Everyone loves a good bad boy – that is, the guy who is the cool, dangerous outsider, but secretly good at heart. Or maybe not so good at heart. Inspired by Angie’s fabulous post this week about the “Bad Boy” archetype, we decided to give a few of our favorites for this edition of our Nonsensical Weekend Poll.
For this week’s ponderings: Which Movie/TV Bad Boy Makes You Wanna Break All The Rules?
John Bender – The Breakfast Club
James Stark – Rebel Without A Cause
Spike – Buffy the Vampire Slayer
Wade “Cry-Baby” Walker – Cry-Baby
Dexter Morgan – Dexter (Ok, technically he’s not the quintessential “bad boy” – he really is messed up. But he’s DEXTER.)
Don Draper – Mad Men
Han Solo – Star Wars
Rhett Butler – Gone With the Wind
Danny Zuko – Grease
Malcolm “Mal” Reynolds – Firefly
Wolverine – X-Men
James Bond – James Bond
Johnny Castle – Dirty Dancing
Captain Jack Sparrow – Pirates of the Caribbean
Ren McCormack – Footloose
James “Sawyer” Ford – LOST
Obviously, you know where Ana and I fall on the spectrum…
But what about you? Which heroes (or villains) of the “bad boy” archetype are your favorites in film, television, or literature?
38 Comments
Gerd Duerner
September 12, 2009 at 2:56 amHan Solo & James Stark (although I do have a soft spot for Danny Zuko who’s a bit dense around the girls)
Diana Peterfreund
September 12, 2009 at 5:00 amWell, first of all, I submit an argument that Johnny Castle is not actually a bad boy. He’s a sweet, caring, loyal, beloved-by-all dude who *isn’t* in fact, sleeping with his former-Rockette dance partner and though he made have had a few flings with some bored housewives, it is made quite clear in the film that they were taking advantage of a poor boy from the wrong side of the tracks overwhelmed by their lavish gifts. He’s only “bad” in the sense that he wears a leather jacket and is more sexually experienced than sheltered-beyond-belief Baby. Imagine the story from Johnny’s POV and you almost have Pretty in Pink. Just sayin’.
Moving on. You know, I was saying on Angie’s blog the other day that I was never into bad boys except for Logan Echols, who I was way way way way way into (a *lot*), but then I thought about how my first crush EVER was Han Solo. I really do so love Han Solo.
Other than that, bad boys generally leave me cold. I’ve always preferred nice guys. (At which point, I bust out that famous exchange:
Han Solo: You like me because I’m a scoundrel. There aren’t enough scoundrels in your life.
Princess Leia: I happen to like nice men.
Han Solo: I’m a nice man.
Princess Leia: No, you’re not. You’re…
[they kiss]
Siiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiigh. Given the crappy taste her mother had in guys, I’m so glad Leia pulls one out of the pocket, y’know?)
Though there is a point to be made that as bad boys go, Han is mostly just pretending. He shoots first (YES HE DOES) but it’s a matter of life and death, and it’s a scumbag to boot. A few scenes earlier, we catch Obi Wan maiming folks for less. that bar is just a dangerous, dangerous place.
Anyhoo, yeah, I generally do like nice guys. Give me Gilbert Blythe or Xander Harris any day.
Jackie Kessler
September 12, 2009 at 5:16 amCan’t I just say YES??? Sheesh, how am I supposed to pick just one?
I’ll have to go with John Bender. The last scene of The Breakfast Club rocks out loud.
bookalicious
September 12, 2009 at 6:08 amCaptain Jack Sparrow’s my boy! 🙂
Tynga
September 12, 2009 at 6:55 amI like, Eric Northman from Sookie Stackhouse series, Adrian from Vampire Academy series, Jace from The Mortal instruments series.
There are so many great out there, but these are my favorite =)
Ashley
September 12, 2009 at 7:53 amOh, Sawyer….how could anyone resist Sawyer???
On a (slightly) more book-related note, I think he would be perfect as Jamie in the Outlander movie (if they ever really make it). Dye his hair red, give him a Scottish accent – bingo!
Attackfish
September 12, 2009 at 8:39 amGen, from Megan Whalen Turner’s books kinda count, right? Also, Billy Joel’s persona in “Only the Good Die Young.”
I love Han and Jack, but not in a oooh, I can’t resist you kind of way, (I wouldn’t mind going to bed with Johnny Depp, but he could leave the eyeliner off, though if Harrison could bring the space cowboy clothes, please?). Really, I identify most with conflicted, angsty, but not really “bad boy” heroes and heroines, and am most attracted to the ridiculously morally upright.
Susan James
September 12, 2009 at 8:43 amRhett- he’s the only truly honest person in that whole movie (barring Melanie)and he knows very well Scarlett is bad news for him, but he just can’t help himself. I love a lost cause.
But its really hard not to vote for Wolverine because Jackman is just so dang hot! Maybe a little too moody for me though. I live with a moody man- its gets old. I’ll take Rhett and all that shopping.
Veronica F.
September 12, 2009 at 11:14 amI vote Sawyer and Eric from TRU BLOOD!
Both these bad boyz really melt my butter! lol
Veronica F.
September 12, 2009 at 11:18 amOh and yes Tynga I agree w/u!
Adrian from Vampire Academy series is also hawt!
Thea
September 12, 2009 at 11:30 amOooh, loving the diversity in picks here! 🙂
As for me, though Sawyer really does occupy top shelf in my heart, I have the biggest soft spot for Bender from The Breakfast Club. Guh. And also Han, of course. They’re all “bad” but not really – they’ve got the goodness in them underneath all the toughness.
Gerd – Danny’s a bit oblivious, isn’t he :p But we love him anyways.
Diana – Well played, sir! Point taken. Johnny isn’t *really* a bad boy, though everyone (well, at least all the snooty asshats at Kellerman’s) perceive him that way. But he is the guy from the wrong side of the tracks, as you say, and he does rock the leather jacket and tight pants in true bad boy fashion… LOL. I wish TNT was doing their Dirty Dancing marathon right now.
And can’t argue with the merits of Han. The scoundrel with the heart of gold, proven ever since he busted a u-y in the Millennium Falcon to pull Luke’s ass outta the fire. Ahh, Han. How I love thee.
Hmm, I think next week we might have a “good boys” post. Because they definitely deserve the love too. *cough* PEETA! *cough*
Jackie – *pumps fist in the air* Yeah it does!
Bookalicious – I can completely understand 😉 Honestly, I thought Elizabeth had more chemistry with Jack in the second film than in all three with Will…but that’s just my preference!
Tynga – Ahh, literary bad boys! When Ana and I were brainstorming in emails about our fave guys from books, Eric and Adrian were names that came up immediately. I haven’t read the Mortal Instruments books yet! I’ll definitely be on the lookout for Jace. Thanks!
Ashley – Exactly! Sawyer is the ultimate. One of my favorite characters on TV…well, when they don’t turn him into a huge wuss… Outlander’s Jamie, you say? Hmmm, I dunno! I can’t see Josh Holloway without his southern twang (LOL just had a funny image of Jamie speaking with a drawl!), but looks-wise it might work!
Attackfish – Yes, definitely those two count! And Johnny Depp with or without eyeliner works for me 😛 That’s a really interesting way of putting it, that you identify with the morally conflicted but are attracted to the morally upright. That makes a lot of sense – opposites attract, balance and all that. Very cool.
Susan – Rhett definitely takes the cake in GWtW, I can’t disagree. But Jackman’s Wolvie (aka Hughverine) is a standout in its own right. And WORD to the moodiness getting old…I can relate. Being lavished with gifts and quippy humor sounds like much less maintenance 😆
Tynga
September 12, 2009 at 12:03 pmVeronica F
If there ever is a TV show made with VA I would SO picture Jensen Ackles playing Adrian.
Yummy!
Meanne
September 12, 2009 at 1:40 pmI had an absurdly HUUUUUGE crush on Spike during the heydey of BTVS. And I couldn’t understand the appeal since basically, I love good men better than bad boys.
I guess it was the idea that he was trying so hard to redeem himself because of his love for Buffy…And of course his sexy swagger and British accent didn’t hurt 😀
MaryK
September 12, 2009 at 2:34 pmOh, Wolverine, definitely.
Attackfish
September 12, 2009 at 4:44 pmRe Thea’s comment (as opposed to the post, though re that too)
I keep thinking of a conversation I had with a friend of mine right after the seventh Harry Potter book came out.
Fish: I have fallen desperately in love with Neville.
Friend: Wait, Snape’s just about your alter ego, you know.
Fish: He kills Nagini! With a sword! And he’s sweet!
Friend: So your ideal ship would be Snape/Neville?!
Fish: Oh the horror.
Opposites attract indeed. It can go horribly horribly wrong!
danielle
September 12, 2009 at 5:08 pmI’m torn between my attraction to Sawyer and my loyalty to Cry-Baby…
pamelia
September 12, 2009 at 5:51 pmMal. Definitely Mal Reynolds. The perfect bad boy anti-hero yummy man! (And now Nathan Fillion is on Castle playing another bad boy. Yays!)
Witchy Woman
September 12, 2009 at 5:57 pmWhy thank you ladies! You’ve left Sean Connery as James Bond all for me:) That’s so sweet! (LOL)
Falling Off The Shelf
September 12, 2009 at 7:57 pmI’d have to go for Cry Baby…since Eric from True Blood isn’t added to this list, yikes! lol. I’m not a huge Johnny Depp fan..but he was gorgeous in Cry Baby, and I loved his tear tat 🙂
Elizabeth
September 12, 2009 at 8:22 pmWell, really, the bad boy that has my heart is Dean Winchester. He’s so broken. And so pretty.
But from your list, I’ll take Dexter. I just KNOW he’s got a soul in there somewhere.
Heloise
September 12, 2009 at 8:36 pmWow, so many true loves of my life and so many who leave me totally uninterested. Rhett really is the ultimate bad boy with a heart of gold. Han was just so darn fun compared to goody two shoes Luke. John Bender, had him in high school with me and would have totally done him (no really, the guy I was in love with held his family at gun point a few years after dropping out of school, I’m sure if he had fallen for me I could have changed his entire life. Thank God teenage girls like I was generally don’t have the chutzpa to act out their fantasies.) Wolverine, well, he’s just hot. Malcolm, tries to be bad but so really isn’t.
Thanks ladies for taking me down bad boy lane.
Lori T
September 12, 2009 at 8:57 pmOh my goodness, what excellent choices! I do not know that I can simply choose one, but I would probably have to go with Sawyer…he is one of my favorites right now. Although, Johnny Castle, Bender, Ren, Han, and Danny all take me back.
Angie
September 12, 2009 at 9:13 pm*grin* I’m glad I could pass the bad boy love on.
Basically what Diana said. OMH, Logan….
Though I have actually been a bad boy girl my whole life. With just one notable exception. And, no, it wasn’t my husband. (!)
Spike and Han all the way! But, you guys, where’s Logan? You have watched Veronica Mars, haven’t you? *worries*
Ana
September 13, 2009 at 2:47 amAngie! I LOVE Logan, I used to love Veronica Mars and all because of Logan – I stopped watching the show on season 3 right about the time they started backtracking with his character *shifty*
Stephanie
September 13, 2009 at 3:24 amHmmmm…..great choices, although I still have a major crush on David, the bad boy vampire in the Lost Boys played by Kiefer Sutherland. Seriously, that man’s voice makes me go weak in the knees!
Of those listed here, I’d have to go with either Sawyer or Mal.
Mervi
September 13, 2009 at 9:01 amDo you seriously expect me to choose between Spike, Captain Jack, and Han? That’s not humanly possible! 🙂
I fully agree with Diana Peterfreund about Han, though. I’ve always been secretly convinced that he’s only smuggled puppies. 😉
Elaine C.
September 13, 2009 at 12:34 pmMalcolm Reynolds Firefly *sniff* I miss that show!
But right now I am loving Eric from TRUE BLOOD and Dean from SUPERNATURAL. I normally like dark hotties but those two blonde boys are just yummy!
Elaine C.
September 13, 2009 at 12:38 pmOhhh and the hotness of Wolverine (aka Hugh Jackman) MUST be acknowledged!
Amanda
September 13, 2009 at 2:59 pmI’ll have to split my vote between Dean & Sawyer.
I also have to give a shout out to Irial from Ink Exchange and Damon from The Vampire Diaries.
Marie
September 13, 2009 at 5:07 pmMal from Firefly, no question! (gotta love Nathan Fillion as Captain Hammer too!) great butt.
Sharon K
September 14, 2009 at 5:16 amThat’s a tuffy, but anything Johnny Depp plays!
Adrienne
September 14, 2009 at 3:54 pmhmmmm, Sawyer….
Leah
September 14, 2009 at 5:04 pmOh man. Sawyer is it for me. Has there ever been a more delicious specimen of a man? I don’t think so.
Rhiannon Hart
September 14, 2009 at 6:00 pmMr Rochester from Jane Eyre *SWOON*
Also Han Solo. I’m with you, Diana!
Diana Peterfreund Blog | Bad Boys vs. Nice Guys Pt. 1: The Lloyd Dobler Effect
October 7, 2009 at 7:14 am[…] the general love of bad boys. I’ve seen a few folks saying that nice guys can work too (and a few more actually claiming “bad boy” status on characters I would certainly categorize as “nice guys”) but it’s pretty much […]
Anonymous
October 15, 2009 at 5:41 pmMal, Logan, Han, Johnny and Jack
Lynda
September 26, 2010 at 9:42 pmJohn Bender, hands down.
” Being bad feels pretty good, huh?”
Enough said.
Ausie
September 29, 2010 at 8:52 pmDallas Winston from the outsiders