Torchwood wasn’t that good to start with, but I could not get past Gwen at all. I’ve talked about her before, how the audience surrogate in this case just makes you want to brick her.
But even worse is a case like the series of Eddings books *The Elenium *, in which I love Sparhawk unto death but I cannot stand that sanctimonious little twat Flute/Aphrael. Every time she opens her damn mouth I want to shut it. Come to think of it, there’s not many female characters in the Eddings books I admire. Just Polenn and Velvet.
How about you guys? No need to justify your dislike if you don’t want to, but it’d be nice if you could!
My biggest problem with “Revolution” is Charlie. Snotty, immature, princess brat type who’s annoying enough in our actual society and would be a major liability in the world she actually lives in.
When I re-read the “Incarnations of Immortality” series, I skip over the fourth book because I hate the lead character so much. Same personality issues: arrogant snob (OK, so he actually is a prince, but apparently never bothered to learn that non-royalty are human beings with feelings too), and a bit on the immature side (in fairness, he grows up a bit, but never really loses the royal arrogance).
I watched exactly one and one half episodes of Dexter. I have enough annoying people in my life that I have to listen to; I saw no point in adding Dexter’s sister to the mix.
mmm
There was one character in The Hobbit that I found annoying. Gollum. I went on to read Lord of the Rings confident that that annoying Gollum character would not be in it.
Rosamund in George Eliot’s Middlemarch. I hated her so much I ended up skipping her chapters, even though the rest of the book was so enthralling and wonderfully written that I was sure I was missing a lot of excellent material. But I just wanted someone to stab her in the face, and when I flipped to the end and saw that she doesn’t get any kind of satisfying comeuppance, well…fuck that.
I second Gwen on Torchwood. Shrill, selfish harpy. Not only did she ruin that show for me, she ruined Welsh accents in general (because now they all make me think of her). I still haven’t watched the newest series yet, largely because of her.
Likewise:
Abby on NCIS: She’s cute as a button, but sanctimonious, helpless, and judgmental…and the goth thing has gone on for waaaaay too long.
Sookie on True Blood: There are so many ways in which that character annoys me! Funnily enough, though, she was the least annoying this past season – which was also one of the worst seasons.
And possibly Annie on Copper: I get that forcing a little girl into prostitution is going to damage her, but there’s no reason for her to be such a conniving, ungrateful bitch. Sunday’s episode left me wondering if she’s going to wind up ruining that show for me.
Can’t think of any other characters – literary or otherwise – who have annoyed me as much as the above.
I don’t care how fabulous A Confederacy of Dunces is supposed to be or how intriguing the foreword is, I cannot subject myself to any more than one chapter of Ignatius J. Reilly.
Azhure in Sara Douglass’ Wayfarer Redemption books. Took me…what, 6+ years? to finally go past the first book. I hated her from the moment she showed up and I still do. Mary Sue who broke up my ship!
Tara, True Blood. She’s bearable when she’s being badass, but when she’s sad or cranky I just want to punch her in the face.
Sheldon, from The Big Bang Theory and Sherlock from the BBC Sherlock. They are both clueless, socially stunted brats.
The cute, innocent little sister the main male character is always trying to save and keep pure. It’s a trope, not a specific character. Mostly an anime thing, but you get it a couple of times in fantasy stuff too.
Not a character so much as the actor, but I was appalled and disgusted that Shia leBouf got to play the part in the Fourth Indiana Jones. You know which part. He wasn’t worthy!