Some readers may be surprised to discover the shipping of bad boys with female protagonists in two most recent additions to popular franchises, The Lord of the Rings: The Rings of Power and Stars Wars: The Acolyte.

But both shows were heavily influenced by feminine storytelling. As such, they showcase one of the conundrums of the female psyche: the allure of the bad boy.

In The Acolyte, we see Osha lured to the dark side, partly influenced by Qimir, known as the Stranger. He’s sexy, strong, devious, manipulative, and powerful. He challenges her and feeds her anger, drawing her away from her Jedi teachings.

When Qimir and Osha depart together, she has killed her Jedi master, abandoned her sister, and left the Jedi. She doesn’t look back but forward as they stand side by side, prepared for whatever comes next. Fans called their shipping “Oshamir.”

Similarly, in the first season of The Rings of Power, Galadriel is initially allied with Halbrand, later revealed to be Sauron, the dark lord responsible for her brother’s death. Despite this revelation, the second season hints at a growing connection between Galadriel and Sauron, enhanced by the power of the Elven ring she wears. The showrunners have hinted at shipping these two characters. Incidentally, fans have called their shipping “Haladriel.”

Several times, Galadriel caresses the ring, almost as if she sees herself wedded to Sauron. That’s my interpretation, of course, but rings are powerful symbols in Western culture. On one hand, she doesn’t believe that Sauron’s evil has tainted the ring. On the other, she’s wearing his ring. Galadriel is aware Sauron has manipulated her, but at the same time, she and everyone else knows that he can still dominate her and it’s difficult to resist.

The fascination with the bad boy sometimes defies logic or canon.

So, it’s not really a surprise to see shows written by women, of which some who may enjoy a bad-boy trope, add it to the roster.

Look—as a reader, bad boy romances are my guilty pleasure. In the confines of fiction, they’re a danger that can be explored without real world consequences. But I’d never want to really be with one. Fictional bad boys are fantasies, not role models.

However, some women in real life are drawn to bad boys … real bad boys. Case in point: Wade Wilson (not Deadpool) has been sentenced to the death penalty for killing two women. Shockingly, twenty-five thousands of signatures were collected, nearly all women, who wanted the death penalty reversed.

Why reverse the death penalty? Because thirst trap videos circulated online that captured angles of him walking into the courtroom, moving his hands, or a certain look. The petition itself includes a poem praising the beauty of the murderer. Some signers were motivated because they feel he’s hot and sexy.

You read that right. A man who brutally killed two women should be let off the death penalty because they found him attractive. Which destroys the myth that women aren’t visual. Apparently being hot forgives a multitude of sins, even murder.

The poem in the petition reflected a common mindset, “He can change. I can change him.” To which I want to say, “Sweetheart, if you think you can, let him stay at your house. Let me know how that works out for you.”

This fascination with the dark side seems to reflect a flaw in some women—lure of the forbidden and dangerous, much like Eve’s temptation in the Garden of Eden when she desired the forbidden fruit that “looked very good.”

Bad boys in fiction often represent the opposite of what many women are taught: to be good, polite, restrained, and controlled. They challenge these norms, encouraging the heroine and the audience. It’s not just about glorifying recklessness; it’s about embracing uninhibited freedom.

Bad boys in fiction are fun and exciting. But real life isn’t like what books portray. Yeah, they look good, have magnetic personalities, aggression, and stir all the feel-goods. But as one friend of mine said, “You gotta throw that boy back in the street. He ain’t good for you.”