History PlayingWith / AllGirlsWantBadBoys

'''Basic Trope''': A female character falls in love with or feels very attracted to a 'bad guy' (i.e. a male character with dysfunctional, aggressive or outright criminal character traits), usually choosing him over a 'NiceGuy'.

** MonsterFangirl.
** YouSexyBeast.

** A girl prefers an outwardly [[TallDarkAndSnarky sarcastic or belligerent]] [[JerkWithAHeartOfGold guy who isn't really 'bad']] over a conventional gentlemanly NiceGuy.

** [[WhatDoesSheSeeInHim We're seeing the 'nice guy's' point of view]] and [[UnreliableNarrator he sees the guy as worse than he really is]].
** DatingWhatDaddyHates[=/=]ShockValueRelationship.
** Alice believes she can [[ICanChangeMyBeloved 'fix']] her [[DracoInLeatherPants boyfriend]] with the PowerOfLove and [[MoralityChain mold him into The Perfect Guy over time]]; in other words, she's LovingAShadow.

** SingleWomanSeeksGoodMan.

** [[DatingCatwoman The Good Boy loves the Bad Girl]].

** It turns out that the guy, telling us that the 'nice' guy was an UnreliableNarrator, is the ''true'' UnreliableNarrator!

** A woman falls in love with a man because [[FelonyMisdemeanor he forgot to pay a parking ticket]] ([[PokeThePoodle or some other similarly minor 'bad' trait]]), this making him a 'bad boy' in her eyes.
** A man goes to ludicrously extreme lengths to present himself as a 'bad boy' in order to attract a woman's interest. This includes [[WouldHurtAChild kicking babies in the face]], [[BadPeopleAbuseAnimals setting kitties on fire]], blowing up buses full of nuns, and [[ArsonMurderAndJaywalking playing whiny protest songs from the '60s]]. '''It works!'''

** Alice is in love with Bob the {{Jerkass}}, but then it turns out Charles the so-called 'nice' guy is an UnreliableNarrator who is in love with Alice. It turns out the person who called Charles out was the real UnreliableNarrator all along. However (s)he wasn't lying about Charles making up all that stuff up about Bob. Then it turns outs he wasn't making all that stuff up, Bob was just picking on Charles because he hates his guts.
* '''Averted''': There is no single 'bad boy' character; the woman's romantic options are between flawed but decent men.

* '''Exploited''': ReformedRakes.

** MonsterFangirl

** All Boys Want Bad Girls.

** See Justified #3: the "nice guy's" point of view

** A woman falls in love with a man because he forgot to pay a parking ticket (or some other similarly minor 'bad' trait), this making him a 'bad boy' in her eyes.
** A man goes to ludicrously extreme lengths to present himself as a 'bad boy' in order to attract a woman's interest. This includes [[WouldHurtAChild kicking babies in the face]], [[BadPeopleAbuseAnimals setting kitties on fire]], blowing up buses full of nuns, and [[CoolAndUnusualPunishment playing whiny protest songs from the '60s]]. '''It works!'''

* '''Deconstructed''': A woman falls in love with a bad boy and starts a relationship with him. He then treats her just as badly as he treats anyone, leaving her with permanent scars on her body and face from his violence.

** Rightly or wrongly, Alice believes being Bob's girlfriend means no one in their right mind will mess with her for fear of his wrath.

** Alice believes she can [[ICanChangeMyBeloved 'fi]][[LoveRedeems x']] her [[DracoInLeatherPants boyfriend]] with the PowerOfLove and [[MoralityChain mold him into The Perfect Guy over time]]; in other words, she's LovingAShadow.

** A woman can't resist getting into abusive relationships due to having an abusive father growing up. Her desires relfect her need to be loved by the cruel men in her life.

'''Basic Trope''': A female character falls in love with or feels very attracted to a 'bad guy' (i.e. a male character with dysfunctional, aggressive or outright criminal character traits), usually choosing him over a 'nice guy'.

** ...[[IncompatibleOrientation even the]] [[IfItsYouItsOkay lesbians.]]

** She rejects Nick, a consummate NiceGuy, for being too boring in favour of a JerkAss, for a while, at least.

** DatingWhatDaddyHates[=/=]ShockValueRelationship

** SingleWomanSeeksGoodMan

** [[DatingCatwoman The Good Boy loves the Bad Girl.]]
** [[DefrostingIceQueen Good Boy Loves Cold Girl.]]

** The woman seems to have fallen for the bad boy...but she's actually into someone else, he was misinterpreting all the signs.
** The man was a HeroWithBadPublicity

** Alice has an obvious crush on her friend Bob, the bad boy of the school (he has yet to tell anyone but Alice that he just likes the fashion), but then Bob's put into a situation that is out of the law's hands. Alice is against all of this, [[AntiHero seeing that it's changing him]], and abandons him. Later, she gets attracted to him anyway. She's also attracted to [[SingleWomanSeeksGoodMan Charlie]] and Bob gets a new friend, [[OutlawCouple Darlene]]. Charlie has his eyes more on [[BikerBabe Darlene]] than on Alice. The Creators try to get the Yaoi demographic by introducing Eddy who's involved in a HoYay LoveTriangle with Bob and Charlie. [[TomboyAndGirlyGirl Alice and Darlene]] also have their own LesYay going on.
** Alice in love with Bob the {{Jerkass}}, but then it turns out Charlie the so-called 'nice' guy is an UnreliableNarrator who is in love with Alice. It turns out the person who called Charlie out was the real UnreliableNarrator all along. However (s)he wasn't lying about Charlie making up all that stuff up about Bob. Then it turns outs he wasn't making all that stuff up, Bob was just picking on Charlie because he hates his guts.

* '''Exploited''': ReformedRakes

Back to AllGirlsWantBadBoys

** A man goes to ludicrously extreme lengths to present himself as a 'bad boy' in order to attract a woman's interest. This includes kicking babies in the face, setting kitties on fire, blowing up buses full of nuns, and [[CoolAndUnusualPunishment playing whiny protest songs from the '60s]]. '''It works!'''

** She fell in love with him [[FreudianExcuse because]] [[LikeParentLikeSpouse her father]] [[AbusiveParents abused her]], thus resulting in a cycle of attraction to abusive men.

** VillainessesWantHeroes, for an exaggerated inversion.

* '''Played For Laughs''': A woman has a boyfriend who is loud, smelly, and obnoxious to the point where he CrossesTheLineTwice.
* '''Played For Drama''': A woman can't resist getting into abusive relationships due to having an abusive father growing up. Her desires relfect her need to be loved by the cruel men in her life.

* '''Deconstructed''': A woman falls in love with a bad boy and starts a relationship with him. He then treats her badly, from standing her up on a date to raping her after a date.

** Alice is a very narcissistic and completely delusional girl who wants to be loved by a horrible man because she wants to feel "ultra special".

** Bob is an obvious JustifiedCriminal who gained [[SourOutsideSadInside something of a mean streak]] due to the way society treats ex-cons; he's nice to Alice because [[BecauseYouWereNiceToMe nice to him]].

** Alice believes she can [[LoveRedeems 'fix']] her [[DracoInLeatherPants boyfriend]] with the PowerOfLove and [[MoralityChain mold him into The Perfect Guy over time]]; in other words, she's LovingAShadow.

** ...[[IncompatibleOrientation even the]] [[IfItsYouItsOkay lesbians]]

** Alice and Bob are {{Childhood Friend}}s and so she knows that he's not as bad as everyone else thinks.

** See Justified #4: the 'nice guy' point of view

'''Basic Trope''': A female character falls in love with or feels very attracted to a 'bad boy' (i.e. a male character with dysfunctional, aggressive or outright criminal character traits), usually choosing him over a 'nice guy'.

** We're seeing the 'nice guy's' point of view and [[UnreliableNarrator he sees the guy as worse than he really is]].

** DatingCatwoman
** EvilParentsWantGoodKids

** SingleWomanSeeksGoodMan
** The Good Boy loves the Bad Girl.

* '''Straight''': The female character falls in love with a convicted criminal.
* '''Exaggerated''':

** The female character falls in love with {{Satan}}.

** She rejects a NiceGuy for being too boring in favour of a JerkAss, for a while, at least.

** We're seeing the "nice guy's" point of view and [[UnreliableNarrator he sees the guy as worse than he really is]].
** DatingWhatDaddyHates / ShockValueRelationship
** Alice believes she can [[LoveRedeems "fix"]] her [[DracoInLeatherPants boyfriend]] with the PowerOfLove and [[MoralityChain mold him into The Perfect Guy over time]]; in other words, she's LovingAShadow.
** Alice is suffering a GenderInverted version of TheDulcineaEffect
** Alice and Bob are {{Childhood Friend}}s and so she knows that he's not as bad as everyone else thinks.

** [[DefrostingIceQueen Good Boy Loves Cold Girl]].

** See Justified #4: the "nice guy" point of view

** It turns out that the guy, telling us that the "nice" guy was an UnreliableNarrator, is the ''true'' UnreliableNarrator!

** A man goes to ludicrously extreme lengths to present himself as a 'bad boy' in order to attract a woman's interest. This includes kicking babies in the face, setting kitties on fire, blowing up buses full of nuns, and [[CoolAndUnusualPunishment playing whiny protest songs from the 60's]]. '''It works!'''
* '''Zig Zagged''':
** Alice has an obvious crush on her friend Bob, the bad boy of the school (he has yet to tell anyone but Alice that he just likes the fashion), but then Bob's put into a situation that is out of the law's hands. Alice is against all of this, [[AntiHero seeing that it's changing him]], and abandons him. Later, she gets attracted to him anyway. She's also attracted to [[SingleWomanSeeksGoodMan Charlie]] and Bob gets a new friend, [[OutlawCouple Darlene]]. Charlie has his eyes more on [[{{Biker Babe}} Darlene]] than on Alice. The Creators try to get the Yaoi demographic by introducing Eddy who's involved in a HoYay LoveTriangle with Bob and Charlie. [[TomboyAndGirlyGirl Alice and Darlene]] also have their own LesYay going on.
** Alice in love with Bob the {{Jerkass}}, but then it turns out Charlie the so-called "nice" guy is an UnreliableNarrator who is in love with Alice. It turns out the person who called Charlie out was the real UnreliableNarrator all along. However (s)he wasn't lying about Charlie making up all that stuff up about Bob. Then it turns outs he wasn't making all that stuff up, Bob was just picking on Charlie because he hates his guts.
* '''Averted''': There is no single 'bad boy' character; the woman's romantic options are between flawed but decent men.

* '''Lampshaded''': "Of course, she loves him; bad boys are sexy, everyone knows that!"

* '''Deconstructed''': A woman falls in love with a bad boy and starts a relationship with him. He then treats her badly, from standing her up on a date to raping her after a date.
* '''Reconstructed''': A woman falls in love with a bad boy and starts a relationship with him, because he treats everyone ''except'' her badly.

* '''Enforced''': "We need to soften this criminal character up, so he has a reason to clean up his act. Maybe make one of the supporting female characters fall for him?"

"Hmm, this show needs more drama... I know! Why don't we have one of the female characters fall in love with this criminal?"

"Don't the fangirls always love the bad-boy/good-girl romance?" "Yeah!" "So let's do that!"