It’s no secret that most women have an illogical soft spot for bad boys: whether they’re criminals or just massive jerks, bad boys are just somehow irresistible. Men who are rebellious are often associated with very attractive qualities: charismatic, artistic, fearless, confident and, most importantly, masculine. I’ve compiled a list of a few certain fictional not-so-good-guys who have rocked the small screen during the past decade that have snuck their way into our hearts.
Spoiler alert! Some descriptions of the characters may include the outcome some TV shows.
1. Neal Caffrey (White Collar)
One look into those big blue eyes and you’re a goner. Neal Caffrey, played by Matt Bomer on the USA hit series White Collar, is a smooth-talking, charismatic con man that is now working with the FBI as a Confidential Informant. Though his handler at the FBI has tried to steer Neal into better ways, he still has a few shenanigans up his sleeve and drabbles in the occasional crime or fraud. Cunning, witty and creative are the best qualities to describe Neal. Need I say more?
2. Don Draper (Mad Men)
Suave and sophisticated Don Draper is the main character on AMC’s Mad Men, the hit drama about an advertising agency on Madison Avenue in New York City during the 1960s. At first shown in what seems to be a happy marriage, we soon see his real colors shine through: he loves the ladies, booze and smoking. No nonsense and refined, Don is passionate about his job at SCDP, but still continues to be an unmistakable a-hole, albeit a handsome one at that.
3. Dexter Morgan (Dexter)
What would be this list without a certain loveable serial killer? Michael C. Hall plays the ruggedly handsome Dexter Morgan on the Showtime thriller Dexter, a forensic blood spatter analyst who murders murderers during his spare time to satisfy his ‘Dark Passenger’. Dexter, not being a normal person, only withholds relationships with women as damaged as he is. Only to have them fall apart every single time. Still, his number one priority will always be quieting down the monster inside of him. Creepy? Check. Possible sociopath? Check. Insanely attractive? You bet. (Do I need a straightjacket?)
4. Chuck Bass (Gossip Girl)
Another irresistible on our naughty list: the Upper East Side’s resident bad boy Chuck Bass. Very different from his novel version, Ed Westwick plays the part of the antihero who slowly repents and tries to fix his past by honoring his future. Arrogant, selfish and devious, Chuck is constantly playing tag with the love of his life, the fabulous Blair Waldorf, who isn’t about to let a guy like Chuck tear her down. After six seasons of scheming and sexcapades, crying and many macaroons, Chuck and Blair finally marry during the series finale. While getting arrested, of course. It’s better to burn out than fade away!
5. Mr. Big (Sex and the City)
And finally, the crème de la crème of major jerk-offs that we’ve come to love and hate many, many times: I present to you John James Preston, also known as Mr. Big. A prominent character on Sex and the City, Mr. Big impacts Carrie’s life since the start of the series. There was Aiden, and there was Berger, but nobody did it like Mr. Big. After a series of endless breakups and getting-back-togethers, three novels and a million columns later, Big proposes to Carrie in Paris after years playing cat-and-mouse. Only to screw it up on their wedding day during the first movie. And then fix it. And then screw it up again. Thanks to Big and Carrie, many lessons about love were learned.