Anything that can make or break a TV show has to be character kills. But for every beloved fictional character, we always get those ones who make us groan out loud every time they appear on the screen.
TV shows always make the mistake of killing off their best characters while keeping these most painfully frustrating ones still alive. Here are 10 TV characters so bad, they should’ve been killed off long ago.
10. Xavier Thorpe in ‘Wednesday‘
Starting off with someone relatively mild, Xavier Thorpe was never outright terrible. However, he never contributed anything significant to the show. And as the story progressed, he actually got more and more annoying.
Especially presenting him as the other romantic interest felt weird and forced. The chemistry truly never landed, and his character never connected with us. It honestly felt like a breath of fresh air when he didn’t return in season 2 so that the show could entirely focus on Wednesday.
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9. Alicent Hightower in ‘House of the Dragon‘
The conversation around Alicent Hightower’s character arc truly depends on which side of the fandom you are on. It is true that she is one of the most layered and complex female characters we have seen on television, and Olivia Cooke’s performance is just spectacular.
But for some others, she became deeply frustrating by the end of season 2. Much of the criticism is mostly on the way she keeps spiraling down to defend her son’s crown. Still, the complex confrontation between Alicent and Rhaenyra in the season 2 finale proved that the character remains an important part, and we are all excited to see where her arc goes in season 3.
8. Sarah Bunting in ‘Downton Abbey‘
Miss Bunting was clearly written to represent the changing social and political scenarios of the 1920s. She was the modern woman unwilling to bow to the aristocracy. As compelling as the character arc sounds, Sarah Bunting was just unbearable.
She did not come across as courageous but just unnecessarily rude, self-righteous, and arrogant. Instead of becoming a refreshing and modern perspective, she became one of the most disliked people on the whole show.
7. Roland Schitt in ‘Schitt’s Creek‘
‘Schitt’s Creek’ is one of the most clever comedy shows of all time, but Roland Schitt’s humor was inappropriate, cringy, gross, and just downright irritating. Much of that came from Chris Elliot’s performance, who nailed the portrayal to make the character even more infuriating.
But it must be acknowledged that Roland was deliberately made uncomfortable. He made viewers squirm constantly but also added a chaotic layer to the show.
6. Andy Bernard in ‘The Office‘
Initially, Andy Bernard was awkward but quirky and genuinely funny. Unfortunately, the later season completely botched his character arc. From season 7 onwards, his personality only spiraled into a smug and immature narcissist.
The writers completely stripped away Andy’s warmth and relatability. He wasn’t the character we once enjoyed. Instead, he was just exhausting to watch towards the end.
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5. Debbie Gallagher in ‘Shameless‘
In the show ‘Shameless’, many characters did many unjustified things. But Debbie’s transformation and character decline were truly uncalled for. She began as one of the sweetest and smartest of the Gallagher family.
But as the show progressed, her behaviors just crossed the line and became too difficult to defend. She constantly manipulated others to get what she wanted, lied without remorse, and made some deeply questionable decisions. These plot decisions just felt wrong and Debbie definitely deserved a better character arc.
4. Ross Geller in ‘Friends’
This one TV character, though iconic, remains a divisive figure in sitcom debates. It is true that he was lovable and deeply emotional. But there were times when he was endlessly irritating. The infamous “we were on a break” debate was only the tip of the iceberg.
He did many questionable things to his partners throughout the course of the show. Constantly whining when things didn’t go his way, struggling to support others emotionally, and becoming possessive and immature in relationships. Ross remains one of the most memorable TV characters of all time, but there were times when we just wanted him to calm down.
3. Owen Hunt in ‘Grey’s Anatomy‘
If you observe a little closely, you will realize that all Owen Hunt did in ‘Grey’s Anatomy’ was continuously scream at women who didn’t agree with him. He kept making reckless decisions and repeatedly hurting characters like Cristina and Teddy.
He was manipulative, unpredictable, and deeply unprofessional during high-stakes situations. But the worst was that he just became plain boring after a while. Finally, he left the show in season 22, but that was long overdue.
2. Criston Cole in ‘House of the Dragon‘
Few recent TV characters have inspired as much frustration as Ser Criston Cole. He was hypocritical, irrational, and just bitter, spending all his time blaming others for problems he created himself.
The only substance he brought to the show was his fighting ability and the way he commanded the army. But even those faded away when all he did was bully people. His increasingly toxic alliance with Alicent and constant resentment towards Rhaenyra were just too infuriating. Now, we just want to see his downfall in true ‘House of the Dragon’ manners.
1. Joffrey Baratheon in ‘Game of Thrones‘
No list of unbearable TV characters can feel complete without Joffrey Baratheon. He became the face of pure hatred for an entire generation of television viewers. Every time he appeared, there was a guaranteed rise in blood pressure levels.
He was cruel, cowardly, and sadistic, abusing everyone around him, ruling through fear, and taking pleasure in causing suffering to others. Yet, it can’t go unremarked that the character was truly well-written, and his eventual death was one of the most satisfying moments in television history.
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