Unlikable TV Characters: We hate them because they really deserve it

THE HANDMAID’S TALE — “Offred” – Episode 101 – Offred, one the few fertile women known as Handmaids in the oppressive Republic of Gilead, struggles to survive as a reproductive surrogate for a powerful Commander and his resentful wife. Serena Joy (Yvonne Strahovski), shown. (Photo by: Take Five/Hulu)

These unlikable TV characters are the absolute worst for all sorts of reasons. We hate them because they deserve it, and we’re not sorry.

There was a time in television history when audiences needed to love the characters on their favorite shows. In fact, these characters had to earn it from us. They had to be kind, compassionate, hard-working Americans on which we could cast all our aspirations about the future. Think Andy Griffith, Mary Richards, Lucy Ricardo. We really loved them all.

These days, as TV explores a more robust dynamic of humanity, we get characters that are terrible. They’re selfish, dangerous, toxic, and sometimes downright destructive. They are desperately unlikeable, but we tune in every week.

The rise of the unlikeable character gives way for the idea that we can still be critical of the things we love. This is exactly what this list is. As you read, you’ll be able to tell I was conflicted about some of these characters (Lorelai Gilmore really got me). I want to love them, I really do. But they just make it so hard.

Here are 25 of the most unlikeable TV characters. Feel free to disagree with me in the comments.