met. These only get more intense as time goes on, as they catch and hold each other's eyes up to and including while getting each other through tricky surgeries. Between them, Catherine Russell (Serena) and Jemma Redgrave (Bernie) are probably responsible for quite a few forest fires. Lampshaded by one of the producers after [[spoiler:the two ''finally'' snog]], who noted that "they could only play the sizzling glances for so long" before [[spoiler:things turned physical]].