The Worst Boyfriends in TV and Movies
Some fictional men raise our expectations while others do not
This is a response to Top Book Boyfriends.
Fictional men are complicated. Some of them are absolutely amazing, giving us unrealistic expectations for men and romance in real life. Others are awful and make us want to know how they're not in jail yet. Here is a list of some of the worst boyfriends to grace our screens. Spoilers ahead!
Nate Jacobs, Euphoria (2019-Present)
If the term toxic masculinity were a person, it would be Nate Jacobs. Nate is a complex character. He starts off the series as your typical terrible jock stereotype before evolving into someone who is a danger. He is especially awful to his on-again-off-again girlfriend, Maddy Perez. In the first season, he chokes Maddy. In the second season, when they are broken up, he threatens Maddy at gunpoint. Season three hasn't started filming yet but, I have a feeling that there is more in store for the audience when it comes to Nate committing actual crimes.
Billy Loomis, Scream (1996)
Billy was already a questionable boyfriend before the twist. He told Sidney that she needed to get over the murder of her mother that happened a year before the events of the movie. Then comes the big reveal where you find out that not only is Billy a killer, but he is also the one who murdered Sidney's mother. It is honestly a surprise that Sidney ever was able to trust, let alone start dating again so soon after.
Ezra Fitz, Pretty Little Liars (2010-2017)
Google ImagesThe real villain of Pretty Little Liars wasn't A, it was Ezra Fitz. Ezra was an English teacher at Rosewood High who dated his student, Aria, while he was secretly writing a book about her best friend who had gone missing. To make matters worse, he also had a relationship with the missing friend, Alison, prior to meeting Aria. Forget the identity of A, how this man never went to jail will always be the biggest mystery of the show.
Joe Goldberg, You (2018-Present)
Joe Goldberg seems like the perfect guy at first. He's charming and handsome, and he loves books. There is one catch though: he is a stalker and serial killer. He spends his time in the series targeting his various objects of affection. Some he buries alive, some he places in a glass cage, and others he straight-up murders. However, with season four releasing in 2023, it could be possible that we see his killing spree come to an end.
Lucas Scott, One Tree Hill (2003-2012)
Lucas is not nearly as bad as some of the men on this list. But, he was for sure a terrible boyfriend. He cheats on his girlfriend, Brooke, with her best friend, Peyton, not once but twice. He also would lead a few women on throughout his time on the series which would lead to him getting left at the alter by his fiancee. The worse part is that throughout his time in the series, Lucas is barely held accountable for this, almost as if he learned nothing.