Alexis Bledel as Rory and Lauren Graham as Lorelai on "Gilmore Girls."

It was the kiss watched 'round the world.

Scott Patterson is reminiscing about the first kiss between Luke and Lorelai on "Gilmore Girls."

As Patterson walks down memory lane with USA TODAY in honor of the show's 25th anniversary, the Season 4 scene with Lauren Graham stands out in his mind as "fraught with anxiety."

"That first kiss was an enormous day on the set," Patterson says.

Patterson recalls his chemistry with Graham from the moment they met. He says he "blew the first take" of the show's opening scene "because I was so taken with (Graham) and what she was doing, and the way she pulled her hat off, and (said), 'You've got wings, baby.' And I'm just like, 'Oh, sorry, I forgot the line. Let's do it again.'"

Filming with Graham "was magnetic," Patterson says. "It was just palpable. And I kind of knew then that whatever we were going to do together was going to work."

Their connection continued throughout the seasons before Luke and Lorelai – the quintessential "will they or won't they" couple – finally kissed.

"I was extraordinarily nervous, and Lauren was too. We just wanted to get it right. We knew the fans had been waiting for four seasons. They were really, really chomping at the bit, and so now we're delivering this thing," Patterson says.

"It was really a remarkable day that we just didn't want to screw it up. And I thought we did a pretty good job. Of course, we wanted to do it over and over and over and over again, perfectionists that we are, but time dictated, and I think we got a good result. But that day was fraught with anxiety and tension and anticipation."

Patterson reunited with Graham at her Hollywood Walk of Fame star ceremony in October. Costars Kelly Bishop and Matt Czuchry as well as "Gilmore Girls" creator Amy Sherman-Palladino and executive producer Dan Palladino celebrated their Lorelai. Patterson says the "much-deserved honor" came "10 years too late."

"One of the truly remarkable achievements in either film or television history is tackling this role in the way she did, and drawing the character the way she did, and interpreting the character the way she did," he says.

Anika Reed is USA TODAY's deputy entertainment editor, covering all things entertainment and pop culture. Find her on Instagram and TikTok, or send her an email at ajreed@usatoday.com.

This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: The story behind that Luke and Lorelai kiss on 'Gilmore Girls'

Reporting by Anika Reed, USA TODAY / USA TODAY

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