10 Iconic Characters Who Were Gradually RUINED

Top 10 Iconic Characters Who Were Gradually RUINED

Welcome to WatchMojo, and today were counting down our picks for the once loved TV characters whose development over time led to many viewers coming to dislike them.

#10: Ted MosbyHow I Met Your Mother (2005-14)

He may be the protagonist of this sitcom, but Teds nine season long story about how he first met his kids mom sours viewers on the man himself over time. Ted continually pursues shallow relationships with women who are objectively wrong for him. His obsession with Robin in particular is arguably a detriment to the entire show. His sanctimonious attitude towards his friend Barneys promiscuity, while engaging in most of the same behavior, as well as his general pretentiousness are also rather irritating. Teds romance with the titular mother is admittedly sweet, once the show gets around to it, but by then, Ted lived up to his Schmosby nickname.

#9: Izzie StevensGreys Anatomy (2005-)

Given how long its been running, you could argue that many Greys Anatomy characters get worse over time. But few are as disliked as Izzie Stevens. Although initially popular for her humor and dedication to her patients, Izzie started to fall out of favor after a series of questionable storylines. Between violating the Hippocratic oath to save a patient, her ill-received relationship with her best friend George, and whatever the hell that ghost sex thing was, the writers really made some strange choices with her. Add in her increasingly condescending attitude, and its no surprise why fans, and even actress Katherine Heigl, came to dislike Izzie.

#8: Piper ChapmanOrange is the New Black (2013-19)

Its generally helpful to have a viewpoint character for audiences when depicting an unfamiliar environment. Piper Chapman fills this role wonderfully in the shows first season as the protagonist. However, as the series went on, Piper began to feel less and less relevant, as the ensemble of other characters proved more interesting and relatable. Plus, her toxic relationship with Alex and joining up with some white supremacists certainly did her no favors. Its like the writers just decided what to do with her at random. Even Pipers actress Taylor Schilling has admitted that her characters actions can feel arbitrary rather than intentional.

#7: Will SchuesterGlee (2009-15)

He may have gotten the Glee club together, but this teacher made fans significantly less gleeful over time. From his mediocre grasp of the subjects he teaches to how complacent he is about bullying in the school, Mr. Schue is really not a good teacher. His creepy level of involvement in his students lives, his blatant favoritism, and many of his song choices are also rather problematic. The show putting Will on a pedestal despite his many failings only makes them stand out more. Its no wonder everyone sided more with Sue over him in their ongoing feud.

#6: Rory GilmoreGilmore Girls (2000-07) & Gilmore Girls: A Year in the Life (2016)

Fans began this series loving the precocious Rory Gilmore and her witty banter with her friends and mother. However, after going off to college, Rory becomes downright insufferable. She engages in multiple affairs, steals a yacht, drops out of Yale, and takes everyone around her for granted. There are plenty of characters who believe their own hype out there, but Rorys continual entitlement and inability to learn from her mistakes makes her hard to watch for many. Even the revival nearly 10 years after the series finished didnt manage to improve Rory.

#5: Fiona GallagherShameless (2011-21)

Look, the whole Gallagher clan is honestly pretty terrible at one point or another. But we had such high hopes for Fiona. In the early seasons, shes often the lone voice of reason in the family, effectively raising her siblings in her parents places. However, while it could be argued that many of the other characters become better people, Fiona only gets worse - and unlike many of them, she knows better. Trying to stop the construction of a homeless shelter, leaving drugs out that her kid brother nearly overdoses on, and her absolutely disastrous romantic life are just a few things that bring Fiona down. And she tops it all off by walking out on her family!

#4: Bran StarkGame of Thrones (2011-19)

If you want to substitute Daenerys Targaryen for this entry in your head, wed understand. However, her downfall is a bit more abrupt. [xref] Bran, on the other hand, took years to become broken...figuratively speaking. Although Brans exploration of the more mystical side of Westeros proved interesting at first, his ascension to become the Three-Eyed Raven felt more like a descent. His monotone voice and complete lack of emotions left fans feeling disappointed by a once promising character. And by the time Tyrion claimed Bran should be king by virtue of having the best story, we could only scratch our heads and wonder what show hes been watching.

#3: Jax TellerSons of Anarchy (2008-14)

As the series protagonist, were initially rooting for Jax, as he grapples with his own morality and the violent lifestyle embraced by his motorcycle club. However, as Jax obtains more power in the club and experiences some heartbreaking losses, he embraces violence and revenge. His selfishness and need to put his idea of the club ahead of its actual members leaves him with few allies by the series end. While far from being the only TV antihero to become a full-on villain, Jaxs descent into darkness is also less satisfying than some others we could name. And forcing your ex to take drugs after she was able to stop using them? Thats just vile, dude.

#2: Sherlock HolmesSherlock (2010-17)

Theres an argument to be made that the show itself was ruined over time, and the titular character certainly suffered as well. Sherlock isnt exactly empathetic to begin with, as a self-described high functioning sociopath, yet he seemingly becomes more human over time, even if his deductions are increasingly ridiculous. But then, he continues to use, drug, manipulate, and recklessly endanger the people who care about him. And that wouldnt be so bad if there were some kind of consequences for his actions. But time and again, Sherlock is forgiven for everything he does to people. And while some fans are willing to forgive too, not all of us are.

#1: Dexter MorganDexter franchise (2006-)

Given that hes a psychopathic serial killer who hunts other killers, Dexter isnt exactly the best person to start with. However, his gradual discovery of his own humanity is compellingat least, at first. However, after his wifes death, the spark kind of went out of both Dexter and the show that bears his name. His strict code of killing only the deserving becomes far looser. Dexters attempts at finding human connection ring hollower. He and the show just seem to drift from one thing to the next. Even a revival and prequel spin-off havent managed to recapture that old magic for the character or the franchise.

Is there a TV character who got worse whose absence destroyed our list? Help make our next one better by telling us your picks in the comments!