The question might sound absurd at first, but it's more common than you think. Many of us have developed genuine feelings—love, infatuation, or strong attraction—for characters from TV series or films. We discover them gradually over seasons, building emotional connections that feel surprisingly real. I remember riding the train with my best friend when she hit me with it: “Do you think we can really fall in love with a guy from a series?” I was caught off guard, but it was a great question. She confessed to being head over heels for Brad Simon (played by Adam Demos) in Sex/Life. She's even considering unfollowing his co-star Sarah Shahi out of jealousy. If that's not love, what is?
That's when it hit me: love defies all rules. It thrives on attraction, personality, and repeated exposure—all elements we get from binge-watching a series. We start by finding them attractive, then learn their traits, quirks, and charm. Take Guzmán from Elite: not my usual type at first, but his role made him irresistibly sexy. Before long, obsession sets in. The catch? We can't touch or interact with them, which only intensifies the longing.
After chatting with my friend, I wondered if she was just a bit unplugged. Then I polled my office colleagues. The consensus? Yes, falling for fictional characters happens. Three shouted out Chuck Bass from Gossip Girl; one even dreamed of him, waking up in cold sweats wishing she were his girl. Another admitted to loving Stiles Stilinski from Teen Wolf. And yes, someone professed real feelings for Lucas from the Scott Brothers' shows.
For me, it was Jesse McCartney in Summerland, and more recently, Jamie (Michael Ward) in Top Boy. I find myself scanning real life for someone like him—leading to sadness and frustration since he doesn't exist. Fictional crushes thrive because these characters embody our ideals: the ultra-romantic letter-writer, the badass who’d do anything for his partner, even vampires like Edward Cullen. Guys, if you're losing out to bloodsuckers, it might be time for some self-reflection.
This phenomenon has a name: fictosexuality. Emerging from online forums, it describes a legitimate sexual orientation. “Fictosexuality is a sexual attraction to fictional characters,” explains Tanja Valisalo, a researcher at Jyväskylä University in Finland. “The object of desire can come from books, comics, TV, movies, games, and more. It doesn't necessarily exclude attraction to real people,” she notes in her 2021 book, Fictosexuality, Fictoromance, and Fictophilia: A Study of Love and Desire for Fictional Characters.
On forums, fictosexuals debate the “normality” of their desires, with some feeling unable to connect with real people. One user, Candi, shared with Néon: “I realized in high school I'd never be interested in 'real' people. There was this phenomenal girl, but once we spent time together, she felt too real—a huge disappointment.” It's a niche topic offline but growing online.
Of course, a simple crush on, say, the Duke of Hastings (hello, Regé-Jean Page) doesn't make you fictosexual—or else every fan would qualify. There's no shame in it. These characters inspire dreams and excitement. At worst, you're frustrated by their unreality; at best, they fuel fantasies. Crushing on Thomas Shelby doesn't make you a cheater. Until the next Top Boy season drops Jamie Tovell, I'll keep dreaming.
