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This is what bingeing does to us. When you sit with a show you love for hours and hours on end, you get deeply familiar with every character and, maybe around hour four it hits you: the unexpected crush. Not a crush on the series lead–you know, the name actor that landed on the cover of GQ. No, you get a crush on the other guy, the third-billed guy, the sweet best friend or the tortured loner or, apparently, the lumbering robot.
Yes, a robot.
An unintended side effect of Netflix’s dominance is that the streaming service has become a launchpad for totally new kinds of sex symbols, dudes usually outside of the norm (but not outside of normcore). Team Decider wanted to celebrate these Netflix hunk in all their unsung glory, so we ranked our list of unlikely hotties and narrowed the field down to a tight nine. Did your streaming stud make the list? Did we overlook a looker? You can let us know, but know that these are the nine that Decider can get behind.
Eka Darville ('Marvel's Jessica Jones')
On any other show, Eka Darville would be the breakout hottie inspiring swooning tweetstorms. But on Jessica Jones Season 1, it was easy to overlook him what with Mike Colter’s Luke Cage hanging around (and also, yes, David Tennant, who was hot as the Doctor but Kilgrave is a nightmare person). Also there’s the fact that Darville’s Malcolm spent Season 1 playing a subtly mind-controlled junkie which, admittedly, not a hot look. But Malcolm got a glow up for Season 2, after kicking Kilgrave’s influence and drugs. Now the male lead of the show, all eyes need to be on this sensitive hottie.–Brett White
Jonathan Van Ness ('Queer Eye')
Listen: all y’all are thirsting after low-key culinary wonder kind Antoni, but don’t sleep on Jonathan Van Ness. Jonathan beats all the other Queer Eye guys in one department: self confidence, honey! There is nothing hotter than a man who knows himself and loves himself, whether he’s giving grooming tips in a Target aisle or working the room at a veterans’ hall. Jonathan Van Ness–can you believe?–BW
The Robot ('Lost in Space')
I don’t… okay–for some reason, there are a lot of people out there thirsting for this alien robot, a shape-shifting sometimes-murder-machine with a limited vocab and metallic abs. Why…? Have they not seen Toby Stephens or Ignacio Serricchio? I mean, sure, their manly builds aren’t as thicc as Robot, with those thighs that won’t quit (because they aren’t programmed to). This one is weird, and I don’t totally get it but, sure, you all do you!–BW
Ben Mendelsohn ('Bloodline')
The black sheep brother of Kyle Chandler might not be the first person that comes to mind when considering sex symbols, but hear me out. Ben Mendelsohn was the beating heart of Bloodline, a slow burn drama with a perfect first season (and mediocre second and third installments). Mendelsohn’s Danny Rayburn has everything you could possibly need in an offbeat sex symbol; he looks cool smoking, has a bad boy edge, and boasts aspirational floppy hair. (Plus, he can work that typically awful open button down shirt look). What more could you possibly want? –Jade Budowski
Elden Henson ('Marvel's Daredevil')
Repeat after me: adorable is sexy! Shout it from the rooftops of Hell’s Kitchen, because Daredevil’s BFF Foggy Nelson (played by Elden Henson) is a stud! Truth time: the man is better-dressed than Matt Murdock, he’s definitely a better lawyer (because he ain’t distracted with all that self-sacrificing vigilantism), and he ain’t afraid to belt out numbers from The Pirates of Penzance. This is a well-rounded, cultured cutie that only gets hotter with every season. Seriously, that Mad Men-esque haircut he got for Marvel’s The Defenders? Work it, Elden!–BW
Dean Strang ('Making a Murderer')
Where were you when Strang Mania swept across the nation? If you were me, you were in the eye of the storm, eagerly binging all of Making a Murderer just to catch more of Dean Strang’s sexy normcore vibes. This man loves justice and the rule of law, and he gets so emotional about it. A thirst for justice is a definite turn on; just think of Dean Strang as Batman in dad jeans and glasses.–BW
Ki Hong Lee ('Unbreakable Kimmy Schmidt')
Unbreakable Kimmy Schmidt pleasantly surprised us when Kimmy ditched her obnoxious white rich boy suitor and instead fell for Dong, played by the thoroughly adorable Ki Hong Lee, and boy, did she make the right call. He’s smart, funny, and caring, and he’s willing to tutor Kimmy and do just about anything she asks for. A cute, compassionate man is hard to find, and while Kimmy and Dong’s relationship may not last, we’ll happily step in if he’s in need of a replacement. –JB
Marc Maron ('GLOW')
I can’t be the only one with a middle-aged, grizzled grump *type*, and let me tell ya, Marc Maron‘s Sam Sylvia checks all my boxes. Occasionally sleazy burnout with a heart of gold? Check. A mustache and eyewear that should be off-putting but instead only intensify my attraction to him? Check. Looks cool smoking? Check. User of tough love and harsh words in public, and tender and caring behind the scenes? Check check check. (I guess I should clarify that I think smoking is gross but some dudes look hot doing it, but anyway, Marc Maron is a babe). –JB
David Harbour ('Stranger Things')
I don’t wanna give David Harbour all the credit for making the Dad Bod mainstream hot, but like, let’s be honest: Zaddy Hopper is totally to blame for the resurgence of the Dad Bod. He snuck up on us all and became the grizzly sensation that’s sweeping the nation. Who doesn’t love a man in uniform? A father figure? A grump who’s really just a big mush at the end of the day? A man with morals? Sheriff Hopper is basically the Daddy of Our Dreams. –JB
