Very little of what we see on television is realistic. However, we cannot help but get emotionally invested in TV shows and fall in love with their characters. Some of the men featured on our favorite TV shows are just short of perfect, and have set our expectations for the real men in our lives ridiculously high. Here are some of the characters who have won our hearts and make us wish they were real people.
Joel Graham, Parenthood
Joel Graham is a husband and father extraordinaire. He starts as the perfect stay-at-home dad, letting lawyer wife Julia follow her dreams at a high powered law firm. Even when Julia has her crazy, Type-A moments, he always supports her. He is devoted to his children and his wife's family and is always the voice of reason among a whole lot of crazy. Even though he and Julia went through a rough patch, he vowed that he would never stop fighting for her, making women everywhere swoon and wish they had a man like him.
Matt Saracen, Friday Night Lights
Not only is Matt the starting quarterback of the Dillon Panthers, but he is also an artist and is the most loving and caring boyfriend ever to Julie Taylor (even when she doesn't deserve it). He is the sole caretaker of his grandmother, who has dementia and is prone to bad spells. He won over our hearts when he sang to her through a closet door during one of her spells, pretending to be his grandfather so she would calm down. Matt has no one to support him, but supports everyone in his life, and his responsibility, sensitivity, and caring heart regularly draw a collective sigh from female viewers.
Luke Danes, Gilmore Girls
Never has a man ever been so hopelessly devoted to one woman for so long without her realizing it. Luke waited for Lorelei Gilmore for years as she went through wrong guy after wrong guy, even building a chuppah for her when she was going to marry Max Medina. Luke also cared for Lorelai's daughter, Rory, and gave Lorelai a loan while she was building her own inn. He would do anything for Lorelai, and it took four long seasons for them to finally get together. Throughout the entire series, one thing was always certain: Luke would always be there for Lorelai, no matter what. He was the type of guy viewers could only dream of.
Nathan Scott, One Tree Hill
Nathan Scott started as entitled jerk with controlling daddy issues, but then made a complete 180 for the girl he loved. Throughout the entire series, Nathan always credits his wife, Haley James Scott, for making him a better person. As a professional basketball player, he could have had anyone he wanted, but all he ever wanted, or needed, was Haley. He was hopelessly devoted to her in every way and never failed to tell her how much he loved her. Nathan's sweet gestures as a father and husband pretty much make him the perfect man.
While we all wish that we could have one of these perfect men as our own they are, sadly, fictional and slightly unrealistic. Plus, the real guys in our lives aren't so bad, are they?
