Best TV Kisses Ranked: New Girl, Parks & Rec & The Female Gaze

About this episode

In this Valentine's Day episode, the host discusses favorite on-screen kisses and the concept of the female gaze while highlighting community resilience in Minneapolis.

In this special Valentine's Day episode of Wonder in the Weeds , we take a brief pause from the heavy news cycle in Minneapolis to find a little joy in the fire. We’re breaking down our favorite on-screen romances, analyzing why mutual respect creates the best chemistry, and discussing the "female gaze" in media. Finally, we end with The Wonder : a spotlight on the incredible resilience of the Minneapolis community, including how neighbors and businesses like the Modern Times Cafe are organizing to support one another. In This Episode: Favorite Kisses: We break down the famous "trench coat" kiss between Nick and Jess in New Girl and why it remains the gold standard for on-screen chemistry. Parks and Recreation: Why Ben and Leslie represent a "meeting of the minds" and true partnership. Rivals to Lovers: Discussing the dynamic in Red, White & Royal Blue and the concept of "competition" as a form of intimacy. The "Female Gaze": A look at why characters written by women feel more respectful and genuine. The Wonder: An update on Minneapolis mutual aid, where neighbors are feeding neighbors and the Modern Times Cafe is providing free food to the community. Timestamps: 0:00…

People in this episode

Host: Dr. Cristie Ritz-King

Topics covered

• Valentine's Day
• on-screen romances
• female gaze
• mutual respect
• community resilience

Keywords

• TV kisses
• New Girl
• Parks & Rec
• female gaze
• Minneapolis
• community support
• romance

Mentioned in this episode

Organizations: Modern Times Cafe

Books & works: New Girl, Parks & Rec, Red, White & Royal Blue

Places: Minneapolis

More episodes of Wonder In The Weeds

• Nobody Prepares You for This Part of Empty Nesting · June 10, 2026 · 47 min
• Raising Kids Who Actually Like You as Adults · June 3, 2026 · 32 min
• Gen X vs. Gen Z on Finances: Budgeting, Taxes, and Breaking the Taboo · May 27, 2026 · 60 min
• Why the Internet is Ruining Dating for Gen Z (Mother-Daughter Chat) · May 6, 2026 · 53 min
• What No One Tells You About Sending Your Kid to College (From Both Sides) · April 29, 2026 · 47 min
• The AI Therapy Trap: Why ChatGPT Cannot Replace Real Therapists · April 22, 2026 · 40 min