# Hot characters who are nonetheless too odd (or outright nuts) to date. **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Created:** [November 2, 2010, 8:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/hot-characters-who-are-nonetheless-too-odd-or-outright-nuts-to-date/559248 "2010-11-02T20:28:58Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 8
**Author:** ![Tom\_Scud](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/f08c70/32.png) [@Tom\_Scud](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Tom_Scud)\ **Post date:** [November 5, 2010, 7:00pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/hot-characters-who-are-nonetheless-too-odd-or-outright-nuts-to-date/559248/141 "2010-11-05T19:00:54Z")
> [@Chronos](#): > > I’m surprised that it took so long to mention River Tam (and even then, not by name). River Tam was who I thought of first; I then decided that to be fair I should list off the other Whedon characters who qualified; the list grew till I decided that “every Joss Whedon character” would be simpler. (I’m happy to back that off to “most of Joss Whedon’s characters” though I think at least four of Skald’s “dateable” characters wouldn’t qualify in my book.) ---
**Author:** ![shijinn](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/cc9497/32.png) [@shijinn](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/shijinn)\ **Post date:** [November 5, 2010, 7:01pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/hot-characters-who-are-nonetheless-too-odd-or-outright-nuts-to-date/559248/142 "2010-11-05T19:01:39Z")
> [@jackdavinci](#): > > The obvious female examples would seem to be Anya/BTVS, Starbuck/BSG, Robin/HIMYM… what’s wrong with Robin 😕 ---
**Author:** ![The\_Weird\_One](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/7bcc69/32.png) [@The\_Weird\_One](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/The_Weird_One)\ **Post date:** [November 5, 2010, 7:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/hot-characters-who-are-nonetheless-too-odd-or-outright-nuts-to-date/559248/143 "2010-11-05T19:13:40Z")
> [@Skald\_the\_Rhymer](#): > > You just insulted Peggy Olsen. I’ll be needing you to take that back. Wait, what? I didn’t mention Peggy, or any of the other women (except Betty). I thought about saying that I would find most of the women on Mad Men quite datable, but this thread isn’t about who we _would_ date. ETA: It’s my impression that Peggy finds most of the men on Mad Men undatable, too, for the same reason I do. She may wish that Don had at least tried to hit on her, but in my mind, she’d have the good sense to take the ego bump and then turn him down. ---
**Author:** ![Skald\_the\_Rhymer](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/ecccb3/32.png) [@Skald\_the\_Rhymer](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Skald_the_Rhymer)\ **Post date:** [November 5, 2010, 7:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/hot-characters-who-are-nonetheless-too-odd-or-outright-nuts-to-date/559248/144 "2010-11-05T19:48:08Z")
> [@The\_Weird\_One](#): > > Wait, what? I didn’t mention Peggy, or any of the other women (except Betty). I thought about saying that I would find most of the women on Mad Men quite datable, but this thread isn’t about who we _would_ date. > > ETA: It’s my impression that Peggy finds most of the men on Mad Men undatable, too, for the same reason I do. She may wish that Don had at least tried to hit on her, but in my mind, she’d have the good sense to take the ego bump and then turn him down. Looking over your post I see you did write “most of the men on Mad Men.” I’ll call off the hamsters. ETA: It’s not so much that Peggy wanted to sleep with Don, as it is that she’s vaguely insulted that he didn’t hit on her given his willingness to boff two secretaries this season. It was one thing when she thought he had principles. ---
**Author:** ![Chronos](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/chronos/32/134_2.png) [@Chronos](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Chronos)\ **Post date:** [November 5, 2010, 9:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/hot-characters-who-are-nonetheless-too-odd-or-outright-nuts-to-date/559248/145 "2010-11-05T21:21:42Z")
> [@](#): > > River: “I can kill you with my brain.” > > Me: “Yes, honey. How’s dinner coming?” And then she’ll either kill us all, or rub soup in her hair. ---
**Author:** ![WhyNot](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/c77e96/32.png) [@WhyNot](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/WhyNot)\ **Post date:** [November 5, 2010, 9:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/hot-characters-who-are-nonetheless-too-odd-or-outright-nuts-to-date/559248/146 "2010-11-05T21:33:02Z")
> [@Chronos](#): > > And then she’ll either kill us all, or rub soup in her hair. Would that be Tam Yum soup? ---
**Author:** ![wintertime](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/c68b51/32.png) [@wintertime](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/wintertime)\ **Post date:** [November 5, 2010, 10:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/hot-characters-who-are-nonetheless-too-odd-or-outright-nuts-to-date/559248/147 "2010-11-05T22:55:09Z")
> [@tr0psn4j](#): > > Anya was totally datable! I can live with the brutal honesty. Quoted before by Lemur but deserves a second mention. How can you not want to date a girl who comes up with sentences like .. > [@](#): > > “The annoying virgin has a point!” > > “Why can’t you just masturbate like the rest of us?” > > Giles: “… I have a friend visiting.” > Anya: “You mean an orgasm friend?” > Giles: “Yes, that’s exactly the most appalling thing you could have said.” > > “I like you. You’re funny, and you’re nicely shaped. And frankly, it’s ludicrous to have these interlocking bodies and not… interlock. Please remove your clothing now.” > > Anya: “Oh, crap. Look at this! Now I’m burdened with a husband and several tiny pink children, more cash than I can reasonably manage…” > Xander: “That means you’re winning.” > Anya: “Really?” > Xander: “Yes. Cash equals good.” > Anya: “Oh! I’m so pleased! Can I trade in the children for more cash?” ---
**Author:** ![Chronos](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/chronos/32/134_2.png) [@Chronos](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Chronos)\ **Post date:** [November 6, 2010, 12:26am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/hot-characters-who-are-nonetheless-too-odd-or-outright-nuts-to-date/559248/148 "2010-11-06T00:26:46Z")
Wow, maybe I do need to watch Buffy, after all. I _like_ frank honesty. ---
**Author:** ![BrotherCadfael](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/977dab/32.png) [@BrotherCadfael](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BrotherCadfael)\ **Post date:** [November 6, 2010, 12:44am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/hot-characters-who-are-nonetheless-too-odd-or-outright-nuts-to-date/559248/149 "2010-11-06T00:44:09Z")
> [@Skald\_the\_Rhymer](#): > > I really don’t think inlcuding Anya here is fair, but then I never cared for the way she got treated. I watched “The Body” yesterday, for instance, and Willow’s unfair and unkind treatment of her was egregious. I’d give Will a pass because she was grieving if it were not for the way treats Anya overall. From _Triangle_: Buffy: [Anya] dated a _troll_? Willow: And we’re, what, surprised by this? Willow: Distract him! Piss him off! Anya: I don’t know how! Willow: Anya, I have faith in you. There is _no one_ you can’t piss off! Anya: There are many humans who are stranger than me! Willow: Uh huh. Well, unless I’m really wrong about Crazy Larry down at the bus stop, he’s probably not gonna turn Xander into a troll. [URL=“[Quotes - Triangle - BuffyGuide.com](http://www.buffyguide.com/episodes/triangle/trianglequotes.shtml#ixzz14SVJnJgN)”] ---
**Author:** ![Kent\_Clark](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kent_clark/32/105_2.png) [@Kent\_Clark](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Kent_Clark)\ **Post date:** [November 6, 2010, 12:57am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/hot-characters-who-are-nonetheless-too-odd-or-outright-nuts-to-date/559248/150 "2010-11-06T00:57:00Z")
> [@shijinn](#): > > what’s wrong with Robin 😕 I’ll take this one. Anyone who can have passionate, serious relationships with both Ted and Barney is not someone who is ready to have a long-term relationship. And by long-term, I mean past a first date. ---
**Author:** ![Mr.Excellent](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/f19dbf/32.png) [@Mr.Excellent](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mr.Excellent)\ **Post date:** [November 6, 2010, 2:49am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/hot-characters-who-are-nonetheless-too-odd-or-outright-nuts-to-date/559248/151 "2010-11-06T02:49:35Z")
> [@Skald\_the\_Rhymer](#): > > I really don’t think inlcuding Anya here is fair, but then I never cared for the way she got treated. I watched “The Body” yesterday, for instance, and Willow’s unfair and unkind treatment of her was egregious. I’d give Will a pass because she was grieving if it were not for the way treats Anya overall. Jealousy, methinks. Willow never got over Xander entirely, “gay now” or no. ---
**Author:** ![The\_Controvert](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/dec6dc/32.png) [@The\_Controvert](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/The_Controvert)\ **Post date:** [November 6, 2010, 3:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/hot-characters-who-are-nonetheless-too-odd-or-outright-nuts-to-date/559248/152 "2010-11-06T15:26:55Z")
> [@Superfluous\_Parentheses](#): > > > [@The\_Controvert](#): > > > > The Human Centipede. > > 😕:eek: So then, not too odd to date? 😃 ---
**Author:** ![Skald\_the\_Rhymer](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/ecccb3/32.png) [@Skald\_the\_Rhymer](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Skald_the_Rhymer)\ **Post date:** [November 6, 2010, 8:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/hot-characters-who-are-nonetheless-too-odd-or-outright-nuts-to-date/559248/153 "2010-11-06T20:08:19Z")
> [@Mr.Excellent](#): > > Jealousy, methinks. Willow never got over Xander entirely, “gay now” or no. Quite so. I seem to recall him once saying that smart girls were hot, and her complaining – IN FRONT OF TARA – that she wished he’d have figured that out in 10th grade. ---
**Author:** ![Andy\_L](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/c67d28/32.png) [@Andy\_L](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Andy_L)\ **Post date:** [November 6, 2010, 8:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/hot-characters-who-are-nonetheless-too-odd-or-outright-nuts-to-date/559248/154 "2010-11-06T20:29:58Z")
> [@Skald\_the\_Rhymer](#): > > Quite so. I seem to recall him once saying that smart girls were hot, and her complaining – IN FRONT OF TARA – that she wished he’d have figured that out in 10th grade. That brings up my problem with Kennedy as a love interest for Willow; Tara was good/interesting for Willow because Willow spent most of her life being the vulnerable one, who could be devastated by cruel or even thoughtless words - and never learned that she herself could hurt other people with thoughtless words or deeds. Tara gave Willow the chance to grow by learning that she needed to take effort to avoid hurting other peoples’ feelings (witness how the argument in with Tara “Tough Love” went) - whereas it’s hard for me to imagine Kennedy being hurt by anything Willow said. ---
**Author:** ![Skald\_the\_Rhymer](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/ecccb3/32.png) [@Skald\_the\_Rhymer](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Skald_the_Rhymer)\ **Post date:** [November 6, 2010, 8:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/hot-characters-who-are-nonetheless-too-odd-or-outright-nuts-to-date/559248/155 "2010-11-06T20:36:36Z")
> [@Andy\_L](#): > > That brings up my problem with Kennedy as a love interest for Willow; Tara was good/interesting for Willow because Willow spent most of her life being the vulnerable one, who could be devastated by cruel or even thoughtless words - and never \*\*learned \*\*that she herself could hurt other people with thoughtless words or deeds. Tara gave Willow the chance to grow by learning that she needed to take effort to avoid hurting other peoples’ feelings (witness how the argument in with Tara “Tough Love” went) - whereas it’s hard for me to imagine Kennedy being hurt by anything Willow said. (bolding mine) I think you mean “never learned to care.” Willow knew she was being hurtful to Anya; she simply didn’t care, partly because she thought Anya’s past justified it and partly because, as **Mr. Excellent** observed, she was jealous of Anya and wanted to hurt her. Willow was always a hottie, though she didn’t seem to realize it, and once she got some self-confidence she was quite charming. But she wasn’t nice – just good at counterfeiting it. ETA: As for Kennedy as a love interest – my problem was simply that she wasn’t remotely likeable, whereas Tara was extremely likeable. ---
**Author:** ![Andy\_L](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/c67d28/32.png) [@Andy\_L](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Andy_L)\ **Post date:** [November 6, 2010, 8:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/hot-characters-who-are-nonetheless-too-odd-or-outright-nuts-to-date/559248/156 "2010-11-06T20:40:20Z")
> [@Skald\_the\_Rhymer](#): > > (bolding mine) > > I think you mean “never learned to care.” Willow knew she was being hurtful to Anya; she simply didn’t care, partly because she thought Anya’s past justified it and partly because, as **Mr. Excellent** observed, she was jealous of Anya and wanted to hurt her. > > Willow was always a hottie, though she didn’t seem to realize it, and once she got some self-confidence she was quite charming. But she wasn’t nice – just good at counterfeiting it. > > ETA: As for Kennedy as a love interest – my problem was simply that she wasn’t remotely likeable, whereas Tara was extremely likeable. Well, I’m thinking about her treatment of Tara, where I think I can assume she did care, but didn’t realize how vulnerable Tara was (because Willow had always been the most vulnerable person in the room, until Tara came along). With Anya, yeah, she didn’t care, because of the reasons you and Mr. Excellent have described. ---
**Author:** ![Skald\_the\_Rhymer](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/ecccb3/32.png) [@Skald\_the\_Rhymer](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Skald_the_Rhymer)\ **Post date:** [November 6, 2010, 8:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/hot-characters-who-are-nonetheless-too-odd-or-outright-nuts-to-date/559248/157 "2010-11-06T20:44:26Z")
> [@Andy\_L](#): > > Well, I’m thinking about her treatment of Tara, where I think I can assume she did care, but didn’t realize how vulnerable Tara was (because Willow had always been the most vulnerable person in the room, until Tara came along). With Anya, yeah, she didn’t care, because of the reasons you and Mr. Excellent have described. As I think on it, I think Willow is the prototype for the hot-but-undateable character, even more so than Greg House or River Tam. Unlike the latter she isn’t nuts, and unlikek the former she isn’t honest about her bad behavior or the reasons for it. Admittedly part of that is Whedon _et al_ losing their nerve in the midst of the Dark Willow storyline–but as I’ve opined before, she was evil a long time before Tara died. ---
**Author:** ![Andy\_L](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/c67d28/32.png) [@Andy\_L](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Andy_L)\ **Post date:** [November 6, 2010, 8:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/hot-characters-who-are-nonetheless-too-odd-or-outright-nuts-to-date/559248/158 "2010-11-06T20:50:32Z")
> [@Skald\_the\_Rhymer](#): > > As I think on it, I think Willow is the prototype for the hot-but-undateable character, even more so than Greg House or River Tam. Unlike the latter she isn’t nuts, and unlikek the former she isn’t honest about her bad behavior or the reasons for it. Admittedly part of that is Whedon _et al_ losing their nerve in the midst of the Dark Willow storyline–but as I’ve opined before, she was evil a long time before Tara died. Absolutely - as far back as Oz and the werewolf girl or the delusting spell (I forget which was first), Willow showed a disturbing tendency to look for shortcuts in trying to solve her problems; tying that into a drug analogy was deeply disappointing. ---
**Author:** ![lisacurl](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/41988e/32.png) [@lisacurl](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/lisacurl)\ **Post date:** [November 7, 2010, 1:50am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/hot-characters-who-are-nonetheless-too-odd-or-outright-nuts-to-date/559248/159 "2010-11-07T01:50:33Z")
The rumor is that Whedon didn’t lose his nerve, but that Ms. Hannigan was having a conniption fit about Willow’s dark turn. I think they spun it as a drug addiction to appease her. ---
**Author:** ![GoodOmens](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/d26b3c/32.png) [@GoodOmens](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/GoodOmens)\ **Post date:** [November 7, 2010, 11:43am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/hot-characters-who-are-nonetheless-too-odd-or-outright-nuts-to-date/559248/160 "2010-11-07T11:43:56Z")
There are a few wrestlers who come to mind here. Victoria (now Tara) is a prime example–the body of a goddess but a whole raft full of psycho. Daffney, same thing. Layla and Michelle McCool are arrogant little so-and-so’s who love themselves way too much. Lita would eventually cheat on you with your old friend, and Beth Phoenix would just end up killing you with snoo-snoo accidentally. Of course, I’m just talking about their characters here. Lisa Marie Varon (who plays Victoria/Tara) is by all accounts a really cool, smart, friendly woman, and people seem to have nothing bad to say about Elizabeth Carolan (this one you can probably figure out). [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/hot-characters-who-are-nonetheless-too-odd-or-outright-nuts-to-date/559248.md?page=7) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/hot-characters-who-are-nonetheless-too-odd-or-outright-nuts-to-date/559248.md?page=9)