and why.
1. Jamie Fraser of Diana Gabaldon’s Outlander. Jamie Fraser is the gold standard. He is the man by which I measure all fantasy men. Is Jamie a nice guy? Let’s think about this. Yes and no. When it comes to sex, he would never resort to force. If you recall…no wait, let’s just say that Jamie believes in saving himself for the right woman/marriage. Yet, he sees nothing wrong with resorting to corporal punishment, aka Claire’s behind, when Claire’s actions endanger their group. He fights and kills when necessary and without hesitation to protect what’s his and the people he loves and he does not suffer any pangs of conscience. Above all else, Jamie is a pragmatist. He’s courageous, competent, complex, cunning and loyal. He’s compassionate, but he’s not nice. One of the reasons Jamie works so amazingly well as a romantic hero is that a man like this could really exist. I know because I’m married to a man like him.
2. John Blackthorne from Shogun, by James Clavell - a work of literary/historical fiction with a poignant, tragic romance thrown into the mix. I know this book isn’t a romance novel, but the relationship between John Blackthorn and Mariko is quite possibly my favorite romance of all time. I cry every single time I read the book. John Blackthorne is another man thrown into life-altering circumstances and he does what he has to do in order to survive. Like Jamie, he too is a pragmatist. Killing leaves a bad taste in his mouth, but he’ll kill without hesitation when necessary. He knew they were all afraid of him, even the Captain General, and that most hated him. But that was normal, for it was the pilot who commanded at sea; it was he who set the course and ran the ship, he who brought them from port to port….At sea the pilot was leader, sole guide, and final arbiter of the ship and her crew. Alone he commanded from the quarterdeck. That’s heady wine, Blackthorne told himself. And once sipped, never to be forgotten, always to be sought, and always necessary. That’s one of the things that keep you alive when others die.
3. Some of my favorite bad boys spring from the mind of Karen Marie Moning - Daegus MacKeltar in The Dark Highlander, Adam Black (oh my god yummo) from The Immortal Highlander, and my personal favorite, Cian MacKeltar from Spell of the Highlander. Each of them is an Alpha Male to the enth degree and by no stretch of the imagination do I consider them nice. These are dangerous men, but they would never harm their women and that combination makes them very, very sexy in my eyes.
4. The last example from romance literature, but not the least, another dangerous man who borders on overbearing in an irresistibly appealing way - Gray Rouillard from After the Night, by Linda Howard. Irrepressibly Alpha, I want to smack him and tangle tongues at the same time. Gray Rouillard is one unforgettable, not very nice, hero.
A few examples of popular alpha males who play not nice guys.
5. Clint Eastwood in nearly every movie he’s been in.
6. Rhett Butler in the movie version of Gone With the Wind.
7. John Wayne in the movie, The Searchers.
I would love to hear some of your favorites.
Happy Thanksgiving tomorrow! I’m taking the day off. Coming Friday - beta/gamma heroes!
And thank you for the amazing comments - they are brilliant!
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Happy Thanksgiving J!
I’m going to say I love Damian from Vampire Diaries — he might be evil but have that naughty grin and gleam in his eyes is to die for.
Gotta put in a vote for most of the alpha males from JR Ward’s Black Dagger Brotherhood-real badaasses except when it comes to their women
Zhadist and Vishous are probably the baddest of the bad. Absolutely love ‘em!
You too, Amber!
Eve - I’m gonna have to watch that show!
Hey Suzanne - I woke up thinking about the BDB! I knew I’d missed a whole house full of baddies!
I remember absolutely loving yet being shocked by my reaction to Diana Gabaldon’s Jamie Fraser. In my mind “Outlander” broke the 80′s bodice-ripper mold and heralded a new day of men who were bad, but we clearly forgave them because they were a genuine product of their time and acting by their highest morals. Spankings, sex on demand after knife fights, near rape in a jail cell… It was thrilling and Claire went along with it wholeheartedly. Loved it. It also helped that Claire was written as a smart competent woman and not a frightened virgin.
If I start listing bad boys I take up your comment box! I better stop myself. lol
BTW Ekkat from Captured is definitely a bad boy kidnapper who repents and has a heart…I loved him.
Have a wonderful Thanksgiving.
XXOO Kat
I totally agree about Jamie!!
Ender from book 2 of Sydney Croft’s ACRO series. Judd Walker, Psy extraordinaire in Caressed by Ice!
Oh you DEFINITELY nailed my favorites in #1 & #3. *sigh* Jamie Fraser and the MacKelters are WONDERMOUS!
You are right on with these picks. John Blackthorne is my favorite too. Great post Julia!!! Have a great Thanksgiving!
Lot of great alpha heroes in romance novels and films. I have to admit a weakness for Rhett Butler, though, he should never have left Scarlett, the way he did. imo…
Adrian Paul as The Highlander… no, not a romantic series. However, my idea of an alpha I would want.
Okay, this is going to sound very vain. However, I absolutely love, and fall in love with the heroes in my books. If I didn’t, I wouldn’t write their love story. Why bother?
As far as Outlander, it’s been decades since I read that book. And, I loved it, at the time. I also, adore a lot of the so-called bodice rippers. So, shoot me. Many of those historical romances were based on the reality of the times and the historical detail was amazing.
But, taking Outlander, as one example… try writing that these days for publication and it’s often considered a no-no ‘rape’ storyline. From my perspective I don’t think, what I call REAL PASSION, is understand in our current culture. Yep, despite, the tons of BDSM stories. There is a difference between sexual passion and eroticism. Though, of course, they often go hand in hand… or, whatever suggestive metaphor you want to come up with…
You all are amazing! I’ve been in San Francisco all day and I am a frazzled mess. Your comments are so priceless. I have to calm myself and read them all over again. Thank you so much!
Great blog, Julia.
I always enjoyed John Wayne movies, with the exception of The Searcher. That one creeped me out.
Have a wonderful Thanksgiving, my friend.
Thanks, Sandra. Yeah, the Searchers is Wayne’s one creepy movie where he is a hero but not a very nice guy. Happy Thanksgiving to you!