But there’s one guy with clear eyes and a full heart who just can’t lose.
High school relationships, as a rule, are imperfect.
But that’s what makes Matt Saracen so great.
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From the first snap, he’s not your typical teen heartthrob.
He lends Matt a mellow energy that underscores his big heart and the abundant love he has to give.
Ninety-eight percent of the time.
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Take, for example, his first attempt to have sex with Julie in season 1.
It’s Julie’s idea, one of those “all the cool kids are doing it” things.
How many times have we seen that play out poorly on television?
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Or turn in to an after-school special?
We don’t have to."
That’s a level of emotional maturity, respect, and consent we rarely see from teen TV boyfriends.
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When so much teen TV fixates on teens obsessed with sex, it’s a refreshing take.
This is the core of who Matt is and what makes him a fantastic boyfriend.
He puts everyone but himself first.
Sure, Matt’s not perfect.
He makes the boneheaded choice to date his grandma’s nurse for a spell.
Worst of all, in season 4, he leaves Julie for Chicago without saying goodbye.
Still totally not cool?
But when Julie goes to Matt in Chicago, he prioritizes making room for her in his life again.
He’s the guy who shows up for you no matter what.
Even if it’s going to initiate the risk of pissing off Coach.
Uncommon in general, even more rare for it to work.
He’s a nice guy who doesn’t require quotation marks around the words.
While it’s fun to lust after Riggins (how can you not?
), Matt Saracen really should get more love for being the best boyfriend on teen television.
QB 1, yes, but also, No.
1 in our hearts and Texas forever.
Read more fromI Want My Teen TV, EW’s summerlong celebration of teen shows past and present.
