Here’s the thing about Jack O’Neill and Samantha Carter in Stargate SG-1: he loves her — she doesn’t have long hair or tight clothes; doesn’t babble, do emotional work, or soothe egos — he just loves her for the brilliant, awkward human she is.
More than that, O’Neill respects Carter enough to keep his feelings to himself. She knows about his feelings and could reciprocate if she wanted. She doesn’t choose to, and he doesn’t act weird about it.
He loves and respects as her — as the friend she wants him to be.
And I love that.