Top 10 Teen Drama Characters We Had a Crush On
#10: Stiles Stilinski “Teen Wolf” (2011-17)
Top 10 Stiles & Lydia Moments on Teen Wolf
Fierce loyalty, biting sarcasm, and a sharp mind rolled into one gangly package: that is Stiles Stilinski. Being a werewolf’s best friend isn’t for the weak, but Stiles always stood by those he loved no matter the situation… or species. He also brought the comedic relief that “Teen Wolf” needed, and made our hearts swell with how adorable he was. Not to mention, he had a deep bond with his dad and was extremely dependable, even when going through a lot. Indeed, he and his 1980s Jeep were always ready to race to the rescue... unless it was broken down – which it was – often. Despite the tense nature of the show, Stiles regularly sported a goofy smile and puppy dog eyes that left us swooning.
#9: Felicity Porter “Felicity” (1998-2002)
Watching Felicity work to find herself through a series of vulnerable, euphoric, and hilarious moments made it hard not to fall in love with her and her honey-colored curls. She started as a young, timid future doctor whose main dream was pleasing her parents. Seeing her bloom into a confident, risk-taking art major in New York City was truly a treat. Her journey also served as a good reminder that at the end of the day, your choices are yours to make and it’s your future to live, so do what makes you happy. Plus, she was obviously gorgeous inside and out – yes, even with the controversial post-breakup haircut!
#8: Bonnie Bennett “The Vampire Diaries” (2009-17)
Speaking of charming, strong-willed women… Bonnie Bennett enchanted us from the very beginning, and not just because she was a witch. Born from a powerful line that’s been wrapped up in the risky business of vampires for far too long, Bonnie often got the short end of the stick. She was an expert at cleaning up her friends’ messes and was empathetic almost to a fault. As in, she was literally willing to die for her loved ones. If there’s one thing we always knew while watching “The Vampire Diaries”, it was that she could be counted on to save the day. Fiery and clever to boot, this bewitchingly beautiful icon could cast a spell on us any day!
#7: Seth Cohen “The O.C.” (2003-07)
Top 10 Best Seth & Summer Moments on The O.C.
Tall, dark, and handsome with great curls and a firm grasp on the art of sarcasm, Seth Cohen was all of our Y2K dreams come true. Though he wasn’t and would never be the stereotypical California surfer boy, that’s just fine with us. His cute comic book obsession and impeccable taste in music charmed us anyway. Sure, he was far from being considered a “cool kid” by many of his classmates, but if you ask us, they didn’t know what they were talking about. The love he had for Summer, and his quirky personality and artistic talents won us over forever. His gorgeous eyes and smile certainly didn’t hurt either.
#6: Lucas Scott “One Tree Hill” (2003-12)
Top 10 Times Lucas on One Tree Hill Was The WORST
His biological dad wanted nothing to do with him at first, so it’s safe to say Lucas wasn’t dealt a fair hand. Add in girls and an estranged half-brother who also plays basketball, Lucas’ sport of choice, and it’s a recipe for teen drama. There was, of course, a love triangle along the way, with Lucas and his dreamy eyes understandably at the center of it. While he never really formed a solid bond with his father, it was certainly nice to see him develop a true brotherhood with sibling Nathan. Plus, his relationship with his mom Karen and late uncle Keith, as well as his passion for writing, warmed our hearts. Is it any wonder we found ourselves crushing on this Scott brother?
#5: Emily Fields “Pretty Little Liars” (2010-17)
Top 10 Cringiest Emily in Paris Moments
She was empowered, strong, resilient, interesting, and one heck of an athlete. Oh, and she pulled all that off while being stalked and blackmailed alongside her friends. It goes without saying, but things were rough for Emily on more than one occasion both in love and in life more generally. But she always found a way through by persevering, and we’ll always love her for it. How could we not? On top of all of that, she was loyal, passionate about sports and her family, and incredibly kind to all. Not to mention, her character was huge for the representation of LGBTQIA+ youths in mainstream television at the time.
#4: Serena van der Woodsen “Gossip Girl” (2007-12)
Top 10 Best Serena Moments on Gossip Girl
“It-Girl” Serena van der Woodsen was known for turning heads and stopping hearts, and ours were no exception. Dressed to impress, beautifully blonde, and always bringing the good times along with her, it’s no wonder Serena instantly lit up any room she walked into. Her choices may have been questionable at times, but what teen can say they’ve never been wrong? She owned up to her mistakes often and had a sweet, forgiving nature that her equally rich, equally gorgeous friends – like Chuck Bass – definitely benefited from. Although the spotlight seemed to follow her, she didn’t always want it to and seemed to stray further from the Upper East Side than most in her tax bracket did. She appreciated humble beginnings, and we appreciated her.
#3: Jess Mariano “Gilmore Girls” (2000-07)
What If Rory Had Stayed With Jess?
With gorgeous slicked-back hair, a heart-wrenching smirk, and a rebellious streak, Jess Mariano was the ultimate bad boy. Sent to Stars Hollow after causing trouble back home, Jess made a splash in the small town… and in our hearts. Despite being generally angsty and having a hard time allowing others to get close to him, we fell in love with his sweet side. You know, the one that loved all things literary and had an interest in artistic endeavors. It’s the side that cared deeply for his uncle, though he was reluctant to show it. As if that wasn’t swoon-worthy enough, he had a clever comeback for everything and was incredibly intelligent, and his positive qualities only increased as he grew into a mature man.
#2: Buffy Summers “Buffy the Vampire Slayer” (2003-07)
Top 10 Times Buffy The Vampire Slayer Tackled Serious Issues
Buffy Summers slayed more than just vampires - she also conquered high school, fashion, and our hearts, just to name a few things. Popular, stubborn, and drop-dead gorgeous, Buffy was more than ready for a fresh start at Sunnydale High. It’s too bad no one ever mentions just how hard it is to focus on making friends and finishing assignments when you were born pre-destined to be the next great Vampire Slayer of your time. While she wasn’t always sold on the idea, she eventually grew into the badass Slayer with a strong moral compass that we all know and love. And she did it without sacrificing having more typical teenage experiences. She really could do it all, so we were putty in her hands! Before we unveil our top pick, here are a few honorable mentions. Matty McKibben, “Awkward” (2011-16) His Charm Was Undeniable Manny Santos, “Degrassi: The Next Generation” (2001-15) She Wrote the Book on Confidence Logan Echolls, “Veronica Mars” (2004-07; 2019) We Couldn’t Resist His Charisma Jordan Catalano, “My So-Called Life” (1994-95) He Always Found a Way to Make Us Blush Dylan McKay, “Beverly Hills, 90210” (1990-2000) A Magnetic Force
#1: Damon Salvatore “The Vampire Diaries” (2009-17)
Top 10 Funniest Damon Salvatore Moments
When we think of Damon Salvatore, we see icy blue eyes filled with unmatched passion and cheekbones for days. Pair that with a sharp tongue and incredible commitment to protecting those he loved, and you’ve got the perfect recipe to get us swooning. A recovering antagonist, he’d had centuries to perfect both questionable battle methods and bedroom eyes, and he had them both down to a science. And although you wouldn’t catch him dead admitting it, underneath all that arrogant sarcasm and rage-fueled impulsivity was a heart of gold. Or maybe you would catch him dead, considering he was a very old vampire. But somehow, that just made us love him even more. What dreamy teen drama character do you wish had walked the halls of your school? Let us know in the comments below!
