# Can one cast member ruin a TV show for you? **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Created:** [March 25, 2016, 1:21am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-one-cast-member-ruin-a-tv-show-for-you/750079 "2016-03-25T01:21:31Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 8
**Author:** ![Omega\_Glory](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/o/7c8e57/32.png) [@Omega\_Glory](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Omega_Glory)\ **Post date:** [July 8, 2016, 5:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-one-cast-member-ruin-a-tv-show-for-you/750079/141 "2016-07-08T17:12:48Z")
Juliette on Grimm. Bad character played by a mediocre actress. ---
**Author:** ![Johanna](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/johanna/32/8318_2.png) [@Johanna](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Johanna)\ **Post date:** [July 8, 2016, 11:16pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-one-cast-member-ruin-a-tv-show-for-you/750079/142 "2016-07-08T23:16:38Z")
> [@CaptMurdock](#): > > I think you’re confusing that with Willow’s magic addiction (and _ **don’t** _ get me started on how stupidly they handled _that.)_ Right, however they handled it, I misremembered that Willow had the monkey while Dawn was along for the ride a.k.a. corrupting the morals of a minor plus hurting her in a car crash. > [@](#): > > During her initial season, where she found out she wasn’t “real,” the character worked well, and Michelle T did a good job with it. After that whole storyline was over, the writers just didn’t know what to do with her. The same thing happened with the character of Riley - once the Initiative storyline was done, he was in limbo. :smack: It’s part and parcel of how Whedon is so overrated. He’ll sacrifice character development and logic for cheap plot twists. I didn’t see any problem them. Riley did what he was there to do and bowed out at the right time. His parting appearance in Buffy’s dream with a suddenly human Adam was the cherry on top. I admit Dawn came close to ruining it for me at times. I found her attitude problem generally unbearable. It was a relief when she outgrew that phase! P.S. Whedon rules ---
**Author:** ![Greekfreak](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/c68b51/32.png) [@Greekfreak](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Greekfreak)\ **Post date:** [July 9, 2016, 2:04pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-one-cast-member-ruin-a-tv-show-for-you/750079/143 "2016-07-09T14:04:34Z")
My wife and I almost completely gave up on The Sopranos because of Edie Falco’s voice and her character. So that’s one. ---
**Author:** ![chorpler](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/chorpler/32/2888_2.png) [@chorpler](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/chorpler)\ **Post date:** [July 14, 2016, 12:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-one-cast-member-ruin-a-tv-show-for-you/750079/144 "2016-07-14T12:45:32Z")
> [@Superdude](#): > > Psych actually made several [references](http://www.slate.com/blogs/browbeat/2015/09/06/psych_makes_fun_of_the_mentalist_a_supercut_of_all_the_times_the_usa_show.html) as to how close to each other the premises actually are. I like to pretend that Patrick Jane on The Mentalist is just an older, world-weary Shawn Spencer, who accidentally got his wife Juliet and their daughter killed by taunting a serial killer on TV. ---
**Author:** ![wintertime](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/c68b51/32.png) [@wintertime](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/wintertime)\ **Post date:** [July 14, 2016, 1:06pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-one-cast-member-ruin-a-tv-show-for-you/750079/145 "2016-07-14T13:06:00Z")
> [@epbrown01](#): > > I had a character ruin TWO shows for me: Spike. He killed **Buffy** for me and I stopped watching **Angel** when he switched to that show. Ha, exactly. In my case, it has nothing at all to do with James Marsters, he is fantastic. And even Spike was a great character in small doses on both shows. But for some reason, the writers decided to let this character push others aside and absorb their storylines. On both shows, they damaged a grown ensemble, muddied the lore and put the melodramatic aspects into overdrive. ---
**Author:** ![Siam\_Sam](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/d78d45/32.png) [@Siam\_Sam](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Siam_Sam)\ **Post date:** [July 15, 2016, 1:01am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-one-cast-member-ruin-a-tv-show-for-you/750079/146 "2016-07-15T01:01:43Z")
> [@DaphneBlack](#): > > It didn’t quite ruin the show for me, I kept watching, but the character of Brenda’s brother (Billy?) was absolutely insufferable. I don’t mind insufferable relatives in TV shows, because it seems normal. Who doesn’t have a uniquely insufferable relative? That’s one of the things I like about _The Sopranos_ – the son was the biggest doofus in the world, but it shows that hey, even mafiosi have idiot kids just like regular people. ---
**Author:** ![OffByOne](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/o/45deac/32.png) [@OffByOne](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/OffByOne)\ **Post date:** [July 18, 2016, 3:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-one-cast-member-ruin-a-tv-show-for-you/750079/147 "2016-07-18T15:51:54Z")
> [@Soylent\_Juicy](#): > > I enjoyed “Six Feet Under” until Brenda came along. I couldn’t stand her and don’t know why. I stopped watching because of that character and actress. You got three minutes deep into SFU before you turned it off? ---
**Author:** ![Gyrate](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/gyrate/32/3588_2.png) [@Gyrate](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Gyrate)\ **Post date:** [July 18, 2016, 4:20pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-one-cast-member-ruin-a-tv-show-for-you/750079/148 "2016-07-18T16:20:36Z")
Elisha Cuthbert as whiny and horrible Kim Bauer. It was bad enough that they killed off the wrong member of the family at the end of season 1 but then there was that whole detour into the bomb shelter the next season and I just couldn’t take any more Kim. To be fair, it’s probably the character I hated more than the actress. I rather liked her in _Happy Endings_. ---
**Author:** ![bump](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/7c8e57/32.png) [@bump](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/bump)\ **Post date:** [July 18, 2016, 7:19pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-one-cast-member-ruin-a-tv-show-for-you/750079/149 "2016-07-18T19:19:38Z")
> [@Omega\_Glory](#): > > Juliette on Grimm. Bad character played by a mediocre actress. Yeah, I was really kind of disappointed at the beginning of the 5th season, and at the very end of the 5th. They had two chances, and didn’t take either one. Still, she’s easy on the eyes, so at least it’s something other than looking at Renard, Hank, Nick and Wu the whole time. ---
**Author:** ![Soylent\_Juicy](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/82dd89/32.png) [@Soylent\_Juicy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Soylent_Juicy)\ **Post date:** [July 18, 2016, 8:10pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-one-cast-member-ruin-a-tv-show-for-you/750079/150 "2016-07-18T20:10:55Z")
> [@DaphneBlack](#): > > It didn’t quite ruin the show for me, I kept watching, but the character of Brenda’s brother (Billy?) was absolutely insufferable. I hear ya. Their whole storyline put me off. For all those who are razzing me because Brenda was there since Day 1: I watched a number of episodes before I realized I just couldn’t stand her character. Good Lord you guys are picky sometimes. More recent TV show: I’m getting sick of Jason Patric in Wayward Pines Season 2. I can’t be the only one who thinks his acting is dull and wooden. ---
**Author:** ![DrumBum](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/e79b87/32.png) [@DrumBum](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DrumBum)\ **Post date:** [July 18, 2016, 8:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-one-cast-member-ruin-a-tv-show-for-you/750079/151 "2016-07-18T20:34:07Z")
> [@Morbo](#): > > Showtime seems to have this problem with a bunch of their shows. > > Already mentioned that I completely agree with: > **The sister from Dexter** > John Voight from Ray Donovan > Also: > Malin Akerman, **Billions** - she just can’t act, not helped by having to act against Damian Lewis and Paul Giamatti > Ruth Wilson, **The Affair** - I have no idea how she was nominated for an Emmy; she is terrible. Of course, everyone else is just OK compared to Maura Tierney, who acts circles around everyone. > Libby from **Masters of Sex** - just kinda vacant > Miranda Otto from the last season of **Homeland** - another weird acting performance - I never figured out what her motivation was supposed to be, even after they spelled it out for me > > Child actors who are clearly struggling with that acting thing: Carl Gallagher from **Shameless** , but especially Manny from **Modern Family** - ugh. We used to have a drinking game with her. Every time she said “fuck” we took a shot of whisky, and we were usually passed out before the end of the shoe. ---
**Author:** ![Jennshark](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/8e8cbc/32.png) [@Jennshark](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jennshark)\ **Post date:** [July 18, 2016, 10:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-one-cast-member-ruin-a-tv-show-for-you/750079/152 "2016-07-18T22:24:01Z")
Oh.My.Kraken! We’ve been binge watching “Sons of Anarchy” (we’re to mid-season three) and I hate hate **HATE** “Doctor” Tara Knowles. What a whiny, despicable, pouty, one-note character; how the hell did such a nimrod get through medical school? :mad: If wife wasn’t watching with me I’d FF through any scene this chick is in. I keep hoping the Mayans/Aryan Brotherhood/Someone would take her out in an unusually gruesome manner. She is just awful. Triple-dog agree on Dexter’s sister; she’s a central reason, along with the pointless gore after two seasons, I quit watching. I also dislike Abby Donovan (who, oddly, is also in SOA and plays a pretty good role as a Belfast chick. I also found out that she is actually Irish – explains her sometimes weird Boston accent in Ray Donovan). ---
**Author:** ![Jennshark](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/8e8cbc/32.png) [@Jennshark](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jennshark)\ **Post date:** [July 18, 2016, 10:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-one-cast-member-ruin-a-tv-show-for-you/750079/153 "2016-07-18T22:30:19Z")
A bit off the TV track . . . Everyone told me how great _Birdman_ was, but I hated it even though it’s exactly the kind of weird-ish movie I usually like. I decided my central issue was with his whiny, pouty, entitled, empty-headed druggie daughter. So, I fast-forwarded through all of her scenes and really enjoyed the film! ---
**Author:** ![bleach](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bleach/32/3106_2.png) [@bleach](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/bleach)\ **Post date:** [July 25, 2016, 4:04am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-one-cast-member-ruin-a-tv-show-for-you/750079/154 "2016-07-25T04:04:50Z")
> [@Jennshark](#): > > Triple-dog agree on Dexter’s sister; she’s a central reason, along with the pointless gore after two seasons, I quit watching. I suspect that Jennifer Carpenter (actress playing Dexter’s sister, Deb) used Jeff Lindsay’s Dexter novels for guidance for her role. Deb Morgan in the novels is (IMO) more irritating and one-dimensional than Deb Morgan in the series, if you can believe that. ---
**Author:** ![TBG](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/c89c15/32.png) [@TBG](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/TBG)\ **Post date:** [July 27, 2016, 12:38am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-one-cast-member-ruin-a-tv-show-for-you/750079/155 "2016-07-27T00:38:52Z")
I wonder if any of the Deb haters watched the actress on Limitless and if they found her more palatable there. ---
**Author:** ![Imasquare](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/i/5f9b8f/32.png) [@Imasquare](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Imasquare)\ **Post date:** [August 2, 2016, 8:32am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-one-cast-member-ruin-a-tv-show-for-you/750079/156 "2016-08-02T08:32:40Z")
I used to love Six Feet Under until Brenda became prominent. I’m not sure if it’s the actor who plays her or something about the character but I cannot stand to watch any scene that features Brenda. Or her ‘brother’ for that matter. It ruined the show for me and I stopped watching. ---
**Author:** ![TYphoonSignal8](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/e99b99/32.png) [@TYphoonSignal8](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/TYphoonSignal8)\ **Post date:** [August 2, 2016, 10:01am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-one-cast-member-ruin-a-tv-show-for-you/750079/157 "2016-08-02T10:01:29Z")
Episodes. I know Matt Le Blanc is meant to be annoying and facile, playing a sleazy version of himself. He just does too good a job of it. ---
**Author:** ![digs](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/digs/32/14889_2.png) [@digs](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/digs)\ **Post date:** [August 2, 2016, 2:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-one-cast-member-ruin-a-tv-show-for-you/750079/158 "2016-08-02T14:42:52Z")
> [@Infovore](#): > > Gilligan. I hated how he always bumbled around and interfered with everyone’s plans. Hello? We have Spoiler Boxes for a reason! And from that era, I think my trust issues stem from the adults switching Darrens on Bewitched, and assuming we wouldn’t notice. Dick York (and Diana Rigg) for me! ---
**Author:** ![Count\_Blucher](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/c5a1d2/32.png) [@Count\_Blucher](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Count_Blucher)\ **Post date:** [August 2, 2016, 3:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-one-cast-member-ruin-a-tv-show-for-you/750079/159 "2016-08-02T15:54:46Z")
**Ted McGinley** for ‘Married with Children’. **Jaime Kennedy** for “Ghost Whisperer”. Wasn’t much of a plot, but ‘Possum Teeth’ sucked on ice. **Trevor Noah** of “The Daily Show”. **Jeffrey Donovan** of “Burn Notice” ~Was there a show ever made that cast David Spade that he Didn’t Kill?~ Both **Belzer** & **Meloni** on “L&O:SVU” **Hasselbeck** on ‘The View’ - You literally couldn’t cook with the show on in your kitchen when she was a panelist, because while she was on, you kept wanting to throw your chopped vegetables at the TV. **Jon Taffer** on “Bar Rescue” - You want to save your bar? Hire enough Bouncers to keep that loud mouth away from your staff. **Thomas Gibson** , ‘Criminal Minds’. Cross Reanimator and a Ken Doll and you come close to his acting style. So stiff, he should be afraid to be around the cast of “The Walking Dead”. ~“Who was your favorite witch on Charmed?” “Miss Andry?” \*Ding!\*\*Ding!\*_Ding!_ “Winner…! Winner…!” Save David McCallum, Save Pauley Perrette, Save Sean Murray… but for the Love of Og, Clean Slate the rest of NCIS. ~“Remember when 20/20 and Dateline actually had stories instead of long drawn-out murder recaps where you know the ending and are dragged through the proof like a bad Geometry class in High School?” “Not in this century, no…”~ ---
**Author:** ![SciFiSam](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/47e85d/32.png) [@SciFiSam](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/SciFiSam)\ **Post date:** [August 3, 2016, 10:03am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-one-cast-member-ruin-a-tv-show-for-you/750079/160 "2016-08-03T10:03:37Z")
I loved Deborah on Dexter and so did most of my friends, so it’s interesting to see that so many people also disliked her. I guess she was a marmite character - love her or hate her but not much in between, though, this being the internet, I’m sure someone will soon come along and say they were meh about her. 😃 > [@Eclipse\_Chaser](#): > > Neelix. Yup. These days, if I see an episode of Voyager on TV, I look up the descriptionto check if Neelix is prominent. Often he’s still there, saying “Mr Vulcan,” the bigoted bastard. I actually have his autograph because it was given away for free in the goody bag at a Star Trek con I went to. All the other actors required you to at least queue up, even a woman who was in a single episode in the sixties and has been living off the convention income ever since. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-one-cast-member-ruin-a-tv-show-for-you/750079.md?page=7) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-one-cast-member-ruin-a-tv-show-for-you/750079.md?page=9)