Gabriel from Emily In Paris: beware the man who cheats

What’s more charming than a man who can cook? In Netflix series Emily in Paris, protagonist Emily is pursued by her gorgeous neighbour Gabriel, who is a chef. But the start of their relationship isn’t exactly ideal: Gabriel sets about romancing Emily while still dating another character, Camille. This has lead some viewers to criticise the show for romanticising cheating.

Simon Basset from Bridgerton: beware the man who’s hot and cold

Basset is the perfect example of a man who prioritises his own personal baggage over his partner’s needs and wants. Playing hard to get is one thing, but this is probably going too far. The Independent even reported on Bridgerton being accused of glamorising toxic relationships.

Joe Goldberg from You: beware the control freak

OK, nobody wants a partner who’s a stalker, kidnapper or murderer – and Joe Goldberg ticks off all three of those boxes. But even without those traits typical of romantic thriller love interest, there are other warning signs that are perhaps more applicable to real life relationships.

Goldberg is, to put it lightly, a control freak when it comes to romance. After becoming interested in Guinevere Beck, who he meets at the bookstore he manages, he stalks her to find out her schedule and other personal details – without her knowledge or consent, naturally – and meddles in her love life. He imagines that his courtship of Beck will follow a script of his own making, and when actual circumstances deviate from that script, he forces them back on track. He also cuts her off from her close friends. Five minutes of Googling will reveal that many of these actions are alarm bells signalling an abusive relationship.

Winston Schmidt from New Girl: beware the man-child

American sitcom New Girl, which aired from 2011 to 2018, came under fire mostly due to the character Winston Schmidt, who was criticised for perpetuating racist stereotypes by attending an Indian wedding in a turban, and for slut-shaming Cece and treating her model friends like sex objects.

But wait a minute – Schmidt is supposed to be childish and immature. Wouldn’t such behaviour be in line with his character? His housemates even come up with a “douchebag jar” because of his antics. (Much like a “swear jar”, Schmidt has to put money in the jar every time he was caught acting like a “douchebag”.)

In fact, some might call Schmidt a classic man-child. Cultural historian Gary Cross describes the “boy-man” as someone who fixates on adolescent longings for their intensity and variety of experiences. According to Cross, the “boy-man” stands on a treadmill of endless novelty and is always looking for quick hits of pleasure.

Ezra Fitz from Pretty Little Liars: beware the creep who dates minors

Do we even need to say it? A sexy schoolteacher seducing a student may be a tempting role-play scenario, but it’s another matter entirely in real life.

Behind the handsome facade, Ezra Fitz is a massive creep. One viewer took to Reddit to say: “He seriously makes my skin crawl. There is nothing romantic about a teacher abusing his position of trust to get with a sixteen-year-old.” And as the series progresses towards its final season, it’s revealed that Fitz was initially dating the 16-year-old Aria to get more information on his first love, Alison … another teenage student. A predatory pattern perhaps?

On top of that, Fitz is a compulsive liar and displays some serious anger issues when his lies are exposed. Yikes.

Ross Geller from Friends: beware the jealous, insecure man with something to prove

Geller’s awkward teenage years and failed first marriage result in some serious issues with low self-esteem. Throughout the series, Geller is so preoccupied with proving his manliness that he ends up focusing too much on himself and his own needs. He’s often territorial over his girlfriends – especially Rachel Green, who is the prime example of someone he dates simply to fulfil an idealised version of himself. His insecurity is also what causes him to get jealous and lash out – which is never a good look.

Barney Stinson from How I Met Your Mother: beware the misogynist

Of all the “Casanovas” on this list, Barney Stinson is perhaps the most overtly misogynistic. The early-to-mid-2000s were arguably the peak of popular television “bro culture” that Stinson brings in spades.

HIMYM has its fair share of problematic moments – from transphobic comments to cultural appropriation – but when it comes to sexism, Stinson definitely takes the cake. He’s often slut-shaming and ageist towards women. Some choice quotes include: “the only reason to wait a month for sex is if she’s 17 years and 11 months old,” and “so many great things about this girl: her boobs, her rack, her chest”. Maybe don’t date a guy who can’t manage the bare minimum of basic respect.

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This article originally appeared on Buro Malaysia.