Do you ever want to reach through the TV screen and throttle a character with your bare hands? It can be torturous, but sometimes, you get to experience the unparalleled pleasure of watching them meet their demise... and sometimes, not so much.
From Joffrey Baratheon to Ross Geller, these are the most hated TV characters of all time.
Rory Gilmore – Gilmore Girls
Rory started off on the series as a do-good high school student with a clear moral compass. As the show progressed, Rory Gilmore became, as many op-eds are not afraid to point out, the worst. Rory ended up a classic case of teen entitlement, exploiting her “super chill” relationship with Lorelei and throwing away her college education to run away with a boy and steal a boat. Rory’s disappointing arc made her one of the most unlikable characters in television history.
George Costanza – Seinfeld
The whole point of Seinfeld is that all of the characters are fatally flawed. That being said, George was the worst offender of them all. His unforgivable misbehaviors include, but are not limited to: pretending to be disabled to get a job, pushing children and his girlfriend’s elderly mother out of the way to save himself from a fire, and creating a charity to avoid purchasing Christmas presents. Also, let’s not forget that he accidentally killed Susan.
Marnie Michaels – Girls
Whether it was her inherent lack of self-awareness, desperate need for attention, or disastrous taste in men, most things about Marnie were difficult to love. Marnie's fall from grace only made her more insufferable. She did earn some much-needed independence in the very —but knowing Marnie, it wasn't fated to last for long.
Matt Bevers – Broad City
Ah, Bevers. The worst roommate and grossest boyfriend of all time. A brilliantly-written side character, Bevers counteracts Abbi’s lawful good energy with pure chaotic evil. He’s either making messes, eating other people’s food, or walking around the apartment fully nude, even though he technically doesn’t even live there.
Janice Soprano – The Sopranos
Find a more aggravating character on the Sopranos (besides A.J.) and you’ll win one billion dollars. Tony’s mooch of a sister latched onto any semblance of stability like a leech. Janice had considerably less power than Tony, if any, which meant she had to rely on much shadier methods of getting what she wanted: lying, stealing, cheating, and stabbing loved ones in the back. Bobby’s poor kids...
Janice Litman – Friends
Another Janice, except this one was decidedly less evil. The voice. The voice. Janice’s nasality was only surpassed by her obnoxiousness. Somehow, despite her unpleasant nature, Janice became a beloved character on Friends, serving as Chandler’s on-again, off-again girlfriend over the course of several seasons. Janice was the ultimate paradox: absolutely awful, but also kind of the best.
Ted Mosby – How I Met Your Mother
Spoilers ahead!It’s an understatement to say that fans of HIMYM were let down by the finale, but Ted Mosby was the greatest disappointment of all. It became increasingly difficult to root for the main character when he spent the entire duration of the show trying to find the “perfect” woman, even after they turned him down. By the time Ted revealed his perfect match, she was already dead. And then he ended up with Robin. Seriously? Seriously? Whoever greenlit the ending of this show should go to jail.
Debbie Gallagher – Shameless
Debbie, Debbie, Debbie… what happened to you? The charming little girl from the first three seasons of Shameless is long gone. Most of the Gallagher siblings have at least one redeeming quality, but Debbie seems to have lost her heart somewhere in the mix. Over the course of the show, Debbie evolves into an immature, entitled, deeply troubled young woman. Thankfully, by the ninth season, she gets her stuff together, finding passion in the field of welding and new motherhood.
Serena Joy – The Handmaid’s Tale
Although Serena Joy ends up being somewhat of a sympathetic character, she really is pure evil. Regardless of her past or subsequent character development (and then un-development?), Serena Joy is still responsible for spearheading the radical conservative movement that led to the institution of Gilead, actively witnessed and encouraged rape, and treats her handmaids with a calculated coldness that never lets them forget where they stand in the eyes of the government.
Joffrey Baratheon – Game of Thrones
Although Game of Thrones is known for the questionable morality of its characters, Joffrey Baratheon (well, Lannister) was a sadistic little sociopath with enough pent-up rage to fuel a mid-size sedan. His parents may be to blame for his behavior, but Joffrey’s demise was still undeniably satisfying to observe. No other character in the history of television was quite so punchable.
Piper Chapman – Orange is the New Black
Piper’s story is one of growth... into an even more insufferable person. When Piper first went to prison, she was a privileged, entitled woman who acted terrified of everything and everyone she encountered. However, Piper’s character arc was far from redeeming. As the show wore on, it became apparent that Piper had zero regard for her fellow inmates, exhibiting increasingly petulant and ungracious behavior. It’s no surprise that she ended up with a giant swastika carved into her arm.
Nikki and Paulo – Lost
Oh, so this couple just happened to be on the island the whole time? Yeah, alright. Super believable. When Nikki and Paulo were introduced in the third season of Lost, they stuck out from the other survivors like sore thumbs. Sawyer could barely remember their names, but Nikki and Paulo’s sudden introduction and pointless backstory made the pair impossible to forget—as the most despised characters on the show. Luckily, the showrunners killed them off by burying them alive. Thank goodness.
Pete Campbell – Mad Men
By far, Pete Campbell was Sterling Cooper’s grimiest little weasel. Campbell wasn’t afraid to get down and dirty, which made him a valuable asset to the firm. Remember when he blackmailed Don about his past in front of Bert Cooper? At one point, Pete’s childish irascibility got the best of him, and Lane Pryce finally socked the guy right in the face.
Jenny Humphrey – Gossip Girl
Everyone was bummed when Dan’s innocent little sister transformed into a deplorable, attention-seeking, disobedient teen. Jenny’s only ambition was to climb the social ladder by any means necessary; it was also apparent that she wished she was the same age as her brother and his friends. After the damage Jenny inflicted on the relationships of those around her, viewers were thrilled when she finally graduated from high school and vamoosed out of there.
Skyler White – Breaking Bad
The vitriol directed toward Skyler White was so intense that the actress who played the character, Anna Gunn, penned an editorial about the whole ordeal. Fans dislike Skyler for a number of reasons, which can be best epitomized by David Fox, who described her as “dreadful,” “hypocritical,” and “irritating to the point where I was hoping one of Walt’s enemies would turn up and blow her brains out.”
Michael Scott – The Office
Even if you developed a soft spot for Michael Scott, he started out as the world’s most inconsiderate boss. Michael was a bonafide HR nightmare, overstepping his boundaries in every possible situation, interfering with the lives of his employees, and totally disregarding the concept of basic manners. We learned to love him, especially by the time he departed at the end of season 7, but there are probably many people who would rather saw off their left arm than spend a day working for Michael Scott.
Dennis Reynolds – It’s Always Sunny in Philadelphia
There’s a reason Glenn Howerton almost left the series forever, and that’s because Dennis Reynolds is the biggest creep on the east coast. The It’s Always Sunny gang is outwardly awful, which makes their tragic missteps and escapades so hilarious, but Dennis’ evil nature hinges on serial killer status. A cruel, sociopathic conman and pick-up artist, Dennis Reynolds stands out as a bonafide villain when compared to Dee, Frank, Charlie, and Mac.
Ross Geller – Friends
First of all, look at Ross. Look at Rachel. Come on, people. In what world does this add up? Ross Geller acted like his desires were fundamental rights, whining relentlessly when he didn’t get his way. Women don’t owe men jack, but Ross clearly thought otherwise. He didn’t deserve Emily or Rachel.
Sheldon Cooper – The Big Bang Theory
For twelve seasons, Sheldon Cooper cursed our television screens as the least amicable genius in history. When Sheldon wasn’t degrading Penny or belittling his so-called friends and acquaintances, his ego took up all the space in a room. Regardless of intention, Sheldon was a bully—which came to light more than ever during the episode where he went to dinner with Bernadette.
Dawn Summers – Buffy the Vampire Slayer
Up until season five, Buffy was an only child—and, to be frank, it should have stayed that way. Dawn’s abrupt appearance led to a season that revolved all around her. Dawn was sad. No one liked Dawn. Dawn had to be shielded from evil. Dawn was the key to another dimension. Whatever. Rather than taking the hint and kicking Dawn to the curb at the end of her original storyline, Buffy showrunners kept her in the series.
Dana Brody – Homeland
The angsty teenage daughter of Sgt. Nicholas Brody perhaps managed to surpass Skyler White as the queen of Internet hate. From listicles to memes to a GQ essay on the sole topic of the "Dana Brody Face," Brody is a hot point of conversation. Actress Morgan Saylor says, “I don’t know completely if it’s a sexism thing. I think a lot of characters get a lot of ****. Maybe women more than men, but I’m not that offended by it. And therefore it’s not that big of a deal.”
Julie Taylor – Friday Night Lights
She may have been your typical angsty teen, but Julie Taylor was, without a doubt, the least likable character on Friday Night Lights. It’s one thing to pick fights with your parents, but what kind of monster dares to disrespect Kyle Chandler? Viewers also believed Matt Saracen deserved better after she cheated on him with a college guy.
Alan Harper – Two and a Half Men
Isn’t it a little weird that a chiropractor was mooching off his brother for years? Couldn't he move out? Alan was once a relatable character, but after the divorce and a number of failed relationships, he became a pathetic husk of a man. Even after Charlie was axed and replaced with Ashton Kutcher’s character, Alan refused to get his own place, instead choosing to live with billionaire Walden. Grow up, dude.
Dawson Leery – Dawson’s Creek
His hysterical weeping face has been memed to hell and back, and for good reason. Dawson Leery wasn’t worthy of being the titular character on Dawson’s Creek. He relied too heavily on being a sensitive “nice guy,” acting as though he was morally superior to his more masculine colleagues and lamenting about how terrible his life is—when, in reality, everything was fine.
Andrea Harrison – The Walking Dead
In the comics, Andrea was one of the most beloved characters, but her heedless, prideful character on the TV show didn’t exactly hit it off with fans. Andrea’s poor judge of character led her to ditch her friends and follow in the footsteps of The Governor. Oh, yeah, and she also shot Daryl that one time.
Ellis Boyd – Smash
If you can ignore all the creative blunders in Smash, it’s really easy to get sucked into the outrageous drama. Ellis embodied every possible negative millennial stereotype. He was a scheming, deceitful attention-seeker who used sex as a crutch to further his career.
Jess Day – New Girl
Seven seasons of adork-able Jess Day was overkill. At first, it seemed like Jess was the glue that held the loft together, but that became null and void once Reagan’s infinitely more interesting character was introduced during season five. The whole, “I’m cute as a button! Look at my bangs!” routine was quirky and fun for a little while, but by the end of the show, her will-they-won’t-they bit with Nick was no longer endearing.
Jeremy Jamm – Parks and Recreation
Councilman Jamm plagued Leslie Knope like a bad rash. He was a patronizing, misogynistic egomaniac who spent all his time trying to disrupt Leslie’s attempts at bettering Pawnee. Anyway, the phrase “You just got Jammed!” is deeply upsetting for a number of reasons.
Paige McCullers – Pretty Little Liars
Although Paige wasn’t necessarily as toxic as some of her counterparts on Pretty Little Liars, she still scored abysmal ratings with fans of the show. Nobody could get over the scene from season one when Paige literally almost drowned Emily during a swim meet. Eventually, the two ended up dating (because it’s super normal to date a girl who tried to murder you out of the spirit of competition), but Paige’s stubbornness was a source of contention for Emily and her friends.
Will Schuester – Glee
This “Teacher of the Year” definitely did not earn the title. Mr. Schuester was more preoccupied with projecting his own personal dreams onto the students he mentored than the actual wellbeing of those he took under his wing. Schuester went to extreme lengths to make sure the glee club was successful—including blackmailing Finn into joining New Directions. He also suspended Marley (who had an eating disorder) for the rest of the week after she refused to wear a bikini. Gross.
Oliver Trask – The OC
Oliver Trask was a superb teen villain, and that was because he sucked. So bad. Oliver was the master of manipulation, using his skills as a liar and conspirator to control those around him. Eventually, his obsession with Marissa Cooper took him down an even darker path, culminating in threats of violence and suicide. The devil works hard, but Oliver Trask works harder.
Kimmy Gibbler – Fuller House
There’s annoying, and then there’s Kimmy Gibbler. Kimmy ascended to a whole new tier of intolerability. Poor Kimmy was the butt of so many jokes on the series that actress Andrea Barber said all the teasing from three adult men “kind of crossed a line.” The most frequent gag? Comments about her smelly feet.
Madison Sinclair – Veronica Mars
Veronica Mars made a number of enemies, but Madison Sinclair really had it out for her. Madison felt like she was superior to her peers at Neptune High and fueled all her energy into making everyone’s lives miserable—including Veronica. The highlights of her appalling career included bullying a gay student and serving as the catalyst for Veronica’s sexual assault.
Screech Powers – Saved by the Bell
Not every character on Saved by the Bell was a ray of sunshine, but Screech somehow surpassed them all. Even though Screech never seemed to understand basic human behavior, he graduated as valedictorian of his class, if only for his booksmarts. When it came to Lisa, Screech acted totally oblivious to her disinterest. Nobody likes the guy that continues to pursue a girl long after she’s turned him down.
April Kepner – Grey’s Anatomy
April Kepner was one of the most aggravating characters on Grey’s Anatomy. In earlier seasons, Kepner was profoundly unremarkable, yet her personality remained inconsistent and unpredictable. She tended to overreact in response to minor events. Although her character developed before she left the show, it wasn’t enough to win over some fans.
Eric Forman – That ‘70s Show
Eric Forman may have been the protagonist of That ‘70s Show, but he was also the least functional member of his friend group. Red was perpetually annoyed at his son, and for good reason—Eric had absolutely no desire to achieve anything in life. He abandoned Donna at their wedding rehearsal and wasted a year of his life sitting around in the basement after graduating from college. It says something when the main character leaves during the penultimate season and the show can go on without interruption.
Paige Jennings – The Americans
Alright, we get it. Learning that your parents are actually Russian spies must be difficult information to digest. That being said, how could you rat them out to creepy old Pastor Tim? Imagine being so lame that you don’t agree with your parents’ awesome life of international espionage. Go sit in a windowless room and eat saltines since you hate fun, Paige.
Beans – Even Stevens
Bernard “Beans” Aranguan was the ever-irritating neighbor who arrived at the Stevens residence uninvited, made himself comfortable, and refused to go home. He was essentially a younger brother to Louis, and despite his obnoxiousness, Beans became a lovable (if annoying) staple on the show.
Dean Forester – Gilmore Girls
Hey, remember how Rory is the worst? Dean can join her in the ranks. Sure, it was annoying when he dumped Rory in season one because he couldn’t say “I love you,” but the kid was 16. Then Jess came along and Dean turned into a rage-filled idiot shell of his former self. Dean already deserved to be on this list for the way he treated Rory, but especially for how he treated Lindsay by sleeping with Rory after they were married. Ugh, Dean. Just… five seasons? Couldn’t he have packed his bags before 2005?
Miranda Hobbes – Sex and the City
Despite becoming the most successful of the SATC lady squad, Miranda knew how to hold a childish grudge. Miranda was often feuding with someone, and the source of their conflict almost always stemmed from Miranda’s own control issues. If the girls behaved outside her personal code of conduct, Miranda made a point out of giving them the cold shoulder.
Ned Flanders – The Simpsons
At first, Ned’s incessant optimism was annoying, but ultimately endearing in some ways… until his religious views led him to look down on those who didn’t align with his beliefs. It’s no surprise that Homer’s song “Everybody Hates Ned Flanders” was nominated for a Primetime Emmy in real life. It was even produced by David Byrne!
Bill Compton – True Blood
Most villains are meant to have few compensatory qualities, but Bill Compton somehow evaded appealing to audiences entirely. Why was Sookie in love with him? How was there any hesitation when it came time for her to choose between Bill and the far more endearing Eric? Bill was evil—but worse, he was boring.
Frasier Crane – Frasier
Before Frasier Crane had his own show, he was a permanent fixture on Cheers. Frasier ran for eleven seasons, and there’s no doubt that it’s an essential staple of the sitcom genre, but viewers would be lying if they said Frasier wasn’t exactly an admirable character. He was selfish, snobby, pompous, and took his aristocratic status for granted.
Kim Bauer – 24
Jack Bauer’s infelicitous daughter was subject to a series of seemingly endless misadventures that kept distracting him from, you know, saving the entire city of Los Angeles. It’s no secret that Kim wasn’t exactly the sharpest tool in the shed. Remember when she managed to get caught in a cougar trap and was nearly devoured by a wildcat? The weakest link, for sure.
Richard Hendricks – Silicon Valley
Things don’t always go Richard’s way, but when they do, he doesn’t hesitate to rub it in the collective face of the tech industry. Richard can certainly be an empathetic character, and viewers will root for the Pied Piper CEO regardless, but it seems like he straight-up refuses to learn from his mistakes. That’s when karma strikes. You can only say, “I told you so!” a handful of times before it becomes irrelevant.
Olly – Game of Thrones
Spoilers ahead! Poor little orphan farm boy Olly, right? Wrong. Olly is garbage. We hate Olly. His character never existed in the books, and for good reason. His parents may have been butchered before his very eyes, but Olly’s insubordination was a key component in the assassination of Jon Snow, effectively voiding his status as a sympathetic character.
Jake Ballard – Scandal
Few characters lack a moral compass like Jake Ballard, the creepy stalker who repeatedly attempted to sabotage Olivia and Fitz’s relationship. He claimed to love Olivia, but he tried to sway her choices for personal gain. Also, the guy loved to kill people. It was his favorite way to solve a problem. He may have landed himself in prison, but some viewers wished Jake Ballard ended up six feet under.
Georgina Sparks – Gossip Girl
A scheming queen to the core, Georgina Sparks was one hundred percent unapologetically cold and calculating. Her character literally had no purpose other than stirring the pot and causing trouble. Georgina wasn’t exactly in Blair’s close circle of friends, but she was the first one to consult when they needed to plan some devious escapades.
Dan Scott – One Tree Hill
Pure evil. Dan Scott had no respect for his wife, Deb, or the mother of his youngest son, Karen. He was hardly a part of Lucas’ life, but he still pressured both of his sons to succeed. Worst of all, he killed his own brother out of jealousy and lied about it. In the end, Dan took a bullet for someone he loved, but that doesn’t offset how terrible he once was.
Meg – Supernatural
Meg used to be a formidable enemy for the Winchesters. She continuously attempted to intervene with Sam’s life, but after her first vessel went to the big demon cave in the sky, Meg returned again in season 5. Like a demon cockroach, Meg just wouldn't call it quits—even after it became evident that her time on the show had expired.
Andy Bernard – The Office
The Nard dog may have offered some great comedic fodder in the beginning, but by the time The Office’s ninth season drew to a close, Andy’s insecurity, anger issues, and exhausting obsession with Cornell were no longer funny or interesting. Andy ended up becoming the most unpleasant character on the series; his one-liners weren’t enough to keep him in anyone’s good graces.
Susan Mayer-Delfino – Desperate Housewives
Susan’s major defect can be summarized in a single phrase: it’s not always about you. Her character took a turn for the worse ever since she found herself naked in the bushes of Wisteria Lane. Susan then continued to appear in identical situations for the next seven seasons, which would have been fine had other people not been dying all over the place.
Jonah Ryan – Veep
That widow’s peak, though. A somewhat honorary member of the team (because he works for the White House, remember?), Jonah’s unsavory antics easily make him the least likable character on Veep. Whether he’s brown-nosing his way into positions of power, “getting 8s consensually,” or exuding toxic masculinity like a bad odor, one can always count on Jonah to butt into every single person’s personal or political business.
Debra Morgan – Dexter
Even if its first half was stronger than the latter, Dexter was ultimately worth the watch. Still, one character almost managed to single-handedly derail the show on a number of occasions. Anticipating that the audience would believe a decorated detective couldn’t suss out her own brother as a serial killer? Pretty slipshod writing. Worse, though, was Debra’s general demeanor. The sailor-mouthed sister sure did whine incessantly for having such a holier-than-thou attitude. When she was finally axed, viewers breathed a sigh of relief.
Emile Danko – Heroes
Fortunately, Emile Danko didn’t make it very far on Heroes—which might be due to the fact that ratings plummeted after he was introduced in the third season of the NBC superhero show. Although Danko wasn’t the only one the blame, he certainly holds some responsibility. The former senior agent of the Department of Homeland Security made everyone’s lives harder, but he didn’t hold a candle to Zachary Quinto’s villainous Sylar.
Lee Sizemore – Westworld
Lee Sizemore’s quote-unquote heroic sacrifice was the least believable scene in season two. It already seemed a little fishy that Lee, of all people, would just so happen to about-face his opinion of the hosts, but perhaps the worst part was the inane speech he delivered (one he had originally written for a fictional character) while the soldiers opened fire on him. The guy died in a hail of bullets, finally the hero of his own story. Self-righteous as always.
Archie Andrews – Riverdale
This hunky, redheaded boy-next-door went from lovable heartthrob to criminally atrocious decision-maker. Working for Hiram during his pursuit of The Black Hood was bad enough, but Archie never really learned from his mistakes. Even if viewers were rooting for Archie, he always fell back into bad habits once again. Waiting for people to change is the oldest game in the book. Who has time for it, anymore?
Charlotte York – Sex and the City
Yes, Charlotte was the traditional one. Traditions can be fine, but not when you interpret them as law. Her bizarre and arbitrary “rules” about love were often unfounded or derived from magazines. It’s hard to remember that Charlotte was a gallerist in the NYC art scene when she spent so much of her time acting superficial and imposing boring, dated values on her friends’ relationships.
Angelica Pickles – The Rugrats
Angelica Pickles was the biggest brat on this side of the playground. She bullied Tommy and the other babies and was constantly jealous of Susie. It’s unfortunate that Angelica’s parents weren’t present, but she constantly refused to behave when Aunt Didi and Uncle Stu attempted to discipline her. In 1998, Rugrats co-creator Arlene Klasky even revealed to the New York Times that she believed Angelica was so mean that it almost ruined the show.
Scrappy-Doo – Scooby-Doo
Scooby’s beloved nephew was first added to the series in 1979. Scrappy-Doo quickly became a classic example of networks tacking on questionable additions to TV shows in order to help boost ratings. Scrappy-Doo proved so irritating that his character was made an antagonist in the 2002 live-action Scooby-Doo Movie.