I have a long and sordid history of mooning over bad boys. In no particular order, I present to you my Top 10 Bad Boy Crushes. Mind you, these are fictional characters. (No commentary on the actors who portray them.) Don't even get me started on musicians- my true weakness. And I'd rather not go into the details of my real life bad boy crushes. At least not here. Over a glass of wine perhaps?
1.
Dylan McKay- Ah, Dylan with his Daddy issues, alcoholism, and brooding good looks. I was helpless the moment I saw his sideburns and piercing stare. I loved his transformation as he became a better man while dating Brenda. I was disappointed but not surprised when he cheated on Brenda with Kelly- and strangely preferred Dylan-Kelly to Dylan-Brenda. I wasn't allowed to watch Beverly Hills, 90210 while I was in high school. I did, however, sneak episodes when I babysat- after the kids were asleep, of course! Then I watched unashamedly in college.
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2.
Jordan Catalano- It doesn't get much better than the angsty
My So-Called Life. Who didn't relate to Angela and her friends? Who could resist the way
Jared Leto brought Jordan's character to life? Who didn't want to run their fingers through his hair? Oh, was that just me? (Incidentally, I didn't start listening to
30 Seconds to Mars just because Leto is the lead singer but it sure didn't hurt. That band is obsession-worthy in my book.) On the bad boy front, Jordan is failing his classes but that turns out to be due to an undiagnosed learning disorder. He'll sleep with random girls yet there's something about Angela, our Every Girl, that he can't resist. Finally, he's in a band. Enough said. I can't help but wonder if his musician character paved the way for his real life music...
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3. Troy Dyer- I mentioned
yesterday that I have
Reality Bites almost entirely memorized. That should clue you in to how I feel about Troy, even if he's "a total nightmare for women." He's a slacker who justified stealing a Snickers bar at his last job, presently unemployed but feels fine about blowing off job interviews. He hooks up with ladies in a classic love 'em and leave 'em kind of way. When he and Leilana finally sleep together, he freaks out because he can't handle his feelings and ditches her too. The nerve! But here's what we appreciate about Troy. He's the lead singer in a band. He's hot. He's both intellectual and philosophical. His hilarious one-liners, like "I'm just bursting with fruit flavor." And of course, he wises up by the end of the movie and wins Leilana's heart back. Swoon!
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4. John Bender- Also known as The Criminal in
The Breakfast Club. I may be the only one who found Judd Nelson's character so compelling. He is, shall we say, smoldering. All right, so he has pot in his locker. And yes, he's the only one of those kids you'd expect to find in detention. But we also find out he has an abusive alcoholic father who burned his cigar into John's forearm. He also gives love a chance with Molly Ringwald's character in the end. So let's all just be a little more understanding, mmkay?
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5. Pacey Witter- I still remember the first time I watched
Dawson's Creek. I was in the basement at my best friend Erin's house, surrounded by several other pals during senior year. It was a fun girls night in which we ate lots of junk food and watched Say Anything. We all loved Dawson's Creek instantaneously. Was it always appropriate for 17-18 year olds to watch? Meh. Who can talk about appropriateness when Pacey is involved? Pacey, always the underdog. A troubled student. His family refers to him as their great disappointment. He never could measure up. Oh, and then he hooked up with one of his teachers. But...it turns out Pacey is quite smart and endearing. I loved his razor-sharp wit and ability to banter. He became a better man after dating Meredith and finally Joey. I was Team Pacey all the way.
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6.
Jess Mariano- I really miss Gilmore Girls. The trials and triumphs of Lorelai and her daughter Rory, the witty dialog, the pop-culture references. What's not to love? It was already great and then Luke's wayward nephew Jess stepped onto the scene. A motorcycle aficionado, Jess was incredibly brilliant and well-read yet a slacker of a student. He smokes, he rebels, he's such a bad kid his mom had to send him to Stars Hollow in the hope that he'd straighten out. The banter between Jess and Rory was spark-worthy. That Rory left her good girl ways behind and fell for Jess? Surprising and yet completely understandable.
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7.
James "Sawyer" Ford- If you watched LOST and you're a female over age 13, chances are you either rooted for Jack or for Sawyer. I was helpless against Sawyer's Southern charm, affinity for bestowing nicknames, sharp wit, and killer eyes. I may or may not have wanted to run my fingers through his hair. Sure he's a con man who doesn't mind using rich ladies to get to their money. However, when we take a glimpse into his past, it's a wonder he didn't turn out worse. Sawyer grows up a lot during his time on the island. By the end, we see who he truly is and how much he cares for those he love.
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8.
Damon Salvatore- The Vampire Diaries' Damon is bad right from the start. It's not enough that he's a vampire. He's a vampire that relishes in killing and using others. He feuds with his brother Stefan, who happens to be a good vampire, over Katherine, the woman they both used to love. Wait- are you confused yet? It's Damon's relationship with his brother's current girlfriend Elena that's most telling. Damon, for the most part, respects her boundaries. He'll do anything to protect her, even though he initially said he didn't care about anyone or anything. He has depth. Did I mention he has that whole tall, dark, and handsome thing covered?
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9. Dominic Toretto- Muscles and tattoos and bald head, oh my! Say what you will about
The Fast and the Furious franchise, Vin Diesel's acting abilities, and whether cars could do those crazy stunts in real life. There's just something about Dom that won't let me go. Dom's the leader of a street gang that may or may not be heisting goods. Hardened criminal on the one hand yet fiercely loyal to his sister and friends on the other. Let's not even talk about the romantic scene with his girlfriend in his shop.
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10. Roux- Johnny Depp has many bad boy roles to choose from but I like his haracter from
Chocolat most of all. Maybe because Roux opens Vianne's eyes to what's missing in her life and connects with her young daughter. Maybe because of his sexy, soulful gaze. Roux is not the most stable guy. The town automatically hates him and his people. Yet we find the Roma are a misunderstood people. They know how to celebrate life, which is why Vianne is drawn to him. Plus, he plays a mean guitar.
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Who are your favorite bad boys?
