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Inspired by the ~~reformed~~ rakes who wooed us from Bridgerton Seasons 2 and 4 (namely, Anthony and Benedict) and in advance of Bridgerton Season 4’s drop next week, it’s time to call out modern day TV men who, in spite of our better judgement, carved their way into our hearts and souls.

In no particular order and with some runner ups mentioned:

Hal Wyler aka Rufus from The Diplomat

Hal Wyler, played by the indomitable actor soon to don the mantle of Mr. Bennet in the upcoming Pride & Prejudice (2026), is that incorrigible alpha masquerading as a beta for his formidable wife, the very official, very impressive Ambassador to England.

Their marriage is a high-stakes spy tango that makes Mr. & Mrs. Smith look like amateur hour. Hal can sell you any story with a smile, but you’re never quite sure which team he’s batting for: Team Wyler or Team Hal.

Still, the man is undeniably magnetic, even when he’s being… well, a Hal. We get it, Kate. We really do.

Unpopular Opinion of 1: Rufus Sewell is our Gen X upgrade on Donald Sutherland’s (may he RIP) Mr. Bennet in Joe Wright’s 2005 P&P adaptation with Keira Knightly. At the same time, It makes me feel hella old since I think he still looks like he did 17 years ago:

Don Draper/Jon Hamm from Mad Men or Your Friends and Neighbors

Is the fact that Don tells it like it is what makes him so appealing? This iconic line to his mentee Peggy, the copywriter, regarding how he shows his appreciation - not with words, despite his “ad man” and storytelling skills.

As I’ve said time immemorial, Don Draper is the bee’s knees. Not because he’s morally upright. It’s precisely because he’s not. He’s flawed, slippery, aspirational, self-sabotaging, and somehow still magnetic. A walking contradiction in a perfectly tailored suit.

And Jon Hamm? The undisputed king of bringing these complicated men to life. Not just Draper in Mad Men, but again in Your Friends & Neighbors, where the charm is intact and the moral compass is, as always negotiable.

He’s enigmatic at all times which as we know is a core ingredient of the rake. You can practically see the inner machinery whirring, the cogs turning at full tilt. He understands the rules of the game. He just can’t always resist breaking them. And that tension? That’s the hook.

Related Reading: [Beth’s Top 5 Prestige Shows]

The Oddball Choice: Russ Holliday/Glen Powell from Chad Powers on Hulu

There’s something about Glen Powell as disgraced, canceled, vaguely douche-adjacent Russ Holiday that makes you want to personally oversee his redemption arc. He’s smug. He’s spiraling. He’s “aging bad boy” coded in a way that feels both self-aware and deeply unserious.

Which, of course, is the entire joke when he pivots into Chad Powers—full-send cringe, aggressively cheesy, and somehow… a better human? The hair. The vibes. The earnestness dialed up to eleven. It’s giving chaos-to-contrition pipeline.

Maybe the eventual Russ–Chad merger spells redemption. Maybe it doesn’t. Either way, watching the experiment unfold is half the fun. Low-frills. Easy breezy comedy with a Steve Zahn drop.

Runner Up Rakes:

Robert from Industry
Sawyer from Lost
Not a TV show, but would be remiss not to mention Josh O’Connor’s character, Patrick Zweig from Challengers, a film I otherwise hated, but for him
Remington Steele (the OG rake)

Ladies, you know what I’m talking about

K, Let’s Dish!
Who is your rake TV or film boyfriend?

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Unfamiliar on Netflix - EJS Downs 1 Thank you for the reco!

Vanished on a free MGM+ trial

The only pic I could find which shows Sam’s teeth

Also: spies and sex or spies and no sex, but that exquisitely fraught, will-they-won’t-they tension, depending on the episode and your blood pressure. Think The Flight Attendant, but not as sharp. Probably because what’s missing here is the secret sauce: Zosia Mamet as the deadpan sidekick anchoring Kaley Cuoco’s glorious chaos.

And then there’s Sam Claflin. Listen. The teeth. The startlingly perfect, laser-aligned white teeth. They are dazzlingly distracting. He’s British. Which means the smile alone is screaming danger, possibly psycho, maybe sociopath, almost certainly not to be trusted. He’s putting on a facade, surely.

Hijack on Apple TV+

Meh. It’s ok. Not as good as the first season. I mean how many modes of transport can you hijack. Wait, don’t answer that question. Please. This season has moved from an airplane to a subway car.

It’s a plane. No, it’s a train. Season 3 is definitely an automobile.

The Last Thing He Told Me on Apple TV+

I loved season one because who among us doesn’t appreciate a thriller where the female lead gets spectacularly duped by her very attractive husband, only to rise from the ashes sharper, stronger, and several steps ahead of everyone in the room?

Yes, she’s blindsided. Yes, the man is a hottie. But what makes it sing is watching her claim her agency so fully that the power dynamic flips on its head. And in the middle of all the mystery and manipulation? She shows up fiercely for her stepdaughter in a way that scream CHOSEN family.

That evolving partnership becomes the real love story. Not the vanished man. Not the secrets. But two women choosing each other and becoming exactly the duo we didn’t know we needed.

Industry on HBO

This one is drenched in finance-world rot: Brit posh mashed up with opaque jargon no one truly understands (least of all the viewing audience, which somehow makes it better). Every season is a full reinvention, with new power structures, new moral sinkholes, and new ways to feel unsettled. Season 4 is currently in motion, and yes, somewhere a literal or metaphorical gong is being struck. You feel it.

And when it comes to tense, electrifying relationship dynamics, father–daughter, boss–subordinate, mentor–monster, the Eric Tao / Harper Stern pairing is the modern-day Don Draper / Peggy Olson.

Charged. Cruel. Co-dependent. Brilliant.
Pure television genius.

Let’s Dish!
What are you watching?

📢 Hear Me Out: Rakes AKA Questionable TV Men We Can’t Quit—Even When We Know Better (But… Do We?)

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