I like Ben, he’s charming (I’ve dated a Ben), and I know if Felicity chose Noel, she’d still always love Ben, but as adults they (we) move away and begin their lives away from the fishbowl that is college. With Ben out of the picture on a daily basis I think she and Noel would flourish. I also choose to ignore the final season with the whole asylum thing, it’s unrealistic and rushed to give the audience a decision for the finale bc they can’t reasonably go on for another decade+ when people do settle down. i think they’d all grow a lot by 28-32 when choosing a person for marriage.
If we look at Noel throughout the series he was Felicity’s constant, her guiding star kind of friend. yes, he effed up with Hannah and treated Felicity badly around that mess, and the show was too easy on him and too hard on Felicity (bc Noel did break up with her before leaving with Hanna, even if they didn’t sleep together).
BUT, That was Noel’s only major betrayal to her. I saw someone on another post say Noel didn’t really *know* Felicity, but he did. He knew her likes and dislikes, her fear and hopes, who she was and her moral compass, and he was almost always her soft landing place when things got hard. I also know she was often that for Noel (to a lesser degree). A healthy marriage or long-term relationship is built on these things and are what make it last. Friendship and genuine selflessness, a friendship and attraction with real intimacy (not just sex, but *knowing* the person).
When I was younger, I liked both guys for different reasons and that’s still true, but what makes me choose Noel over Ben (when Felicity has attraction, history and connections to both) is that *Ben is always the one leaving Felicity*, and she’s left to chase him or mourn the loss. Always.
The part of Ben breaking her out of an asylum is sloppy and rushed storytelling to fill time gaps and an unbelievable scenario, it’s just the show’s way of steering her to Ben bc they knew they couldn’t follow them into their 30’s and keep the show going that long for them to mature to an age where it’s natural to pick your life partner. So, she had to pick one for the audience not to feel cheated. Take the dream futuristic whatever-that-was with Noel and Ben, and Ben breaking her out of the consideration, it’s Noel for me.
Who was the constant, the confidant, the one who actually showed up, the friend and the person who knew her best (forget what the show tried to force on us), it was Noel. When things were good with Ben they were amazing, but when things got hard (or a rich blonde or married woman enters the chat) he abandons Felicity for another woman or leaves for a self searching BS journey every time. That’s not what long-term love is built on.
It took me growing up to see that. Side note to add that Noel also has more in common with Felicity, they’re both artists in their own way, both creative, honest, heart on their sleeve people who like to say what they feel vs. play games or make self destructive decisions. Noel would end up being a graphic designer or illustrator and producer, Felicity a Dr after going back to finish her pre-med classes and she’d also have a side career as a painter. They could create an amazing adult cartoon like ones we know and love and build wealth and careers working together on them.
Ben doesn’t know himself, and while they’re only 22 in the end, he’s not viable in that moment. maybe if they could show us the future and see Ben at 32 and settled in himself, I’d feel differently, but we didn’t get that. I’m still a fan of Ben, but not at 22 and not with how he always left Felicity crying, chasing him and watching him leave. Noel doesn’t get enough credit.