In pop culture, there are debates, and there are debates. You know what I mean; the kind that divide a generation, like the Ross-and-Rachel-on-a-break thing and running logistics on whether or not Jack could have fit on the door with Rose at the end of Titanic. 2004 was a pretty solid year for movies, but one tearjerker of a movie served us one such pop culture debate: The Notebook.
If you need a refresher, The Notebook is a book and movie that tells the story of a Allie (post-Mean Girls Rachel McAdams), a wealthy young woman in the 1940s, who has to make the choice between Lon (James Marsden), her rich fiance that treats her well, and Noah (Ryan Gosling), a former fling that she has crazy chemistry with. *Spoiler for anyone who’s never seen the movie poster* but she chooses Noah. This has long divided fans on whether Allie made the right choice. In a recent interview with People, Marsden shared his thoughts on the debate, and finally revealed whether or not he was on Team Lon or Team Noah.
Ever since Allie Hamilton chose Noah Calhoun over Lon Hammond, Jr. in 2004’s The Notebook, fans have wondered if Allie made the right decision. James Marsden, who stole viewers’ hearts as Lon, weighed in on the debate in a new interview with PEOPLE.
Lon is a handsome, wealthy lawyer from a prominent Southern family who’s engaged to marry Rachel McAdams’ Allie Hamilton, but the couple did not end up together. Instead, Allie married the rough-around-the-edges man who’s depicted as her one true love, Noah, played by Ryan Gosling.
The film, which was adapted from the 1996 novel of the same name written by Nicholas Sparks, has since sparked fierce debate amongst Lon and Noah fandoms about whether or not Allie made the right decision.
In an exclusive interview with PEOPLE on the heels of his new Summer 2025 campaign with Dunkin’, Marsden set the record straight on whether or not he believes there should be justice for Lon.
“You know, it’s funny. I hear a lot of people nowadays that very kindly come up to me and say, ‘[Lon was] the whole package, you were like this wealthy guy, and you treated her right, and you trusted her and it was a healthy relationship and [Allie and Noah] were in an unhealthy, toxic relationship,” Marsden says of fans speaking to him of his fictional character. “While I see that and understand it, I mean, love is love.”
“The dynamic between [Allie and Noah] and their chemistry was undeniable,” Marsden continues. “And so I think, yeah, she should have ended up with Noah. That kind of love in that movie can be fiery and it can still be the right thing, the right person to be with.”
But Marsden is confident that somewhere out there, in another fictional universe, Lon has found his happy ending.
“Not that Lon is a bad guy, he’s a really good guy! But there’s another lady out there for him, I’m sure, that’s very happy,” he jokes.
Ha, I love James’ answer. When I was younger, I was 100% on Team Noah. I mean, the movie came out when I was 20 years old. I was a prime target to be caught up in their torrid romance and that overarching storyline with that ending! I literally just cried after reading Wikipedia’s recap of the movie, lol. It still gets me. But, as I’ve gotten older, and having rewatched the movie during the pandemic, I do see what those who were older and wiser than me pointed out. I still think they were just super immature at first, though. I’d love to hear what Gosling and McAdams have to say if they ever decide to weigh in as well. They should do an anniversary screening or something so we can hear what each one of them has to say.
Also, I was today years old when I learned that the book version by Nicholas Sparks was actually based on the true story of his ex-wife’s grandparents, who ended up being together for more than 60 years. Finally, the best part about books/movies like The Notebook is that you can use your imagination to fill in any blanks that are left open. As such, I chose to believe that Lon found someone else who was much better suited for him, and they ended up living happily ever after as well. In my head canon, their love triangle worked out for everyone.
Photos credit: Nicky Nelson/Wenn/Avalon, IMAGO/RW/Avalon, Cat Morley/Avalon, Robin Platzer/Twin Images/Avalon, Xavier Collin/Image Press Agency/Avalon, Michael Williams/Avalon
Didn’t Ryan & Rachel loathe each other in set?
I think I read that someplace.
There’s been some great debates over the years!
To my memory, the Rose door debacle is the most divided, followed by Bella choosing Jacob or Edward.
Jacob. And he should have pushed Rose off the door for himself.
Yes, they got together after filming.
The movie that turned RG into a heartthrob and a ‘hey girl’ meme. The real life couple had a fandom almost as toxic as Twillight.
You do feel bad for Lon. He didn’t do anything wrong.
This man is SO fine. DAMN.
That’s it. That’s the comment.
She should have absolutely chosen Lon. He was wealthy and successful, but he was also an amazing guy! So kind and good to her.
Ali’s mom was absolutely right, but that’s the kind of thing that comes with age.
I’ve thought about this a lot through the years and, although I do agree that she should have never left Lon in the first place, if you look at the evidence that is shown at the end of their lives (which no one ever has the benefit of having), it looks like she and Noah had a strong marriage and a beautiful family, so really it’s hard to say she picked wrong. She was just lucky enough to have two really fabulous men to pick from
If Allie’s mom was right why was she so emotional, decades later, when she told Allie of her own past relationship with a man below her standing? Why did she break down when they were peeking on that man at his job site from their car? Why did she hide that relationship from Allie for so long?
I chose a relationship with my future husband over a guy that I’d had a on again – off again – relationship with since I was young. He’d disappear & then come back into my life at inconvenient times. The last time he popped back in I was just starting to date my future husband. I chose him & 25 years later I have no regrets, no tears, nothing for the former guy. I learned some important lessons from that experience. And when my kids got old enough I told them about my dating history & why I chose their future father and that we have a wonderful life because of that choice.
Just my two cents.
Doesn’t Allie cheat on Lon when she goes to visit Noah? Like she actually sleeps with Noah while still engaged? Lon really was a good guy and deserved better than to be cheated on.
And I was in my early 20s when the Notebook came out and was also the prime target for Noah and Allie’s romance. Now I’m in my 40s and am sympathetic to Lon lol.
Yes, she did cheat on him & he forgave her!
Yes, she did cheat on him & he forgave her!
Even back then I was team Lon(James Marsden). 😊