The way this is currently written seems like a defense of the way women choose men (in real life?), but this wiki is all about FICTION. The question is not what kind of men women actually go for IRL. There are plenty of stories where the girl does in fact go for the "bad boy" explicitly because he is a bad boy, often in spite of, or even because of the disapproval of people like her parents, best friend, etc. Is this realistic? Maybe, but that's not the point. The point is that IN (some) STORIES, it IS a thing. In other stories, it isn't. This article is about the latter category of stories. No need to insist that the former doesn't exist or isn't real, especially since it is (both in fiction and reality).
Anyway, my point is I think this could be reworked to be less defensive.
Tangent: The current pic doesn't seem to represent this trope well, because Helga is perennially (and forcefully) pushing Arnold away. Yes, she likes him, but she doesn't actually go after him (unless she makes a breakthrough later that I'm not aware of).
The Naruhina example doesn't really hold up, at least early in the story. Naruto really,really wasn't exactly a super nice kid for a while, and probably actively misbehaved more than Sasuke for most of their childhoods. (but whoo boy does that change)
One almost wonder if Stella Blaze from "Inhumanoids" would apply here. Her hero was Dr. Derek Bright, who saved her from the Inhumanoid Tendril. In a sense he was smart version of Knight in Shining Armor and she was an actress, she might have gotten bored with the Hollow- wooden folks of LA. What followed was a whirlwind romance (they got married in the next to last episode) and a commercial together for "Mr. Foam."
Hide / Show RepliesWould someone have the DECENCY of making an Spear Counterpart for this entry? It feels as if TV Tropes is missing representation for the male side of things!!!
Can't the good man not be the underdog for once, the desirable one?