Originally published in print February 2021.
Illustration by Nanami Ando Nic Suibhne.
They can be sweet, aloof, or a little bit of both, but behind every great female character, thanks to stereotypes and outdated gender norms, there is usually a boyfriend. While they often serve as mediocre sidekicks on the small screen, a select few, for better or worse, stand out from all the rest. In honour of Valentine’s Day: isolation edition, I have picked out some of the most noteworthy love interests TV has to offer.
Jim Halpert, The Office (U.S.)
Jim Halpert (John Krasinski) is a quintessential TV boyfriend. The patience and dedication he displays during his seemingly endless wait for Pam (Jenna Fischer) is truly admirable, and every longing stare and nervous glance in her direction makes it clear that he is in it for the long haul. However, despite the fairytale ending this couple earns, I can’t help but think he would have been just as undeterred had his persistence been received differently by Pam. Such obsession is important to take note of, but thankfully Jim pulls off so many elaborate pranks and heartfelt speeches that this notion is soon forgotten. Although a little boring at times, it is clear that he is a solid, dependable choice of partner. 7/10
Damon Salvatore, The Vampire Diaries
Widely known as TV’s ‘sexiest’ vampire, filling the Edward Cullen-shaped hole in teenage hearts from 2009 to 2017, Damon Salvatore (Ian Somerhalder) is revered in the series as Elena’s (Nina Dobrev) soulmate. However, he is not the only leading man in her life, often competing for her affections in the early days against his little brother Stefan (Paul Wesley), who is simply too boring to make this list. Going against the opinions of the hordes of diehard ‘Delena’ shippers, I feel I need to make a stand; Damon is not a great guy. The slightest tiff with Elena is enough to send him into a murderous rage, including tormenting those she cares about, as his thirst for vengeance is on par with his thirst for blood. It is obvious throughout the series that he cares for little else other than Elena, which likely accounts for much of his impulsivity and selfishness. As such, his ‘bad boy’ persona runs deeper than the fast cars and leather jackets, with his toxic and manipulative behaviour far outweighing his looks, making him a walking red flag. 3/10
Nick Miller, New Girl
The central love interest of titular character Jessica Day (Zooey Deschanel), Nick Miller (Jake Johnson) may initially appear as a sarcastic, lazy man-child, but I would argue that despite these flaws, he is still one of the most romantic TV boyfriends. From the very moment he meets Jessica he is besotted, and continues this devotion, both as a friend and as a boyfriend, right throughout the series. This type of swoon-worthy passion is common in on-screen boyfriends, but rarely is it so endearing. Nick Miller could easily make this list just for orchestrating the most romantic first kiss in TV history alone, but his many small gestures, including the admission that he saved the coin that was in his pocket when they first kissed and kept it with him always, solidify his place. Additionally, a man incapable of lying thanks to some tell-tale excessive sweating makes for an ideal boyfriend, even if he doesn’t have a bank account. 9/10
Ross Geller, Friends
It is an argument as timeless as the series itself, but while many believe Ross (David Schwimmer) and Rachel (Jennifer Aniston) were meant to be, I believe Rachel deserved so much better. Ross commits many unforgivable sins during the course of the show, including the infamous pros and cons list and the “we were on a break” fiasco, which coupled with his jealous nature leave very little to be desired. It still shocks me to this day that the romantic climax of the show is Ross swooping in at the last minute to selfishly convince Rachel to give up her dream job. Since Ross has such a prehistoric attitude when it comes to modern women pursuing their own careers, maybe he should have stuck to fossils. 2/10
Patrick Brewer, Schitt’s Creek
There is no on-screen love more pure than that of David Rose (Dan Levy) and Patrick Brewer (Noah Reid). While both men play a part in the success of this relationship, it is Patrick’s patience and acceptance of David’s dramatic, eccentric nature that earns him a spot on this list. David is highly strung and a handful to deal with, but Patrick manages this side of him with ease, never asking him to change. He is also a master of grand gestures, from typical tear-inducing serenades, to the more outlandish, such as secretly trying to buy a house just because David said it looked nice. With a keen business acumen and a love for David’s family to boot, Patrick is the blueprint for the perfect love interest. 10/10
Joe Goldberg, You
TV boyfriends do not get much worse than Joe Goldberg (Penn Badgley). Compulsive lying and relentless stalking would be bad enough, but the serial killing is the icing on the cake. Friends, family, the objects of his affection themselves, there is no line that Joe won’t cross when it comes to murder. This ‘spontaneous’ nature, to put it kindly, does not a reliable boyfriend make. Joe is a classic case of abuse mistaken for love, both by other characters, and unfortunately, many viewers of the show. As such, the use of the term ‘boyfriend’ in this instance is an unfortunate misnomer. 0/10
