Teen dramas played a big part in my coming-of-age experience. In addition to setting unrealistic expectations for my high school experience, they also helped shape the expectations of what I should expect in a good partner. Although these dramas tended to skew to toxic and even harmful examples of what love should look like, there were also a few gems. Here is my list of late ’90s/early 2000s TV drama boyfriends who made me believe in love:
Pacey Witter (Dawson’s Creek): I know, you’re totally shocked. I will admit that, along with most of the world, I began my DC journey very much in the camp of Team Dawson.[*] I fully blame the Tamara Jacobs storyline for this early error in judgment, but the moment Andie McPhee arrived in the Creek, I was firmly on the Pacey train. Charming and self-deprecating, sweet and loyal, and good god, those kisses in the rain. Pacey Witter will always be my top slot (unless we move into adult dramas, then Peter Bishop knocks him out, but you can see a theme here: Joshua Jackson forever).
Ryan Atwood (The O.C.): Now, I know the correct answer here is probably Seth Cohen and his undying love for Summer, but I was a Ryan girl. Maybe it’s the bad boy persona—I just want to smother him in love until I change him. But blond, brooding Ryan was my man.
Logan Huntzberger (Gilmore Girls): I may have opened the can of worms with Ryan Atwood, but now I am hurling the can across the room, leaving a long trail of worm guts behind me. I know, I know, the internet loves Jess. My reasonable adult brain sees his floppy hair and arms full of books and acknowledges you know what you are talking about. But my teenage brain, with its unformed frontal lobe, had a thing for blond bad boys (see above). I was a sucker for the “hot guy wants her and wants her bad,” and that was Logan’s whole thing. Also, Rory changed him (he became a better boyfriend—it can happen!).
* Although I definitely threw some shade at Dawson Leery the character, I do want to share my eternal love and admiration for JVB the man. Don’t Trust the B is a masterpiece. You are brilliant. Your TikTok gives me life. Fuck fire ants!