Television has given us countless memorable characters, but some are remembered for all the wrong reasons. From sadistic villains to annoying protagonists, these characters have earned widespread hate from viewers across the globe.
These characters spark intense debate and evoke strong emotional responses, proving that love isn’t the only powerful connection viewers can have with characters on screen. In this article, we will cover the top 100 most hated characters and why they are hated.
Top 10 Most Hated TV Characters
The most despised characters in television history share certain traits: they’re often cruel, selfish, or are obstacles to beloved protagonists. Some were designed to be hated, while others earned audience hate unintentionally.
Here’s the list of top 10 television’s most loathed characters.
| Rank | Character | Show |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Joffrey Baratheon | Game of Thrones |
| 2 | Ramsay Bolton | Game of Thrones |
| 3 | Skyler White | Breaking Bad |
| 4 | Shou Tucker | Fullmetal Alchemist* |
| 5 | Rachel Berry | Glee |
| 6 | Livia Soprano | The Sopranos |
| 7 | Caillou | Caillou |
| 8 | The Governor | The Walking Dead |
| 9 | Cersei Lannister | Game of Thrones |
| 10 | Todd Alquist | Breaking Bad |
Now, we will get into details about each character, their role in the show, and why fans hate them from the bottom of their hearts.
1. Joffrey Baratheon (Game of Thrones)
Joffrey wasn’t just a villain; he is the best example of ill-tempered, sadistic tyranny. As the boy-king, his cruelty knew no bounds, getting pleasure from tormenting Sansa Stark, executing Ned Stark on a whim, and abusing anyone weaker than him.
His cowardice in actual battle contrasted sharply with his arrogance, making his every smile and command utterly infuriating for viewers who desperately awaited his downfall.
2. Ramsay Bolton (Game of Thrones)
If Joffrey was a cruel brat, Ramsay was a calculating monster who took sadism as an art form. His systematic torture of Theon Greyjoy (“Reek”), brutal rape and abuse of Sansa Stark, and liking for hunting humans with dogs showcased profound depravity.
Ramsay lacked any redeeming qualities, embodying pure evil that made audiences recoil and cheer fervently for his eventual, brutal demise.
3. Skyler White (Breaking Bad)
Skyler’s placement is controversial, often attributed to misogynistic viewpoints, but many viewers genuinely disliked her perceived hypocrisy and obstruction of Walt’s plans.
While Walt got into the drug business, Skyler’s moral objections and actions (like the affair with Ted Beneke or giving Walt’s money away) were seen by some as irritating obstacles rather than understandable reactions to her husband becoming a criminal kingpin. Her complexity and impulsive nature are the reasons why every Breaking Bad fan hates her.
4. Shou Tucker (Fullmetal Alchemist / Brotherhood)
Shou Tucker earned universal condemnation for one monstrous act: fusing his young daughter, Nina, and her dog, Alexander, into a chimera to maintain his State Alchemist certification.
This horrific betrayal of innocence and parental duty, driven by selfish ambition, is a singularly shocking and unforgivable moment in anime history, making Tucker an eternally hated figure for his cold, calculated cruelty against his own family.
5. Rachel Berry (Glee)
Unlike the outright villains, Rachel Berry’s unpopularity stems from her overwhelming ambition, perceived selfishness, and often irritating personality. While talented, her relentless pursuit of stardom frequently led her to undermine friends, demand the spotlight, and act entitled.
Many viewers found her character arc repetitive and her personality irritatingly self-absorbed, making her a frequent target of audience frustration despite being a protagonist.
6. Livia Soprano (The Sopranos)
Tony Soprano’s manipulative and miserable mother, Livia, was a masterclass in psychological antagonism.
Her negativity, passive-aggression, and willingness to conspire against her own son (even attempting to have him killed) made her a profoundly unsettling and hateful figure. Livia represented the toxic familial roots of Tony’s own issues, embodying a suffocating, joyless presence that viewers found chillingly repellent.
7. Caillou (Caillou)
The titular character of this children’s show is widely despised by parents and non-viewers alike for his constant whining, bratty behavior, and lack of consequences. Caillou often throws tantrums to get his way, displaying impatience and entitlement.
Many adults exposed to the show find his voice and actions intensely annoying, making him a surprising, yet understandable, fixture on hated character lists for representing frustrating toddler behavior.
8. The Governor (The Walking Dead)
Philip Blake, known as The Governor, was a charismatic but ruthless leader whose descent into paranoid tyranny provided a chilling human counterpoint to the zombie threat.
His charm masked deep cruelty, shown by his hoarding of walkers (including his undead daughter), brutal torture of rivals like Glenn and Michonne, and the massacre of his own people. His blend of charisma and barbarity made him a compelling but deeply hated antagonist.
9. Cersei Lannister (Game of Thrones)
Cersei’s ruthless ambition, incestuous relationship with her brother Jaime, and cruelty make her a primary antagonist throughout Game of Thrones.
While occasionally showing vulnerability (mostly regarding her children), her defining traits were pride, paranoia, and a willingness to destroy anyone in her path. These traits led to the fiery destruction of the Sept of Baelor. Her complex villainy earned her both fascination and intense hatred.
10. Todd Alquist (Breaking Bad)
Todd represented chilling, sociopathic emptiness. His polite facade masked a complete lack of empathy, most horrifyingly demonstrated when he shot and killed young Drew Sharp without hesitation simply because he witnessed their train heist.
His later actions, including enslaving Jesse Pinkman and murdering Andrea Cantillo, solidified his status as one of television’s most disturbing and hate-worthy characters due to his unnerving, detached cruelty.
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Top 20 Most Hated TV Characters
Beyond the most infamous characters, television history is filled with other intensely disliked figures. These characters may not have achieved the universal hatred of those in the top ten but have nonetheless earned significant viewer antipathy.
Characters like Andy Bernard from The Office went through personality changes that were seen as annoying or out-of-character, especially in later seasons. Similarly, Dawn Summers from Buffy the Vampire Slayer was disliked for being perceived as whiny and changing the show’s established dynamic upon her introduction.
Despite being the protagonist, Ted Mosby from How I Met Your Mother gets frustrated with his selfishness, pretentiousness, and drawn-out romantic pursuits.
Here is a list of the top 20 TV characters:
| Rank | Character | Show |
|---|---|---|
| 11 | Andy Bernard | The Office (US) |
| 12 | Dawn Summers | Buffy the Vampire Slayer |
| 13 | Ted Mosby | How I Met Your Mother |
| 14 | Piper Chapman | Orange Is the New Black |
| 15 | Will Schuester | Glee |
| 16 | Ellis Grey | Grey’s Anatomy |
| 17 | Scrappy-Doo | Scooby-Doo and Scrappy-Doo |
| 18 | Janice Soprano | The Sopranos |
| 19 | King Bumi (Movie) | The Last Airbender (M. Night) |
| 20 | Pete Campbell | Mad Men |
100 Most Hated TV Characters
The list of disliked characters extends far beyond the commonly known examples, covering genres and decades of television history.
Further down the list, we have characters like Marnie Michaels from Girl, who are unpleasant to viewers due to narcissism and cringe-worthy behavior.
Despite being a core member of the beloved sitcom, Ross Geller from Friends is criticized for his possessiveness in relationships (especially with Rachel), academic snobbery, persistent whining, and moments of profound insecurity that show in his controlling behavior.
Ezra Fitz from Pretty Little Liars remains controversial and disliked for his inappropriate relationship with a teenage student, regardless of the show’s romantic framing. Now, continuing the list, here is a list of the top 100 hated TV characters.
| Rank | Character | Show |
|---|---|---|
| 21 | Marnie Michaels | Girls |
| 22 | Ross Geller | Friends |
| 23 | Ezra Fitz | Pretty Little Liars |
| 24 | Hannah Horvath | Girls |
| 25 | Nellie Bertram | The Office (US) |
| 26 | Chuck Bass | Gossip Girl |
| 27 | Oliver Queen (later seasons) | Arrow |
| 28 | Randy Pearson | That ’70s Show |
| 29 | Andrea Harrison | The Walking Dead |
| 30 | Warren Mears | Buffy the Vampire Slayer |
| 31 | Frank Gallagher | Shameless (US) |
| 32 | Dr. Robert Romano | ER |
| 33 | Kimmy Gibbler | Full House / Fuller House |
| 34 | Jar Jar Binks | Star Wars: The Clone Wars |
| 35 | Cousin Oliver | The Brady Bunch |
| 36 | Felicity Smoak (later seasons) | Arrow |
| 37 | April Kepner | Grey’s Anatomy |
| 38 | Ed Peletier | The Walking Dead |
| 39 | Jack Gleeson (as Joffrey)* | Game of Thrones |
| 40 | George Mason | 24 |
| 41 | Lori Grimes | The Walking Dead |
| 42 | Wesley Crusher | Star Trek: The Next Generation |
| 43 | Janice Litman-Goralnik | Friends |
| 44 | Olly | Game of Thrones |
| 45 | Nikki Fernandez | Lost |
| 46 | Paulo | Lost |
| 47 | Dana Brody | Homeland |
| 48 | Marie Schrader | Breaking Bad |
| 49 | A.J. Soprano | The Sopranos |
| 50 | Terri Schuester | Glee |
| 51 | Peggy Hill | King of the Hill |
| 52 | Angelica Pickles | Rugrats |
| 53 | Chuck McGill | Better Call Saul |
| 54 | Euron Greyjoy | Game of Thrones |
| 55 | Izzie Stevens | Grey’s Anatomy |
| 56 | Kate Austen | Lost |
| 57 | Owen Hunt | Grey’s Anatomy |
| 58 | Connor | Angel |
| 59 | Kennedy | Buffy the Vampire Slayer |
| 60 | Spencer Monroe | The Walking Dead |
| 61 | The Great Gazoo | The Flintstones |
| 62 | Emily Waltham | Friends |
| 63 | Robert California | The Office (US) |
| 64 | Newman | Seinfeld |
| 65 | Susan Ross | Seinfeld |
| 66 | Julie Taylor | Friday Night Lights |
| 67 | Marlo Stanfield | The Wire |
| 68 | Christopher Moltisanti | The Sopranos |
| 69 | High Sparrow | Game of Thrones |
| 70 | Nicholas | The Walking Dead |
| 71 | Charles Miner | The Office (US) |
| 72 | D.W. Read | Arthur |
| 73 | Dawson Leery | Dawson’s Creek |
| 74 | Will Truman | Will & Grace |
| 75 | Tori Vega | Victorious |
| 76 | Shane Walsh | The Walking Dead |
| 77 | Dr. Temperance Brennan | Bones |
| 78 | Claire Underwood | House of Cards |
| 79 | Ellaria Sand | Game of Thrones |
| 80 | Michael Dawson | Lost |
| 81 | Vanessa Abrams | Gossip Girl |
| 82 | Jenny Humphrey | Gossip Girl |
| 83 | Tom Haverford | Parks and Recreation |
| 84 | Gary Walsh | Veep |
| 85 | Laurel Castillo | How to Get Away with Murder |
| 86 | Gemma Teller Morrow | Sons of Anarchy |
| 87 | Zach Goodweather | The Strain |
| 88 | Carl Grimes | The Walking Dead |
| 89 | Xander Harris | Buffy the Vampire Slayer |
| 90 | Howard Wolowitz | The Big Bang Theory |
| 91 | Mandy Hampton | The West Wing |
| 92 | Sebastian Smythe | Glee |
| 93 | Billy Walsh | Entourage |
| 94 | Janice Dickinson | America’s Next Top Model |
| 95 | Spencer Pratt | The Hills |
| 96 | Jax Taylor | Vanderpump Rules |
| 97 | Pepe Le Pew | Looney Tunes |
| 98 | Eric Cartman | South Park |
| 99 | Flowers | Flowers |
| 100 | Ted Buckland | Scrubs |
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Conclusion: Joffrey, Ramsay, And Skyler Are The Most Hated Characters
Joffrey Baratheon is unforgettable for his mean, sadistic cruelty, showing the terrifying power held by a spoiled, vicious child whose every action provoked viewer outrage. Then there’s Ramsay Bolton, remembered for his extreme, deliberate sadism, and Skyler White, whose difficult choices against Walt frustrated many viewers, proving dislike comes in many forms.
Characters like these, villains or not, capture our attention and make television much more interesting. In the end, the characters viewers strongly dislike are just as important to TV shows as the heroes we love.
FAQs
The emotional investment makes viewers react strongly to characters who break rules, hurt others, or are just plain annoying.
If a character is hated, it means writers successfully created a compelling villain or someone viewers are meant to dislike intensely.
Joffrey Baratheon (Game of Thrones) frequently tops lists for his extreme cruelty, sadism, and complete lack of positive traits.
Many complex or charismatic villains fascinate audiences, sometimes even earning sympathy despite their terrible actions.
Protagonists can be disliked for annoying habits, selfishness, frustrating decisions, or actions viewers find morally wrong.
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