There is nothing TV audiences enjoy more than a good dark horse story. Characters like Arya Stark in and Jesse Pinkman in are compelling because they're well-crafted underdogs. Viewers are likely to empathize with people they care about.
However, balanced narratives often contain multiple moral dimensions — a good TV show requires both relatable and hateable characters. That said, not every protagonist is likable, and not every antagonist deserves to be punished. In fact, some of the most despicable characters in TV history have been heroes or antiheroes. A select few of these characters have achieved near-universal condemnation from audiences.
Joffrey Baratheon was extremely disliked by fans of long before he was crowned King of Westeros. He is a smug, unkind, ruthless, and pathetic prince who continues to behave like a spoiled brat all through his thankfully short-lived reign. Sadly, he was also one of out there.
One of the nastiest moments that defined Joffrey's true colors took place in the first season when he had Ser Ilyn Payne behead Ned Stark in front of his daughter, Sansa.
Joffrey tortured and abused countless women, fled the Battle of the Blackwater, and shamelessly demanded more prestige than he deserved. fans widely celebrated his demise at the Purple Wedding.
Piper Chapman's character was based on Piper Kerman, who wrote the nonfiction book that the series is based on, called . While Piper Chapman's story brings several brilliantly written characters into viewers' lives, she isn't one of them.
In comparison to the hilarious ensemble, Piper comes across as a little bland.
Many critics and fans have gone so far as to call Piper deeply annoying, claiming that the bulk of her screen time could have been better spent with more beloved characters. That said, Piper's romantic relationship with Alex Vause is loved by many fans. Even in this case, though, Alex garnered a much larger fanbase than Piper ever did.
Rachel Berry was raised by two gay fathers, LeRoy and Hiram Berry. She went on to win a Tony Award in the show's narrative. 's protagonist, Rachel Berry, has tons of musical talent, showmanship, and dramatic flair. She is an extremely gifted vocalist and deserves much of the praise she receives over the course of the show. However, fans' annoyance with Rachel revolves around her refusal to recognize anyone else's talent.
Rachel makes sure that she is always the center of attention, no matter the occasion. She behaves as if the entire world is against her if she isn't chosen for solos or given the musical roles she thinks she deserves. Rachel Berry is simply incapable of accepting that other people deserve their time in the sun just as much as she does, which is why she became
.
Jenny Humphrey began as an innocent individual suddenly thrown into a world of upper-class drama. She quickly became a controversial character, dividing audiences into factions who adored her queen bee attitude and those who despised her brazen ambition. Jenny played into the drama, becoming a genuinely mean character.
Jenny ruined relationships with her family and friends just to increase her social status, pursued illegal relationships, and tried to become like other popular mean girls.
A sizeable fraction of the fandom was delighted to see her leave after the fourth season, even though .
Jacob Elordi plays Nate Jacobs on , while his younger self is portrayed by Gabriel Golub. Nate Jacobs showed his true colors early on in . He abused Maddy, catfished Jules, and beat Tyler to within an inch of his life. He continued treating his romantic partners poorly throughout Season 2, emotionally manipulating Cassie and desperately trying to get Maddy to take him back.
Overall, Nate displayed no signs of being willing to change. Despite his traumatic home life, many fans find Nate's behavior unforgivable, and rightfully so. Nate Jacobs is a classic example of toxic masculinity — a violent brute who bluntly refuses to take responsibility for his actions.
for its fans, as well as an excellent introduction to '90s sitcoms for viewers discovering it for the first time on streaming services.
Rachel, Chandler, Phoebe, Monica, and Joey all have a thriving fandom dedicated to them, but Ross Geller remains an anomaly to this day.
Some viewers relate to Ross' experiences and checkered backstory, whereas others are unable to get past his arrogance, entitlement, and whiny demeanor. Ross also makes several dubious decisions throughout the show's ten seasons, such as gaslighting Rachel, dating his students, and kissing his best friend's mother.
Ted Mosby is the protagonist and narrator of the popular sitcom . Set in a nebulous future, Ted recounts his life in his 20s, describing the events that would eventually lead to him meeting his wife and having kids. Ted makes himself out to be a nice, harmless guy, but in reality, he's controlling, jealous, and a pretty lousy friend.
Whatever situation he's in, Ted looks out for himself before anyone else. To make matters worse, he's simply the least interesting character in his friend group and is usually outshined by the supporting characters. The most prominent example is Neil Patrick Harris's Barney Stinson, but the fact that Marshall, Lily, and Robin are all more fun than Ted drags the show down.
named Will one of the "20 Most Annoying TV Characters Ever" in April 2012. Will Schuester went on to become the principal of McKinley High in . Will Schuester was a Spanish teacher and head of the Glee Club in the eponymous Fox teen dramaAlthough technically an educator, Will had very little teaching experience and was frequently out of his depth. In fact, he often behaved more irrationally and immaturely than some of his students, leading to
.
Running the Glee Club, Schuester refused to listen to his students, encouraged and participated in inappropriate behavior, and had a questionable relationship with the students on the team. Many of his relationships made audiences cringe, and the fact that he lasted all six seasons without any sort of administrative investigation was basically a miracle.
TV Guide named as one of "The 50 Greatest TV Shows of All Time" in 2002. Riley Finn was a character in the fourth and fifth seasons of , arguably one of the greatest TV shows of its time. He was part of a government agency designed to track down and experiment on . As a result of his job, Riley would inevitably cross paths with Buffy Summers.
The two initially hit it off and began dating, but Riley's toxically masculine need to protect the superhuman Buffy and his unyielding stance on supernatural creatures annoyed both the audience and Buffy. Not many fans complained when Riley departed the show, as it allowed Spike to swoop in and take his place.
Iwan Rheon, who portrayed Ramsay, admitted that the uniquely disturbing role of Ramsay Bolton did wonders for his career, "," as he got typecast in the part. In a television show full of vile people like , Ramsay Bolton is quite possibly the worst of them all. It's not too much of a stretch to describe him as irredeemable, displaying a level of malevolence that would make even Joffrey retch. Ramsay is power-hungry and bloodthirsty, treating opponents, allies, and family members with equal disdain.
Ramsay kidnaps and tortures Theon Greyjoy, violates Sansa Stark, and coldly murders his father, stepmother, and half-brother. Ramsay kills Rickon Stark before the Battle of the Bastards, a crime for which he pays the ultimate price. fans rejoiced when Ramsay's own hounds tore his face to pieces.
Skyler White was portrayed by Anna Gunn, and she received critical acclaim for her performance. Skyler White became one of the most hated TV characters of the 2010s, a phenomenon that was clearly rooted in fan misogyny. Several viewers despised her character for standing in Walter's way despite Skyler's desperate attempts to protect her husband. Skyler never once wavered from her true goal — the safety of her children — even when Walter tried to use them as bargaining chips.
That said, Skyler wasn't without her faults. She didn't need to tolerate her husband's criminal activities when she could (and should) have instantly reported him to the DEA. Skyler's decision was morally questionable, as it endangered both Flynn and Holly.
The Seven loosely resembles DC's Justice League, where Homelander has powers and appearances similar to Superman. Homelander believes himself to be the ideal expression of humanity, explaining why he cannot tolerate anyone else stealing his thunder. He thrives under the spotlight and wilts whenever he loses his fandom's support.
It's unfortunate that a character as unstable as Homelander is also the most powerful man alive.
, but he's also smart enough to play the long game. Fans simply can't stand Homelander's egregious behavior, especially after ' Season 3 finale.
Dr. Martin Brenner, portrayed by Matthew Modine, began his arc as an antagonist but settled into a more ambiguous role. He appeared in Seasons 1 and 4 of . Those who don't know what happens in ' Hawkins Lab consider Martin Brenner a model scientist.
Brenner is certainly intelligent, given the way he manages a vast network of researchers and supernatural projects. On the other hand, he incarcerates children in a basement, subjecting them to years of physical, emotional, and mental torment.
In , Brenner throws Eleven into a windowless room to "" and makes Two wear an electric shock collar as punishment for his mistakes. Fans can barely call Brenner a human being, let alone praise his supposedly revolutionary achievements and offer him .
Kimmy Gibbler was portrayed by Andrea Barber in . Kimmy Gibbler plays a seminal role in . She absorbs audience hatred like a sponge, thereby allowing viewers to appreciate the Tanner household and all its idiosyncrasies. Kimmy is unquestionably hilarious, but her raucous laugh and goofy grin don't make her any more likable.
Practically everyone on insults Kimmy on a regular basis, including her so-called friends. Kimmy doesn't mind the mockery, though. She enjoys basking in the limelight, even if she loses the entire family's favor. Kimmy returns in , where she moves into the Tanner residence with her daughter, Ramona, basically filling the same slot in the family dynamic as before.
Bernard Robichaud, who plays Cyrus, is considered one of the nicest actors on the show, according to a Reddit AMA done by the cast. is one of the most well-crafted mockumentaries ever made. The series contains a range of fascinating character arcs, many of which are so exaggerated that they barely seem plausible to ordinary viewers. While fans universally love Bubbles, Ricky, and Julian, they're far less enthused when someone like Cyrus waltzes into view.
Unlike the adorable protagonists, Cyrus is an unbearable man who constantly bothers the inhabitants of Sunnyvale Trailer Park. Everything about Cyrus screams pretentious hack, particularly his Fonzie-esque outfit and attitude and his 1979 cherry-red Corvette.
