It was the motorcycle ride heard ‘round the world. Or at least, heard across every teenager’s iPad in 2018. When Noah Flynn first rumbled onto the screen in The Kissing Booth, he wasn’t just a character; he was a vibe. A tall, leather-jacketed, Harvard-bound (somehow?) enigma who managed to be both the dream boyfriend and a walking red flag.
Honestly, the math doesn’t add up. How does a guy who spends half his time getting into fistfights at beach parties find the time to study for the SATs?
But that’s the magic of the franchise. It’s ridiculous. Even Jacob Elordi thinks so. He’s been pretty vocal lately about how those movies made him feel "dead inside," which is a bit of a gut punch to fans who spent three movies rooting for him and Elle. Yet, despite the actor’s own skepticism, Noah Flynn remains a blueprint for the modern "reformed bad boy" trope that Netflix basically built its empire on.
The Problem with Noah Flynn (and Why We Loved Him Anyway)
Let’s be real for a second. If you met Noah in real life, you’d probably tell your best friend to run. Fast.
He’s possessive. He’s got an anger management problem that would keep a therapist in business for a decade. He literally tells other guys they aren't allowed to date Elle. That’s not "protective," it’s controlling. But in the world of teen rom-coms, that toxicity is often packaged as intense passion. We see him through Elle’s eyes—the blue eyes, the muscular build, the way he looks in a tux.
The chemistry between Joey King and Jacob Elordi was undeniable, largely because they were dating in real life during the first film. You can’t fake that kind of tension.
The Harvard Mystery
One of the biggest points of contention for fans—and critics—was Noah’s academic prowess. We’re told he’s this brilliant mind who gets into Harvard University.
- He’s a star football player.
- He’s constantly in the principal's office.
- He spends his nights at the Hollywood sign.
When exactly did he write his admissions essay? The movie asks us to believe that under that "troublemaker" exterior lies a genius. It’s a classic trope, but it’s one that makes Noah feel more like a fictional fantasy than a real person.
That Infamous Rule #9
Everything in The Kissing Booth revolves around the rules. Specifically, Rule #9: Relatives of your best friend are strictly off-limits.
Lee Flynn, Noah’s younger brother, is the gatekeeper of this rule. And honestly? Lee kind of had a point. He knew his brother was a loose cannon. He knew Elle was prone to getting her heart broken. But you can’t help who you love, right? The secret relationship between Noah and Elle is what gave the first movie its stakes.
The moment Lee finds them kissing? Pure drama. It’s the kind of high-stakes teenage betrayal that feels like the end of the world when you’re seventeen.
The Evolution of a Relationship
By the time the sequels rolled around, the "bad boy" edges started to soften. Sorta. In The Kissing Booth 2, Noah is at Harvard, trying to navigate a long-distance relationship. He meets Chloe, the "perfect" girl who makes Elle feel incredibly insecure. This is where we see a different side of Noah—the guy who’s actually trying to grow up, even if he’s bad at communicating.
He goes from being the guy who punches people to the guy who’s just... tired.
Why the Ending Still Divides the Fandom
The Kissing Booth 3 didn’t give everyone the fairytale they expected. After years of "will they or won't they," the movie ends with a time jump.
Elle doesn’t choose Noah. She doesn’t choose Lee. She chooses herself.
She goes to USC to study video game design. She finds her own path. And then, six years later, she runs into Noah at a carnival. They make eye contact. They smile. They go for a motorcycle ride.
It’s an open ending. Some people hated it. They wanted the wedding, the white picket fence, the "happily ever after" they’d been promised for three movies. Others thought it was the most realistic thing the franchise ever did. People change. Relationships in your teens rarely look the same in your mid-twenties.
Actionable Takeaways for Fans of the Genre
If you’re still reeling from the Flynn brothers' drama, here’s how to look at the series with a bit more nuance:
- Separate the Actor from the Character: Jacob Elordi might hate the role, but that doesn't mean you have to. It's okay to enjoy a "guilty pleasure" movie even if the lead actor has moved on to "prestige" cinema like Euphoria or Saltburn.
- Recognize the Red Flags: Use Noah as a case study. In movies, a guy slamming his hand on a car and yelling "Get in!" is framed as romantic. In reality, that’s a signal to set some serious boundaries.
- Appreciate the Growth: Focus on Elle’s journey. The best part of the trilogy isn't actually the romance—it's watching a young woman realize that her value isn't tied to which Flynn brother she’s pleasing that day.
Noah Flynn is a relic of a specific era of Netflix movies—the "Summer of Love" era. He represents that first, messy, often-toxic crush that teaches you exactly what you don't want in a long-term partner. Whether you love him or think he's a "piece of trash," there's no denying he changed the landscape of teen movies forever.
To dive deeper into the world of Beth Reekles (who wrote the books the movies are based on), check out the original Wattpad stories to see how much the character of Noah changed from page to screen.
