Out of all of the couples in Teen Wolf, Stiles and Lydia stood out the most. Their love story wasn't just about romance, as the show made sure to establish a deep friendship between them before taking it anywhere else. Stiles's childhood crush on Lydia evolved as they got older, and when he fell in love with her, he was falling in love with one of his best friends.
Stydia's development is particularly interesting because, while there are seeds planted throughout the entire series, there are specific episodes that revolve heavily around them. These episodes usually end up becoming fan-favorites, as it exemplifies the unbreakable connection between the pairing.
"Formality" (Season 1 Episode 11)
In Teen Wolf Season 1, Lydia never gave Stiles the time of day. In fact, their dynamic is so different at the beginning of the show that it feels like they're completely different characters. Although they were young, "Formality" is still a crucial episode because of what it revealed.
Viewers, as well as Lydia, were under the impression that Stiles's crush on Lydia was just a result of her popularity and physical appearance. But Stiles knew who Lydia was underneath that, and Lydia's attitude towards him shifted after he proved it.
"Alpha Pact" (Season 3 Episode 11)
"Alpha Pact" is one of the highest-rated episodes on IMDb, and the Stydia content was just the icing on the cake. After Lydia kisses Stiles to stop his panic attack, their entire relationship began to change.
The soundtrack and cinematography heightened the scene, making it mesmerizing as a result. In fact, it felt somewhat out of place for what was originally a light-hearted teen drama. The kiss clearly had a powerful impact on both of them, as Deaton asks Lydia to be Stiles's emotional tether for a druid ritual.
"Galvanize" (Season 3 Episode 15)
Stiles and Lydia spent the entirety of the episode being a detective duo. They're known for their ability to figure out solutions together, despite not having the same supernatural abilities as the rest of their friends.
Not only was it enjoyable to see the two of them doing what they do best, but there were plenty of moments that hinted at the direction their relationship could take. They held hands for no apparent reason, and Stiles even told Lydia how much he believed in her when she was feeling down on herself.
"The Divine Move" (Season 3 Episode 24)
There wasn't much time for romance in the Teen Wolf Season 3 finale. Allison had just died in Scott's arms, and Stiles was next on the chopping block. But Lydia pushed through her grief and didn't leave his side the entire episode.
It's difficult to find a single scene where they aren't clinging to each other, and it didn't seem like it was only due to Stiles's weakened state. They manage to trick the Nogistune and come out on top, and Lydia holds Stiles's hand when he passes out from exhaustion. In a heartbreaking scene, Lydia runs into his arms after she discovers that Aiden has been killed by the Oni.
"Perishable" (Season 4 Episode 9)
Stiles and Lydia always end up in dangerous situations, but there was a high probability that they weren't going to get themselves out of this one. A visit to Eichen House goes awry when Brunski attacks Stiles and holds them both captive. Brunski forces Lydia to listen to a recording of her grandmother's murder, while Stiles tries to comfort Lydia from the other side of the pillar.
Lydia starts crying, and Stiles screams so loud at Brunski that it earns him a punch in the face. When he moves to shove a needle into Lydia's neck, Stiles immediately breaks through his bindings. The fact that Stiles could only break free after he realized Lydia was in danger is extremely telling.
"Novel Approach" (Season 5 Episode 5)
Following an episode where Stiles finds Lydia bleeding out on the floor, he refuses to let her go to Eichen House without him. Because of the mountain ash in the building, Kira and Scott wait outside while Stiles and Lydia talk to Valack.
Outside in the hallway, Scott and Kira talk about how good Stiles and Lydia are together. Kira picks up on Stiles's feelings for her, and Scott tells her how they've evolved since they were younger. Stiles was still dating Malia at the time, but it wasn't surprising when they called it quits a few episodes later.
"Lie Ability" (Season 5 Episode 16)
This episode of Teen Wolf was every Stydia shipper's dream. Not only did Stiles fight like crazy to make it to Lydia, but Lydia's feelings for Stiles became clearer than ever before. Despite all the mental and physical torture she was forced to endure, she only cared about Stiles's safety.
After getting Lydia out, Stiles holds her in the back of his Jeep while Scott drives them to see Dr. Deaton. For a terrifying moment, Stiles believes she's dead and begs her to wake up. Thankfully, she opens her eyes and interlaces her fingers with Stiles, before saying the famous quote, "Stiles saved me."
"Memory Lost" (Season 6 Episode 1)
From a kiss on the cheek to a confession of love, "Memory Lost" is one of the best episodes for Stiles and Lydia. The two had danced around their feelings for years, and because of their stubbornness, it would take something big to make them finally put it all on the table.
Lydia refuses to leave Stiles when he's being chased by the ghost hunters and is even prepared to run away with him. He accepts defeat because the ghost hunters have them surrounded (or, more accurately, because Dylan O'Brien had a movie to go film), and comforts Lydia. He tells her he loves her before being physically ripped away and erased from existence.
"Memory Found" (Season 6 Episode 9)
Stiles might not have physically been in the episode, but the flashbacks more than made up for it. Scott and Malia realized that Lydia's connection to Stiles was their best shot at getting him back. They hypnotize her, and Lydia watches early memories of her and Stiles on a television screen.
Eventually, she walks down the school hallway and watches her first kiss with Stiles. It causes all the moments they shared together to come rushing back, and Lydia breaks down into tears when she remembers that she never told Stiles she loves him too.
"Riders On The Storm" (Season 6 Episode 10)
The Stiles and Lydia scene viewers had been waiting for finally came the moment the two of them were reunited. Lydia's memories of Stiles were so strong, that she opened a rift between dimensions that transported him back home.
Lydia saves Stiles from a ghost rider, and as soon as they lock eyes Lydia says that she didn't say it back. However, he tells her that she didn't have to. They rush towards each other and kiss, as Stiles already knows that Lydia loves him.