# Characters that ruin a work for you **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Created:** [September 19, 2012, 5:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/characters-that-ruin-a-work-for-you/635195 "2012-09-19T17:45:07Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Anaamika](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/5f9b8f/32.png) [@Anaamika](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Anaamika)\ **Post date:** [September 19, 2012, 5:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/characters-that-ruin-a-work-for-you/635195/1 "2012-09-19T17:45:07Z")
Could be books, TV, movies, anything. 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! ---
**Author:** ![Chimera](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/8e8cbc/32.png) [@Chimera](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Chimera)\ **Post date:** [September 19, 2012, 5:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/characters-that-ruin-a-work-for-you/635195/2 "2012-09-19T17:46:30Z")
Well, Jar Jar Binks is the obvious candidate, so we’ll get him out of the way right now. ---
**Author:** ![Seanette](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/seanette/32/9139_2.png) [@Seanette](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Seanette)\ **Post date:** [September 19, 2012, 6:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/characters-that-ruin-a-work-for-you/635195/3 "2012-09-19T18:14:30Z")
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). ---
**Author:** ![Inner\_Stickler](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/inner_stickler/32/318_2.png) [@Inner\_Stickler](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Inner_Stickler)\ **Post date:** [September 19, 2012, 6:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/characters-that-ruin-a-work-for-you/635195/4 "2012-09-19T18:23:42Z")
> [@Anaamika](#): > > Come to think of it, there’s not many female characters in the Eddings books I admire. Just Polenn and Velvet. I’m torn. I’m desperately curious what it is about Polgara that you detest but I may cry if my illusions are shattered. ---
**Author:** ![Mean\_Mr.Mustard](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mean_mr.mustard/32/3865_2.png) [@Mean\_Mr.Mustard](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mean_Mr.Mustard)\ **Post date:** [September 19, 2012, 6:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/characters-that-ruin-a-work-for-you/635195/5 "2012-09-19T18:28:36Z")
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 ---
**Author:** ![tdn](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/94ad74/32.png) [@tdn](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/tdn)\ **Post date:** [September 19, 2012, 6:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/characters-that-ruin-a-work-for-you/635195/6 "2012-09-19T18:33:05Z")
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. ---
**Author:** ![Gatopescado](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/gatopescado/32/5711_2.png) [@Gatopescado](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Gatopescado)\ **Post date:** [September 19, 2012, 6:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/characters-that-ruin-a-work-for-you/635195/7 "2012-09-19T18:34:56Z")
Sam Posey ruins Formula One coverage for me. ---
**Author:** ![Chimera](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/8e8cbc/32.png) [@Chimera](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Chimera)\ **Post date:** [September 19, 2012, 6:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/characters-that-ruin-a-work-for-you/635195/8 "2012-09-19T18:35:05Z")
Lol. **tdn** , I _almost_ cracked a joke in my earlier post about how LotR would have been so much better without that annoying Gollum character in it. ---
**Author:** ![lieu](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/c2a13f/32.png) [@lieu](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/lieu)\ **Post date:** [September 19, 2012, 6:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/characters-that-ruin-a-work-for-you/635195/9 "2012-09-19T18:39:46Z")
Ross in _Friends_. Okay, the spineless, whiney, droopyfaced schmuck gets _cue angel music_ Rachel? I’m outta here. ---
**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:** [September 19, 2012, 7:00pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/characters-that-ruin-a-work-for-you/635195/10 "2012-09-19T19:00:02Z")
Since Jar-Jar Binks and Dexter’s Sister are already taken, I’ll have to go with: Lori on The Walking Dead - stupid twit. ---
**Author:** ![gallows\_fodder](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/8c91f0/32.png) [@gallows\_fodder](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/gallows_fodder)\ **Post date:** [September 19, 2012, 7:00pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/characters-that-ruin-a-work-for-you/635195/11 "2012-09-19T19:00:15Z")
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. ---
**Author:** ![Misnomer](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/misnomer/32/14897_2.png) [@Misnomer](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Misnomer)\ **Post date:** [September 19, 2012, 7:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/characters-that-ruin-a-work-for-you/635195/12 "2012-09-19T19:41:34Z")
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. ---
**Author:** ![Anaamika](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/5f9b8f/32.png) [@Anaamika](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Anaamika)\ **Post date:** [September 19, 2012, 7:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/characters-that-ruin-a-work-for-you/635195/13 "2012-09-19T19:42:44Z")
> [@Misnomer](#): > > 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: YES! And the Welsh accent really isn’t that bad, but every time I hear one I flinch. ---
**Author:** ![FordTaurusSHO94](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/f07891/32.png) [@FordTaurusSHO94](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/FordTaurusSHO94)\ **Post date:** [September 19, 2012, 7:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/characters-that-ruin-a-work-for-you/635195/14 "2012-09-19T19:46:36Z")
> [@Gatopescado](#): > > Sam Posey ruins Formula One coverage for me. On that note any Waltrip ruins NASCAR coverage for everyone. Bill Webber used to, but luckily he went on a drunken rampage in a hotel and was fired. ---
**Author:** ![Unauthorized\_Cinnamon](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/u/bc8723/32.png) [@Unauthorized\_Cinnamon](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Unauthorized_Cinnamon)\ **Post date:** [September 19, 2012, 7:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/characters-that-ruin-a-work-for-you/635195/15 "2012-09-19T19:55:25Z")
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**. ---
**Author:** ![kushiel](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/bbce88/32.png) [@kushiel](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kushiel)\ **Post date:** [September 19, 2012, 8:07pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/characters-that-ruin-a-work-for-you/635195/16 "2012-09-19T20:07:52Z")
**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. ---
**Author:** ![Anaamika](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/5f9b8f/32.png) [@Anaamika](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Anaamika)\ **Post date:** [September 19, 2012, 8:10pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/characters-that-ruin-a-work-for-you/635195/17 "2012-09-19T20:10:31Z")
> [@kushiel](#): > > **Sherlock** from the BBC Sherlock. They are both clueless, socially stunted brats. Pistols at dawn. IF YOU MAKE IT THAT FAR. I know people, you know. ---
**Author:** ![KneadToKnow](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kneadtoknow/32/3999_2.png) [@KneadToKnow](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/KneadToKnow)\ **Post date:** [September 19, 2012, 8:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/characters-that-ruin-a-work-for-you/635195/18 "2012-09-19T20:18:18Z")
The kid in _Shane_. Specifically, his voice. Oh Jebus, how I want to silence him forever. Seriously, I will never own this marvelous movie because I refuse to have that voice in my house. ---
**Author:** ![Anaamika](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/5f9b8f/32.png) [@Anaamika](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Anaamika)\ **Post date:** [September 19, 2012, 8:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/characters-that-ruin-a-work-for-you/635195/19 "2012-09-19T20:21:03Z")
> [@KneadToKnow](#): > > The kid in _Shane_. Specifically, his voice. Oh Jebus, how I want to silence him forever. 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! ---
**Author:** ![Typo\_Negative](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/typo_negative/32/484_2.png) [@Typo\_Negative](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Typo_Negative)\ **Post date:** [September 19, 2012, 8:22pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/characters-that-ruin-a-work-for-you/635195/20 "2012-09-19T20:22:17Z")
All the female characters on **NewsRoom**. Except Olivia Munn **swoon** [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/characters-that-ruin-a-work-for-you/635195.md?page=2)