Top unconsummated TV romances of 2009

By Mary McNamara, Times TV critic

Thwarted love, smoldering passion, the miscommunication of pride and prejudice -- unconsummated desire has fed the twitching central nervous system of drama since drama was invented. And as the holidays approach, a young TV critic's thoughts inevitably turn to love, i.e. all those snow-sprinkled, mistletoe-laden Very Special Epsiodes on which one or two of our favorite mismatched perfect couples may or may not finally lock eyes, or lips. Here's a few to look out for.