I compiled this post just for laughs so if I come across as too intense, it is not because I can't separate reality from fiction 😄 I just happen to be an emotionally invested tv viewer you guys! I can both love and accept a flawed character but not when it gets past my threshold of tolerance.
My picks for most favourite and least favourite characters are from dramas and sitcoms that cater to my interest and obviously from those I have watched till date. There are several acclaimed shows that I haven't watched yet (and hence you may feel certain characters are missing) but this post will be updated when I come across characters that I feel need to be included. I have a lineup of classic shows that I have yet to watch - Mad Men, House, Modern Family among others. By the time I'm done with them, there will be a whole lot more to watch - a never ending cycle of entertainment.
What makes a character a fan favourite? Most of the time, it is a combination of the actor's charisma and talent along with the depth that the show's writers and creators were able to bring to the character consistently over the course of the series. Some characters are so memorable that years after a show has ended, they still play in the hearts and minds of the public. These are the characters that shape the culture that we live in. The best tv characters are the ones who you find fascinating, you want to see more of and/or the ones you want to be friends with (although not necessarily).
These are some of the characters that help me stay hooked on to a television series from start to finish. Note that these are in no particular order of preference.
Most Favourite
1. Chandler Bing (F.R.I.E.N.D.S)
Could he be any more awesome? Chandler's mannerisms and one-liners make him one of the most loveable characters on this unforgettable sitcom. Actor Matthew Perry injected life and humour into this character and I couldn't imagine any other actor playing Chandler.
A messed up childhood, the middle name 'Muriel', a humdrum job, no luck with the ladies and a third nipple didn't stop this sweet and goofy character from stealing our hearts. I'm sure I speak for a lot of people when I say that his sarcasm-laced comments were reason enough to watch every episode of every season over and over again.
The Chandler-Joey bromance had viewers hooked and it was no different for me. Be it pioneering the art of greeting, making manly entrances, expressing their approval/disapproval in unison, ogling at the babes of Baywatch, coming up with interior decorating ideas, sharing important parental decisions for the well-being of their chick and duck and many more.....these two were a laugh riot.
A messed up childhood, the middle name 'Muriel', a humdrum job, no luck with the ladies and a third nipple didn't stop this sweet and goofy character from stealing our hearts. I'm sure I speak for a lot of people when I say that his sarcasm-laced comments were reason enough to watch every episode of every season over and over again.
The Chandler-Joey bromance had viewers hooked and it was no different for me. Be it pioneering the art of greeting, making manly entrances, expressing their approval/disapproval in unison, ogling at the babes of Baywatch, coming up with interior decorating ideas, sharing important parental decisions for the well-being of their chick and duck and many more.....these two were a laugh riot.
2. Barney Stinson (How I Met Your Mother)
Okay....this one is a no-brainer. The character of Barney Stinson is my most favourite character of ALL TIME. I love Neil Patrick Harris - loved him in Doogie Howser (back in the day) and loved him all the more in HIMYM. He was the only reason I watched the sitcom. Although I started off loving the show, towards the last two seasons it kind of started to suck. And the finale literally had me in tears (and not in a good way).
On the show, Barney is shallow, misogynist and a pathological womanizer but he is funny as hell which makes his character one to sit up and notice. He loves expensive suits, laser tag, alcohol and is known for his catchphrases, including "Suit up!", "Wait for it" and "Challenge accepted!".
Here are some of Barney's famous quotes. Pompousness aside, how can you possibly not like the guy?
1. “It’s gonna be legend-....wait for it....and I hope you’re not lactose intolerant because the second half of that word is DAIRY!”
2. “When I’m sad, I stop being sad and be awesome instead. True story.”
3. “Dude.. where's your suit? Just once, when I say "suit up" I wish you'd put on a suit.”
4. “I’m sorry….I can’t hear you over the sound of how awesome I am.”
Barney is the star of the HIMYM and it's no wonder he is considered the show's breakout character.
He will go on to be, in his own words ‘LEGENDARY’
On the show, Barney is shallow, misogynist and a pathological womanizer but he is funny as hell which makes his character one to sit up and notice. He loves expensive suits, laser tag, alcohol and is known for his catchphrases, including "Suit up!", "Wait for it" and "Challenge accepted!".
Here are some of Barney's famous quotes. Pompousness aside, how can you possibly not like the guy?
1. “It’s gonna be legend-....wait for it....and I hope you’re not lactose intolerant because the second half of that word is DAIRY!”
2. “When I’m sad, I stop being sad and be awesome instead. True story.”
3. “Dude.. where's your suit? Just once, when I say "suit up" I wish you'd put on a suit.”
4. “I’m sorry….I can’t hear you over the sound of how awesome I am.”
Barney is the star of the HIMYM and it's no wonder he is considered the show's breakout character.
He will go on to be, in his own words ‘LEGENDARY’
3. Sherlock Holmes (Sherlock)
Sherlock is the new, slick, contemporary reinvention of the classic Arthur Conan Doyle stories. Many of the details and stories from the original books are kept, only modernized to fit in today’s society and technology. With outstanding writing, performances and direction, the series is creative, gripping and addictive (the reason I binge watched it).
Intuitive, brilliant, charismatic and eccentric, Sherlock Holmes (Benedict Cumberbatch) is the perfect sleuth to crack any case that is thrown at him along with his trusty sidekick, Dr. John Watson (Martin Freeman). A self-described high functioning sociopath, this Sherlock is much more dashing, eloquent and "human" than I remember from earlier incarnations of Holmes (both from tv series and movies) which makes him not only an interesting but endearing character. Entertaining, captivating and superlatively manic, this is one character that makes this series totally worth watching.
With stunning cheek bones, icy blue eyes and curly dark locks, Benedict Cumberbatch is undoubtedly the most dashing Sherlock Holmes of all time (and my current small screen crush). I, for one, can't wait for the forthcoming seasons.
4. Sawyer (LOST)
Sherlock is the new, slick, contemporary reinvention of the classic Arthur Conan Doyle stories. Many of the details and stories from the original books are kept, only modernized to fit in today’s society and technology. With outstanding writing, performances and direction, the series is creative, gripping and addictive (the reason I binge watched it).
Intuitive, brilliant, charismatic and eccentric, Sherlock Holmes (Benedict Cumberbatch) is the perfect sleuth to crack any case that is thrown at him along with his trusty sidekick, Dr. John Watson (Martin Freeman). A self-described high functioning sociopath, this Sherlock is much more dashing, eloquent and "human" than I remember from earlier incarnations of Holmes (both from tv series and movies) which makes him not only an interesting but endearing character. Entertaining, captivating and superlatively manic, this is one character that makes this series totally worth watching.
With stunning cheek bones, icy blue eyes and curly dark locks, Benedict Cumberbatch is undoubtedly the most dashing Sherlock Holmes of all time (and my current small screen crush). I, for one, can't wait for the forthcoming seasons.
4. Sawyer (LOST)
With his smirking, scheming and nicknaming, Sawyer (James Ford) wins the LOST battle for my favourite character and charmingly struts his way into my list of all-time favourite characters.
Sawyer is one of the survivors of Oceanic Flight 815 that crashes on a mysterious island. A conman and heartbreaker who spends most of his life seeking out the man who destroyed his childhood, Sawyer is the quintessential bad boy. But over the course of the show his sporadic random acts of kindness made the viewer wonder if there lay a good guy underneath it all.
The character of Sawyer with his Southern drawl and snarky comments provided the light-hearted moments in an otherwise intense drama. His wisecracks livened up the show and I for one, looked forward to the episodes that featured more of him.
I actually have three favourite characters from LOST. One is Hurley, the second Desmond and the third is Sawyer. Sawyer scores just a little higher because of the serious 'man candy' quotient. And yes, I can be superficial 😆
Sawyer is one of the survivors of Oceanic Flight 815 that crashes on a mysterious island. A conman and heartbreaker who spends most of his life seeking out the man who destroyed his childhood, Sawyer is the quintessential bad boy. But over the course of the show his sporadic random acts of kindness made the viewer wonder if there lay a good guy underneath it all.
The character of Sawyer with his Southern drawl and snarky comments provided the light-hearted moments in an otherwise intense drama. His wisecracks livened up the show and I for one, looked forward to the episodes that featured more of him.
I actually have three favourite characters from LOST. One is Hurley, the second Desmond and the third is Sawyer. Sawyer scores just a little higher because of the serious 'man candy' quotient. And yes, I can be superficial 😆
5. Jesse Pinkman (Breaking Bad)
Whenever the subject of Breaking Bad comes up, the name Walter White (Bryan Cranston) will inevitably get top billing in the discussion that follows. Rightly so, considering the character's incredible metamorphosis from morality to depravity that occurs over the course of the 5 seasons.
But the character who left the most profound impact on me was in fact Jesse Pinkman played by the talented Aaron Paul. This one comes as a surprise even to me because Jesse is an accomplice to each and every despicable deed masterminded by Walter.
Jesse starts off as a high-school dropout and junkie. With little to no redeeming qualities, he isn't remotely likeable to begin with. But as the seasons go by, the viewer is offered several insights that suggest that there is more to Jesse than meets the eye. Aside from the crystal-meth cooking, swearing (he and his cronies use the word "bitch" a lot which is hilarious) and being an accomplice in crimes masterminded by Walter, at his core, Jesse is actually a decent guy. And this is in stark contrast to Walter who is initially portrayed as the respectable, educated, family man but it later emerges that Walt always had a Heisenberg lurking within him, long before his foray into the world of crime.
As the series came to a close, Jesse was the only character I championed for.
But the character who left the most profound impact on me was in fact Jesse Pinkman played by the talented Aaron Paul. This one comes as a surprise even to me because Jesse is an accomplice to each and every despicable deed masterminded by Walter.
Jesse starts off as a high-school dropout and junkie. With little to no redeeming qualities, he isn't remotely likeable to begin with. But as the seasons go by, the viewer is offered several insights that suggest that there is more to Jesse than meets the eye. Aside from the crystal-meth cooking, swearing (he and his cronies use the word "bitch" a lot which is hilarious) and being an accomplice in crimes masterminded by Walter, at his core, Jesse is actually a decent guy. And this is in stark contrast to Walter who is initially portrayed as the respectable, educated, family man but it later emerges that Walt always had a Heisenberg lurking within him, long before his foray into the world of crime.
As the series came to a close, Jesse was the only character I championed for.
6. Cosmo Kramer (Seinfeld)
The name says it all doesn't it? Cosmo Kramer. You just know that this is going to be one blisteringly funny guy.
Seinfeld, which showcases the mundane day to day life and social interactions of four unabashedly single Manhattanites (Jerry, George, Elaine & Kramer) took a while to grow on me. The show about 'nothing' didn't seem entertaining to me for the first two seasons but I persisted and gave it more time. By the time I reached the last season, I had become a fan.
Cosmo Kramer (Michael Richards), is commonly referred to as 'Kramer'. He lives across the hall from Jerry Seinfeld who he keeps pestering on regular intervals. Bursting with manic energy, he is freakishly tall, has an unique upright hairstyle, wears vintage clothes and loves Cuban cigars. He has been described as a 'hipster doofus' much to his chagrin.
Kramer exhibits conflicting personality traits - on one hand he can be shallow, obnoxious and tactless and on the other he can be friendly, caring and compassionate. Kramer appears to be unemployed although he doesn't seem to have any shortage of money and as wacky as he is, he manages to garner a fair share of female attention. He often comes up with "creative" (more like crackpot) investment ideas to rake in the moolah which are hilarious. Kramer's has a signature way of making an entrance by dramatically bursting into a room sliding in.
I remember watching an episode of Seinfeld in which Kramer did/said something that was so comical that in a fit of laughter, I fell off the couch with a painful stitch in my side. True Story.
Seinfeld, which showcases the mundane day to day life and social interactions of four unabashedly single Manhattanites (Jerry, George, Elaine & Kramer) took a while to grow on me. The show about 'nothing' didn't seem entertaining to me for the first two seasons but I persisted and gave it more time. By the time I reached the last season, I had become a fan.
Cosmo Kramer (Michael Richards), is commonly referred to as 'Kramer'. He lives across the hall from Jerry Seinfeld who he keeps pestering on regular intervals. Bursting with manic energy, he is freakishly tall, has an unique upright hairstyle, wears vintage clothes and loves Cuban cigars. He has been described as a 'hipster doofus' much to his chagrin.
Kramer exhibits conflicting personality traits - on one hand he can be shallow, obnoxious and tactless and on the other he can be friendly, caring and compassionate. Kramer appears to be unemployed although he doesn't seem to have any shortage of money and as wacky as he is, he manages to garner a fair share of female attention. He often comes up with "creative" (more like crackpot) investment ideas to rake in the moolah which are hilarious. Kramer's has a signature way of making an entrance by dramatically bursting into a room sliding in.
I remember watching an episode of Seinfeld in which Kramer did/said something that was so comical that in a fit of laughter, I fell off the couch with a painful stitch in my side. True Story.
7. Jesse Katsopolis (Full House)
Full House was a popular sitcom during the 90's. It was one of the shows that I used to watch along with other shows like The Wonder Years, Doogie Howser, The Nanny, Different Strokes, Who's The Boss, Sabrina, Bewitched & Small Wonder. Now that I think about it, I used to watch a lot of TV as a teenager!
The highlight of Full House was undoubtedly the adorable Olsen twins who took turns to play the character of Michelle Tanner. But my favourite character was Jesse Katsopolis (John Stamos) who I readily admit was my small screen childhood crush.
Initially portrayed as a rebel, his character matures over the years. He comes across as a motorcycle aficionado and a music lover. Jesse's famous catch phrase throughout the series is "Have mercy!" and "Watch the hair!," (because of his obsession with his hair). He proved to be the super cool uncle by helping to take care of his three young nieces - D.J, Stephanie & Michelle and making it look like fun. Later in the series, he falls in love with and marries Rebecca Donaldson (Becky) and has twin boys, Nicky and Alex thus sending his likeability factor soaring even higher.
I heard a while ago that John Stamos is reprising the beloved character Uncle Jesse on the Netflix series Fuller House. I can't wait to get my hands on it.
The highlight of Full House was undoubtedly the adorable Olsen twins who took turns to play the character of Michelle Tanner. But my favourite character was Jesse Katsopolis (John Stamos) who I readily admit was my small screen childhood crush.
Initially portrayed as a rebel, his character matures over the years. He comes across as a motorcycle aficionado and a music lover. Jesse's famous catch phrase throughout the series is "Have mercy!" and "Watch the hair!," (because of his obsession with his hair). He proved to be the super cool uncle by helping to take care of his three young nieces - D.J, Stephanie & Michelle and making it look like fun. Later in the series, he falls in love with and marries Rebecca Donaldson (Becky) and has twin boys, Nicky and Alex thus sending his likeability factor soaring even higher.
I heard a while ago that John Stamos is reprising the beloved character Uncle Jesse on the Netflix series Fuller House. I can't wait to get my hands on it.
8. Frank Barone (Everybody Loves Raymond)
There should be no reason to like the character of Frank (essayed brilliantly by Peter Boyle) but I just do. He is cheap, rude, sexist, racist, uncouth, cantankerous and outright despicable at times. But everything said, he is undoubtedly one of the funniest characters on Everybody Loves Raymond (which happens to be one of my favourite sitcoms). I've lost count of the number of times I've watched each episode. It just never gets old.
Frank doesn't have any problem relaxing comfortably with his pants undone in the armchair in his son's living room, or else at home, sitting at the kitchen table reading the paper while barking orders at his long-suffering wife to prepare his meals. The way he habitually mocks people around him, particularly the overbearing Marie is hilarious. He is also severely homophobic and passes derogatory comments against his sons when he feels they do not live up to his standards of what it takes to be a man (this last bit though hasn't aged well I must admit).
His trademark "Geezaloo!" and "Holy Crap!" can be heard throughout the nine seasons of the show.
It's a good thing the sitcom ended its run after the death of Peter Boyle. It never would have been the same without him.
Frank doesn't have any problem relaxing comfortably with his pants undone in the armchair in his son's living room, or else at home, sitting at the kitchen table reading the paper while barking orders at his long-suffering wife to prepare his meals. The way he habitually mocks people around him, particularly the overbearing Marie is hilarious. He is also severely homophobic and passes derogatory comments against his sons when he feels they do not live up to his standards of what it takes to be a man (this last bit though hasn't aged well I must admit).
His trademark "Geezaloo!" and "Holy Crap!" can be heard throughout the nine seasons of the show.
It's a good thing the sitcom ended its run after the death of Peter Boyle. It never would have been the same without him.
9. Niles (The Nanny)
Niles is the English butler & chauffeur at the Sheffield residence. He is clever, trustworthy, kind, devoted to the Sheffield household and especially loyal to the nanny, Fran.
With razor-sharp wit, a penchant for eavesdropping/snooping and the habit of periodically antagonizing his boss's business partner C.C Babcock, Niles was such a delight to watch.
With razor-sharp wit, a penchant for eavesdropping/snooping and the habit of periodically antagonizing his boss's business partner C.C Babcock, Niles was such a delight to watch.
When I found out that the actor Daniel Davis who plays the part of Niles is in fact American, I was stupefied. The accent and mannerisms seemed so authentic to me that I could have never guessed that he wasn't English. A job well done indeed.
10. Sheldon Cooper (The Big Bang Theory)
I come from the field of science so I have a soft spot for Sheldon Cooper. And when I say science, it is not the String Theory kind of nerdy science but you get my drift right?
As the theoretical physicist who shares an apartment with his best friend Leonard, Sheldon is overly intellectual, hooked onto comic books and science fiction, hopelessly dependent on routine and obsessive regarding hygiene. True he has several obvious flaws such as being neurotic, arrogant, socially inept and plain insensitive but there is just something about the guy that you can't ignore. All credit to Jim Parsons for getting into the skin of Sheldon Cooper so brilliantly. Thanks to him, Sheldon Cooper is one of the most compelling characters on television today. Aggravating his friends beyond belief and his 'bazingas' aside, the interaction between Sheldon and Leonard's on-again-off-again girlfriend Penny makes for rib-tickling entertainment.
Although I am not a die-hard fan of The Big Bang Theory (and thereby have not followed every single episode of each season like a hawk), it does make for fun viewing after a long day.
A great character essayed by a great actor....now that's a winning combination.
11. Eleven (Stranger Things)
I just came to the realization that this is the only female character in my list of all-time favourite TV characters. And more surprisingly, my least favourite character list has more number of women in it. That is just plain sad. Is it just me or are there that much fewer likeable women characters on TV? And they don't even have to be the "good" kind to be a fan favourite - I mean there are more than enough jackass men on my list. We tend to set the bar much higher for women compared to men don't we?
For that reason (among others), you must watch Stranger Things. The hugely popular show is an American science fiction horror web television series created by the Duffer Brothers and released on Netflix. Set in the fictional town of Hawkins, Indiana in the 80s, the show revolves around supernatural events occurring in the town. The excellent characterization, pacing, atmosphere, acting, soundtrack, directing, writing, and homages to 1980s films make this series worth watching.
Eleven / Jane Hopper ("El"), played by Millie Bobby Brown is a young girl with psychokinetic abilities and a limited vocabulary. She has a discrete yet headstrong personality, is brave, kind and loyal to a fault. The extremely talented Brown brings a certain vulnerability to the character that makes the viewer love Eleven.
Stranger Things (especially since season 3) is one of those shows that has strong women characters. Despite being set in the 80s, where small town middle class women were rarely able to speak for themselves, the show showcases female characters who are smart, independent and outspoken. Almost all the women characters are amazing - Eleven, Joyce, Nancy, Robin, Karen, Max and even the mildly annoying yet hilarious Erica.
As the theoretical physicist who shares an apartment with his best friend Leonard, Sheldon is overly intellectual, hooked onto comic books and science fiction, hopelessly dependent on routine and obsessive regarding hygiene. True he has several obvious flaws such as being neurotic, arrogant, socially inept and plain insensitive but there is just something about the guy that you can't ignore. All credit to Jim Parsons for getting into the skin of Sheldon Cooper so brilliantly. Thanks to him, Sheldon Cooper is one of the most compelling characters on television today. Aggravating his friends beyond belief and his 'bazingas' aside, the interaction between Sheldon and Leonard's on-again-off-again girlfriend Penny makes for rib-tickling entertainment.
Although I am not a die-hard fan of The Big Bang Theory (and thereby have not followed every single episode of each season like a hawk), it does make for fun viewing after a long day.
A great character essayed by a great actor....now that's a winning combination.
11. Eleven (Stranger Things)
I just came to the realization that this is the only female character in my list of all-time favourite TV characters. And more surprisingly, my least favourite character list has more number of women in it. That is just plain sad. Is it just me or are there that much fewer likeable women characters on TV? And they don't even have to be the "good" kind to be a fan favourite - I mean there are more than enough jackass men on my list. We tend to set the bar much higher for women compared to men don't we?
For that reason (among others), you must watch Stranger Things. The hugely popular show is an American science fiction horror web television series created by the Duffer Brothers and released on Netflix. Set in the fictional town of Hawkins, Indiana in the 80s, the show revolves around supernatural events occurring in the town. The excellent characterization, pacing, atmosphere, acting, soundtrack, directing, writing, and homages to 1980s films make this series worth watching.
Eleven / Jane Hopper ("El"), played by Millie Bobby Brown is a young girl with psychokinetic abilities and a limited vocabulary. She has a discrete yet headstrong personality, is brave, kind and loyal to a fault. The extremely talented Brown brings a certain vulnerability to the character that makes the viewer love Eleven.
Stranger Things (especially since season 3) is one of those shows that has strong women characters. Despite being set in the 80s, where small town middle class women were rarely able to speak for themselves, the show showcases female characters who are smart, independent and outspoken. Almost all the women characters are amazing - Eleven, Joyce, Nancy, Robin, Karen, Max and even the mildly annoying yet hilarious Erica.
12. Stewie Griffin (Family Guy)
Family Guy is a hilarious show revolving around Peter Griffin, his family and friends and their seemingly normal life in Quahog, Rhode Island. Peter is a stupid clumsy oaf who loves his family but loves his beer and racist humor just a bit more. He goes to work, he hangs out with his motley crew at the local pub and comes home each night to a loving wife, an anthropomorphic dog, an unbelievably dumb older son, an evil-genius younger son and whatever the hell Meg is.
You can't help but love the diabolical Stewie Griffin, the youngest child of Peter and Lois Griffin. I can't put my finger on whether it is his British accent (voiced by Seth MacFarlane), his designs of world domination, fantasy of matricide or his sarcasm-laden banter with his dog Brian that makes him such a fascinating character. He is the main reason Family Guy fans keep coming back for more (me included).
This tyrannical baby will go down as one of the greatest (and littlest) small screen villains of all time.
You can't help but love the diabolical Stewie Griffin, the youngest child of Peter and Lois Griffin. I can't put my finger on whether it is his British accent (voiced by Seth MacFarlane), his designs of world domination, fantasy of matricide or his sarcasm-laden banter with his dog Brian that makes him such a fascinating character. He is the main reason Family Guy fans keep coming back for more (me included).
This tyrannical baby will go down as one of the greatest (and littlest) small screen villains of all time.
Least Favourite
And these are the characters who make me cringe whenever they show up on screen. Again, these are in no particular order of aversion. They are not villains but just characters that to me are like nails on a chalkboard. It could be their mannerisms, actions whereby they antagonize beloved characters, irrelevancy to the storyline or just that their character is not relatable. Some of them are mildly annoying whereas some of them make the entire series unwatchable purely by their presence.
1. Joffrey Baratheon (Game of Thrones)
Heir to the Iron Throne of Westeros, the sneering boy-King Joffrey is a narcissist, sociopath, liar, entitled brat, and a downright cruel individual. Oh and did I mention, he is also a coward. He has no painful backstory or childhood trauma to justify any of his actions. He breaks promises, needlessly tortures innocents, abuses women, murders babies, ill treats family members.....you name it, he does it. The guy has no redeeming qualities whatsoever. You hate his guts right from the very beginning you set eyes on him.
Although, going by actions alone, Ramsay seems far worse than Joffrey. From castrating Theon, raping Sansa, feeding various maidens to his blood thirsty dogs, flaying people in front of their own friends and family members, Ramsay was the devil incarnate.
But if I had to choose between the two, I would go for Joffrey only because he wreaked so much devastation on the Starks in his brief and utterly pointless life.
Also, huge credit to the actor Jack Gleeson for making Joffrey so loathsome to the viewers. One of most rewarding scenes of Game of Thrones for me was watching Joffrey die a slow and agonizing death 😛
A world-class antagonist this one.
And these are the characters who make me cringe whenever they show up on screen. Again, these are in no particular order of aversion. They are not villains but just characters that to me are like nails on a chalkboard. It could be their mannerisms, actions whereby they antagonize beloved characters, irrelevancy to the storyline or just that their character is not relatable. Some of them are mildly annoying whereas some of them make the entire series unwatchable purely by their presence.
1. Joffrey Baratheon (Game of Thrones)
Heir to the Iron Throne of Westeros, the sneering boy-King Joffrey is a narcissist, sociopath, liar, entitled brat, and a downright cruel individual. Oh and did I mention, he is also a coward. He has no painful backstory or childhood trauma to justify any of his actions. He breaks promises, needlessly tortures innocents, abuses women, murders babies, ill treats family members.....you name it, he does it. The guy has no redeeming qualities whatsoever. You hate his guts right from the very beginning you set eyes on him.
Although, going by actions alone, Ramsay seems far worse than Joffrey. From castrating Theon, raping Sansa, feeding various maidens to his blood thirsty dogs, flaying people in front of their own friends and family members, Ramsay was the devil incarnate.
But if I had to choose between the two, I would go for Joffrey only because he wreaked so much devastation on the Starks in his brief and utterly pointless life.
Also, huge credit to the actor Jack Gleeson for making Joffrey so loathsome to the viewers. One of most rewarding scenes of Game of Thrones for me was watching Joffrey die a slow and agonizing death 😛
A world-class antagonist this one.
2. Dr. Izobel Stevens (Grey's Anatomy)
I started off genuinely liking the character of Izobel (aka Izzie) Stevens. She was introduced as a new intern at the fictional Seattle Grace Hospital. The girl from humble origins who dared to dream big and ended up as a surgeon after clearing her student loans through modelling made her inspiring. Her baking exploits and getting all excited about Christmas was endearing too. But after the second season, her character just started to go downhill. Her smugness, sanctimonious nature, swaying love interests, irrational behaviour & emotional over attachment with her patients just started to get nerve grating.
To make matters worse, she pulled the LVAD wire from a patient Denny (who happened to be her fiancé) in order to move him up on the heart transplant list. And wait....there's more. After that debacle, she went on to break up her best friend George's marriage. She did redeem herself a tad when she donated a heck of a lot of money to open a free clinic and save the life of a deer (although that was kind of stupid). But then she started hallucinating and cavorting with ghost Denny which consequently made her go ballistic and made her annoying all over again. Her being afflicted by cancer did little to evoke sympathy in the average viewer because even then she managed to be an infernal nuisance. The last straw was her getting married and then getting fired and then pulling off a poorly explained disappearing act.
The writers have to be blamed primarily for the poor characterization and awful storylines involving Izzie. Katherine Heigl who plays Izzie Stevens is decent as an actress but she has failed to infuse any likeability into the character. This character should have been axed from the show a long time ago.
I have one last thing to say and that is Ugh!
The writers have to be blamed primarily for the poor characterization and awful storylines involving Izzie. Katherine Heigl who plays Izzie Stevens is decent as an actress but she has failed to infuse any likeability into the character. This character should have been axed from the show a long time ago.
I have one last thing to say and that is Ugh!
3. Jim (According to Jim)
According to Jim is a family sitcom about a regular middle-class guy named Jim (Jim Belushi), his wife Cheryl and their children. Cheryl's siblings Andy (Jim's best friend) and sister Dana (Jim's nemesis) are frequent house guests.
According to Jim is a show that will appeal to some but not the others. I didn't mind the show because it had its share of humorous moments particularly the comedic partnership of Jim and Andy & the instances where Dana is at odds with Jim.
Having said that, in my opinion, the character of Jim is just unbearable. And note that I am talking solely about the character and not the actor. Jim is a selfish, pompous, manipulative and insecure jerk. Oh and lest I forget to mention, a slob too. He represents the typical loser guy you would not want to have as a colleague, friend or neighbor. It seems inconceivable that he could convince a wholesome woman such as Cheryl to be his life partner. The question on everyone's mind is: how could a human being endowed with free will have put up with his shenanigans for so long. He has everything a guy could want but it all seems wasted on him because he doesn't deserve any of it.
It is a bit disappointing that almost all the laughs in the show come from Jim being a bad husband, not-so-great father and a colossal ass.
According to Jim is a show that will appeal to some but not the others. I didn't mind the show because it had its share of humorous moments particularly the comedic partnership of Jim and Andy & the instances where Dana is at odds with Jim.
Having said that, in my opinion, the character of Jim is just unbearable. And note that I am talking solely about the character and not the actor. Jim is a selfish, pompous, manipulative and insecure jerk. Oh and lest I forget to mention, a slob too. He represents the typical loser guy you would not want to have as a colleague, friend or neighbor. It seems inconceivable that he could convince a wholesome woman such as Cheryl to be his life partner. The question on everyone's mind is: how could a human being endowed with free will have put up with his shenanigans for so long. He has everything a guy could want but it all seems wasted on him because he doesn't deserve any of it.
It is a bit disappointing that almost all the laughs in the show come from Jim being a bad husband, not-so-great father and a colossal ass.
4. Michael Dawson (LOST)
"WAAAAAAAAAAALLLTTTTTTT! Where is WALT? Where is my son? Where have you taken my boy?"
That just about sums up Michael's dialogues in the show. Like, seriously....I kid you not.
Michael's (Harold Perrineau) obsession with his son (whom by the way he doesn't even love that much as is evident from the actions of his pre-island life) is exasperating. I mean, the guy even kills two innocent women on account of his son. And it doesn't help that the character of Walt is pretty irksome too. While watching the show, whenever the father-son duo would show up on screen, I would just groan (and wish that I could swat them away like a couple of pesky flies).
This was a character I did not mind getting LOST
This was a character I did not mind getting LOST
5. Alan Harper (Two and a Half Men)
This guy makes it to the top of my list by a mile.
As the hapless divorced chiropractor who moves into his brother Charlie's (and later best friend Walden's) lavish Malibu beach house with his son Jake, Alan Harper (Jon Cryer) makes me want to pull out my hair in frustration. His mother Evelyn has even more of a hideous personality but at least she is entertaining.
Whiny, spineless, selfish, pitiful, unfunny, lazy and someone with absolutely zero self-respect.
Whiny, spineless, selfish, pitiful, unfunny, lazy and someone with absolutely zero self-respect.
Nuff said
6. Sue Sylvester (Glee)
When I started first watching Glee, I found the rag-tag bunch of awkward teenagers with a shared love for music endearing. But as the seasons progressed, the story-lines started to go haywire and the characters began to derail. Now, I have a whole lot of characters that I don't like on Glee - Rachel, Kurt, Unique, Becky, Tina and even the previously likeable Will and Marley.
The character of cheerleading coach Sue Sylvester (Jane Lynch) is probably the most complex ones you would see on tv. She is sharp-tongued, narcissistic, crass, stubborn and seems to have no sense of right and wrong. She even gets married to herself after she realizes she is her own best match (beat that). Her only redeeming quality is her compassion towards Becky and her sister.
Don't get me wrong - I agree that this character can tickle your funny bone but more often than not, you just want to crush her like a bug. Some of the things she says are just cringe-worthy. This is a sad case of a hilarious antagonist turning into a nasty nobody.
I might just stick to watching The Glee Project.
7. Susan Mayer-Lynette Scavo (Desperate Housewives)
I loved the show Desperate Housewives (mainly due to the writing and narration) and I've watched each season at least three times.
The show chronicles the scandalous lives of four friends and neighbours - Gabrielle Solis, Bree Van de Kamp, Susan Mayer & Lynette Scavo who live on Wisteria Lane in the fictional town of Fairview.
My favourite housewife is the feisty Gabriel Solis but when it comes to the least favourite, it would have to be a toss-up between Susan Mayer (Teri Hatcher) and Lynette Scavo (Felicity Huffman). The former is clumsy, misguided, needy and utterly brainless while the latter is an overbearing, emasculating, conniving, self-righteous shrew.
The show chronicles the scandalous lives of four friends and neighbours - Gabrielle Solis, Bree Van de Kamp, Susan Mayer & Lynette Scavo who live on Wisteria Lane in the fictional town of Fairview.
My favourite housewife is the feisty Gabriel Solis but when it comes to the least favourite, it would have to be a toss-up between Susan Mayer (Teri Hatcher) and Lynette Scavo (Felicity Huffman). The former is clumsy, misguided, needy and utterly brainless while the latter is an overbearing, emasculating, conniving, self-righteous shrew.
Kind of hard to pick a winner right? I declare it a tie.
8. Miranda Hobbes (Sex and the City)
Who hasn't heard of Sex and the City? The six-season series about the social lives of four women (Carrie, Samantha, Charlotte & Miranda) in New York featured protagonists who were explicitly candid about their personal lives and put female friendship above everything else.
I'm not a fan of the series even though I've watched it and for some reason the movies too. I've never had a discussion with my girlfriends comparing which character from SATC we most closely resemble. Although I didn't relate much to any of the characters personally (maybe it's an Asian cultural thing), I did find them funny, fun and cool at times.
My least favorite character was Miranda just because she was the most irritating of the lot (who are also irritating in different ways may I add). Her traits of being a workaholic, pessimist, having a far too cynical attitude about men, being nasty to people who were nice to her, having to be right all the time (ugh!) and a peculiar dressing sense coupled with atrocious haircuts made her character off putting.
But she did end up having a successful professional and personal life as opposed to being a cutesy, frivolous, man-crazy shopping addict. She was the most real one among them so I will grudgingly give some credit to her character. Still don't like her though.
9. Skyler White (Breaking Bad)
I'm not a fan of the series even though I've watched it and for some reason the movies too. I've never had a discussion with my girlfriends comparing which character from SATC we most closely resemble. Although I didn't relate much to any of the characters personally (maybe it's an Asian cultural thing), I did find them funny, fun and cool at times.
My least favorite character was Miranda just because she was the most irritating of the lot (who are also irritating in different ways may I add). Her traits of being a workaholic, pessimist, having a far too cynical attitude about men, being nasty to people who were nice to her, having to be right all the time (ugh!) and a peculiar dressing sense coupled with atrocious haircuts made her character off putting.
But she did end up having a successful professional and personal life as opposed to being a cutesy, frivolous, man-crazy shopping addict. She was the most real one among them so I will grudgingly give some credit to her character. Still don't like her though.
9. Skyler White (Breaking Bad)
I like most of the supporting characters in Breaking Bad - Walter White Jr, Mike Ehrmantraut, Saul Goodman, Marie Schrader & Hank Schrader to name a few. Breaking Bad is a groundbreaking drama with a fantastic plot and nuanced character development. That said, let me get this straight. I think Anna Gunn who plays the role of Skyler White, the wife of the main protagonist Walter White in the show is a decent actress. But do I like her character Skyler? Not really.
At first, Skyler starts out as a loving supportive wife. She is portrayed as a strong woman with a backbone of steel. One who is intelligent, opinionated, takes a stand and has a definite sense of right and wrong. But as her husband goes from a simple high school chemistry teacher riddled with cancer to a meth kingpin, her character undergoes profound changes as well. Not every woman would (and should!) be okay with her husband being a drug dealer under any circumstances. Nobody expected Skyler to be a submissive 'good' wife. But despite being a long-suffering victim of Walters crime and abuse, Skyler often comes across as cold and hard. At times, it is difficult to understand her reasoning and sympathize with her character. By all logic she should have either walked away with her innocent children or reported Walter to the authorities when his morality began to deteriorate yet she chose not only to stay but to stubbornly insert herself into his nefarious enterprise. Skyler doesn't have an interesting personality, has no identity of her own, tends to be overbearing at times, meddles in things that she shouldn't and comes across as a giant hypocrite when she initially berates Walter for his illegal activities and then goes on to voluntarily assist in his criminal endeavors.
She keeps banging on about her children's safety yet throws away every opportunity to keep them safe, she has an affair with her dumbass loser boss, tells Walter that she is waiting for the cancer to kill him, aids in the making of a despicable blackmail video and continues to remain in a dangerous situation when she is smart enough to know the catastrophic consequences. These are some reasons that compelled me to jump on the anti-Skyler bandwagon.
That being said, I think the writers have intentionally written Skyler's character in such a way that conditions the viewer to dislike her. Since Walter is the show’s main protagonist, there is a tendency to empathize with and root for him, despite his shocking moral failings (and him getting increasingly terrifying with each season). So when Skyler makes any attempt to thwart Walt's attempts to pursue his criminal activities, she becomes a tritagonist and consequently, a less popular character in the eyes of hardcore fans of the show.
10. Andrew Bernard (The Office)
Let me start by saying that I didn't dislike Andy when he has first introduced in Season 3 of The Office. He was awkward, occasionally funny and sometimes downright cringeworthy but he was alright. Sure he had some anger management issues but his character improved significantly after anger management training. He did have some good moments on the show particularly with he showcased his singing and dancing. His initial romance with the naïve and sweet receptionist Erin Hannon brought out the more tender aspects of his personality.
I think the writers did Andy dirty towards the end of the series. His character arc was practically non-existent. Once his role as manager of Dunder Mifflin was threatened by Nellie Bertram, he started becoming unpredictable, unreliable and eventually downright malicious. His actions were perplexing and he disappeared (without credible justification) for several episodes. Towards the end, it was obvious to anyone watching that he was completely expendable and I'm not sure why the show didn't just write him off earlier instead of turning him into a complete jackass.
Sure, there were plenty of unlikeable characters on the office - Todd Packer, Jan Levinson, Ryan Howard, Roy Anderson and Cathy Simms but they were relatively minor characters so they didn't bug me. Among the main cast members, Andy was the worst character and I know this may be an unpopular opinion but I couldn't stand grumpy old Stanley Hudson either. But in this office battle, the Nard Dawg wins hands-down.
11. Nathan Shelley from Ted Lasso
Ted Lasso, the Emmy winning sports comedy-drama is one of my favourite TV shows in recent times. For its stunning exploration of mental health alone, this shows merits a watch.
Nathan Shelley started off as such a sweet unassuming guy and I really liked him. He represented the quintessential underdog whom the audience could root for. I can empathise how it must feel like to be treated poorly by most people, be constantly looked down on, to live in the shadow of an overbearing father and to not have a sliver of self-confidence.
During the course of the show, Nate goes from being a nobody to being somebody big and this transition witnesses the character's moral and ethical decline. Ted Lasso is undoubtedly one of the best characters of the show so for Nate to turn on good, kind Ted (the only person who actually believed in him) due to some perceived slight was unexpected. And as the seasons unfolded, his extreme descent into dickishness was utterly bewildering to me. Nate's demeanor, wardrobe, voice, tone, facial expressions and even hair changes as the seasons progress, further reinforcing his crossover to the dark side.
Nathan didn't remain a villian for the show's entirety though. I wouldn't go as far as to say he sought redemption but he did stop being a terrible person. But it was too little too late so even though he isn't half as horrible as some of the others on my least favourite list, he definitely has earned a spot.
12. Charlotte Grayson (Revenge)
Granted Charlotte played by Christa B. Allen has reason to be sulky, mistrustful and depressed. During the course of the series Revenge, she discovers that her dad isn't her biological father, that her biological father is a controversial suspected terrorist thought to be dead, her mother is involved in a plane crash, she has a half-brother she never even knew about, her boyfriend dies and she has a miscarriage because of the stress. Tough life? Yeah sure. Should I cut her some slack? Probably but I choose not to 😝
She is introduced as the poor little rich girl who has no identity of her own outside of the Grayson surname. Friendly, charming and charitable, she seems likeable at first but as the skeletons start tumbling out of her family's closet, she starts going down a dangerous path of self-destruction. She gets involved with substance abuse, acquires a loser boyfriend (Declan), becomes emotionally unstable, attempts suicide, goes into rehab, rebels against everyone and everything, tries to sabotage Emily and Daniel's relationship, attempts murder and basically turns into an unbearable meddler.
It is not that I have something against negative characters - Victoria is the most conniving and manipulative characters I have ever seen on television yet I love her because she has so much personality and is a total badass. Charlotte on the other hand, isn't smart like her half-sister Emily or cunning like her mother Victoria. She is just a waste of space who doesn't do anything useful or interesting. Whenever she appears on-screen, it is time to yawn. Her boyfriend Declan was almost as maddening as her so I for one didn't miss him at all when he was killed off in season two.
Although Charlotte is the most naïve and untainted character among the other schemers and plotters, I find her the most boring on the show.
She is introduced as the poor little rich girl who has no identity of her own outside of the Grayson surname. Friendly, charming and charitable, she seems likeable at first but as the skeletons start tumbling out of her family's closet, she starts going down a dangerous path of self-destruction. She gets involved with substance abuse, acquires a loser boyfriend (Declan), becomes emotionally unstable, attempts suicide, goes into rehab, rebels against everyone and everything, tries to sabotage Emily and Daniel's relationship, attempts murder and basically turns into an unbearable meddler.
It is not that I have something against negative characters - Victoria is the most conniving and manipulative characters I have ever seen on television yet I love her because she has so much personality and is a total badass. Charlotte on the other hand, isn't smart like her half-sister Emily or cunning like her mother Victoria. She is just a waste of space who doesn't do anything useful or interesting. Whenever she appears on-screen, it is time to yawn. Her boyfriend Declan was almost as maddening as her so I for one didn't miss him at all when he was killed off in season two.
Although Charlotte is the most naïve and untainted character among the other schemers and plotters, I find her the most boring on the show.
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So, there you have it - my list of most and least favourite television characters. Do you agree with my list? Or do you have a character/characters that you love or despise that you don't see here.
Leave a comment to let me know.
Till next time....
So, there you have it - my list of most and least favourite television characters. Do you agree with my list? Or do you have a character/characters that you love or despise that you don't see here.
Leave a comment to let me know.
Till next time....
Megha
Among all listed above, I like Chandler the best. He so spontaneous and natural.
ReplyDeleteAgree :)
DeleteI think...you have very strong and specific opinions and shouldn't necessarily presume to speak in general for the "average viewer". I would not personally say it's average to hate a character so much that you complain about how whiny and annoying their cancer made them "all over again", but that's just my opinion... I do feel like there were a couple of subtle sexist aspects of your list.. The fact that most of your favorites are males and most of your least favorites are females could be a coincidence, but I don't understand how Carrie Heffernan makes your list, and Debra's whininess gets mentioned (regardless of the fact that you said you could somewhat sympathyse) and yet their useless and good for nothing husbands who have greatly contributed to making them so crazy (as you also admitted) don't even make the list. Just the women. Just my thoughts since you asked... Your opinions are your own
ReplyDeleteThanks for reading the long post and leaving a comment. First of all, if I didn't have strong and specific opinions, it wouldn't make sense to even write a post about this topic, no? I put my views up for anyone on the internet to read, judge and criticize but I still stand by whatever I write. Secondly, I do not speak for the "average viewer". I speak only for myself. As you can see the title of this post is "My" All-Time Most and Least Favourite Television Characters. One can disagree with my choice and that is absolutely fine....each to their own. I have already addressed the fact that women characters are given a raw deal on tv. It is reflective of the misogyny in society and will take a lot more time to change. Most women characters on tv are poorly defined and stereotyped. But whose fault do you think that is? The writers or mine? I would have to say the former. That being said, I have watched a couple of recent shows which have fantastic female characters (characters played by Olivia Colman in Broadchurch, Elizabeth Olsen in WandaVision and Hayley Atwell in Agent Carter for example) and I was thrilled about that. But coming back to this post, my opinions were never supposed to be politically correct or appease the "woke" crowd. I did not compile this list keeping gender equality in mind. So if a character annoys "me", it makes the list...period. And if it makes you feel any better, Carrie Heffernan is the best among the worst in my list and she can and will be easily replaced. It's just that I haven't revisited this post in a really long time.
DeleteNot my fault if show writers seem to be incapable of writing strong women characters...haha I managed to include one after watching Stranger Things :)
ReplyDeleteI'm from an older generation, so pulling from a different pool of sitcoms, but the characters I despise the most are Fred Mertz from I Love Lucy (he's old, fat, ugly, and rude to his wife), Howard Borden from The Bob Newhart Show (the character is a complete idiot played by a lame actor), and Arthur Spooner from The King of Queens. I can't stand Arthur and I don't see how anyone thinks he's funny when he yells. If someone in my real life ever yelled like that I'd tell him to shut TF up! There are fewer women characters I really dislike - I don't dislike Debra Barone or even Skyler White as much as other people seem to hate them. But I am not a big fan of Mary Tyler Moore in either of her roles (Laura Petrie or Mary Richards.) I watched MTM to see Rhoda - one of my all time favorite female sidekicks - and Betty White who is nothing less than brilliant as Sue Ann Nivens.
ReplyDeleteI really appreciate the time and effort you took to leave your thoughts :) These are the kind of comments I look forward to receiving - interactive, insightful and constructive. I haven't watched many of the sitcoms you mentioned so it is nice to know. This list will constantly be evolving as and when I watch newer shows and go back to watch older ones :)
ReplyDeleteGood list
ReplyDeleteWell written. I like Carrie Heffernan much better than Debra Barone. Debra is a know it all and a show off.