7 Most Unfairly Hated Sitcom Characters, Ranked

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Many sitcoms feature a character audiences love to hate – someone designed to be the target of our frustration. But it’s worth asking if these much-disliked characters deserve a second look. Were they truly awful, or were we simply too quick to judge them?

Almost every sitcom has that one character people love to hate. It’s rarely a villain, and sometimes they’re even the main character! These characters weren’t meant to be disliked, so it’s interesting to figure out why they get such a bad rap. From shows like Friends, Full House, and The Office, here’s a look at seven sitcom characters who are unfairly criticized – whether they’re main cast members or appear only occasionally.

7) Eric Forman: That ‘70s Show

A lot of viewers think Eric Forman (played by Topher Grace) underwent a noticeable change for the worse, particularly in seasons six and seven of That ’70s Show. The common idea is that the writers eventually struggled with his character and exaggerated his less appealing traits. This might be accurate – Eric abruptly becomes much more childish, inexplicably messes things up with Donna (who some viewers dislike), and loses the likable, confident personality he once had.

Looking back, his struggles actually make sense when you consider what it’s like to grow up. His girlfriend’s success happened much faster than his own, and he was still figuring things out. It’s easy to understand why he lost confidence, especially with a father who constantly put him down. While it wasn’t pleasant to watch, many of us have known someone who deals with problems in unhealthy ways because they haven’t learned how to express themselves. Eric’s mistakes and self-doubt are things a lot of people can probably identify with.

6) Carrie Bradshaw: Sex and the City

Carrie Bradshaw from HBO’s Sex and the City often divides viewers, with many criticizing her as self-centered, obsessed with possessions, and a poor friend. While those criticisms aren’t entirely unfair, it was Carrie’s imperfections—and Sarah Jessica Parker’s performance—that made her feel so real. The show was built around the idea that these women were flawed and learning as they went.

You know, I’ve always found Carrie Bradshaw surprisingly self-aware. She wasn’t afraid to write about her own flaws – her spending, her messy relationships – for everyone to see, almost like she was trying to learn from it publicly. Yes, she definitely made mistakes with both Aidan and Big, but understanding why she messed up doesn’t mean we excuse it. It just makes her growth – acknowledging those mistakes and trying to do better – more relatable. And honestly, her friendships with Miranda, Charlotte, and Samantha ran much deeper than people often give them credit for. She wasn’t always perfect, but she was there for Miranda’s unexpected pregnancy, Charlotte’s struggles with getting pregnant, and even Samantha’s cancer battle. It feels unfair that Carrie often gets the most criticism, because let’s be real, none of those New York women were perfect!

5) Ross Geller: Friends

Ross Geller, played by David Schwimmer on Friends, is now often seen as possessive, jealous, and even unstable, despite being a popular character when the show aired. He clearly needed help managing his anger, and it’s true that Rachel gave up a job in Paris because of him. Although he doesn’t fully overcome his controlling tendencies with Rachel, he also has many positive traits that make him a well-rounded character.

Throughout Friends, Ross is consistently shown as a good brother, a loyal friend, and a generally kind partner. While he definitely played a role in the infamous “we were on a break” argument, Rachel also contributed to their unhealthy relationship, so it’s unfair to blame him entirely. Yes, Ross had his flaws and could be difficult, and Rachel likely should have taken the job in Paris. However, it’s hard to strongly dislike him, particularly considering the show aired weekly. This format meant viewers saw Ross in smaller segments, preventing his mistakes from piling up and creating a completely negative impression.

4) Jerry/Garry/Larry/Terry Gergich: Parks and Recreation

Jerry isn’t really hated by viewers, but he deserves a mention because the other characters constantly pick on him for no good reason. Throughout Parks and Recreation, nearly everyone at the office treats Jerry badly, even though he’s a genuinely kind and sweet family man with a surprisingly stable home life. He’s married, has three wonderful daughters, and is well-liked by most people in his town.

The humor surrounding his character is built on a strong irony – it’s funny to watch, but also a bit sad, because the negativity he receives doesn’t match his actions. He’s often compared to Toby from The Office, who faced similar unfair treatment. However, this version of the joke doesn’t really highlight the flaws of other characters in a compelling way; everyone simply treats him badly in the same way. Whether or not this reflects real office life, the constant negativity directed at him can be difficult to watch, and even the actor Chris Pratt felt some of the jokes went too far.

3) Kimmy Gibbler: Full House

For many people who grew up in the ’90s, Kimmy Gibbler was the ultimate quirky and often irritating best friend. She was known for being loud, wearing outrageous clothes, and just showing up at people’s houses without being asked! Despite all that, Kimmy was a truly loyal, funny, and supportive friend to DJ throughout all the ups and downs of middle and high school. No matter what was going on, you could always count on Kimmy to be there.

Looking closer, many of Kimmy’s seemingly frustrating behaviors seem to be ways she dealt with a difficult childhood. She faced constant criticism from Stephanie, was largely ignored by Danny, and was even kicked out of the house by Jesse for a harmless prank. Despite this, she persevered. Now, it’s clear she was likely a misunderstood and awkward teenager, and she appeared on television at a time when people didn’t really understand or talk about mental health or differences in how people think and behave.

2) Karen Filippelli: The Office

A lot of viewers of The Office disliked Karen Filippelli (Rashida Jones) because she came between Jim and Pam’s relationship. However, if you look at Karen as her own character, she was intelligent, driven, funny, and well-adjusted. In fact, at the time, she might have been a better match for Jim’s lifestyle than Pam was.

Karen wasn’t intended to be a villain, but she unfortunately arrived on the scene when fans were already heavily invested in Jim and Pam’s relationship. She was consistently kind and understanding, which made the negativity she received seem unfair. She made a big life change by moving to Scranton for Jim, built a life and friendships there, and was hurt when he emotionally withdrew without explanation. Even after the breakup, she handled things with grace and moved on to a better situation. Many viewers felt she was a refreshing character and deserved more understanding than she got.

1) Ted Mosby: How I Met Your Mother

A popular opinion online is that a large number – around 68% – of viewers dislike Ted Mosby, the main character from How I Met Your Mother. People often describe him with negative terms like pretentious, obsessive, and overly romantic. While some of these criticisms might be fair, it’s interesting that the show’s fans seem to love Barney Stinson, despite him being far more manipulative and problematic. The difference is that Barney is seen as a comedic character, so his flaws are more easily forgiven. Ted, as the relatable lead, is held to a much higher standard, making him an easy target for criticism.

It’s understandable to appreciate Barney for his humor, but many fans genuinely wanted him to end up with Robin. While Ted could be overly sentimental and had his issues with Robin, he was generally a good person simply looking for love in New York City. Barney, on the other hand, was working on changing his womanizing ways. And honestly, if Ted were always perfect, How I Met Your Mother would be a pretty dull show – the same is true for many other shows. Though hopeless romantics aren’t always popular, Ted served as a relatable center for the rest of the characters. Despite a disappointing final season, Ted Mosby largely made How I Met Your Mother a very enjoyable series.

What sitcom character do you think gets the most unfair hate? Share your thoughts in the comments and join the discussion on the ComicBook Forum!

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2025-12-14 04:12