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

Skyler White (Anna Gunn) – Breaking Bad _ Season 5, Episode 10 – Photo Credit: Ursula Coyote/AMC

Skyler White – Breaking Bad

Skyler White is another wife who got unfairly villainized by fans. In the early seasons of Breaking Bad, when Walter was trying to provide for his family, she was his most strident antagonist, but not because she chose to be such. She was actually a wife whose husband lied to her constantly, kept huge secrets, and sabotaged the safety of their family. I think her small bit of incredulity and nagging was warranted.

Later, as she was looped into the scheme, she hardened into as ruthless a criminal as Walt. And folks were still mad about it. This women couldn’t win with fans. As the show aired, everybody dumped all the negative feelings they weren’t allowed to have about Walt (because he was the hero, obviously) onto her, and she got a lot of pushback for it.

Now, with some distance, and a handful of rewatches, we can probably all agree that Skyler wasn’t angry enough about it. The minute she found that second cell phone she should have went in on Walt. As it turns out, Walt wasn’t the hero of the series, after all. He was the bad guy, and Skyler was his victim. Sure, she griped a lot, wasn’t a “good wife” to him, and actively tried to undo all his damage, but she was acting like an actual person.