The Unforgivable 7: The Most Hated TV Characters Of All Time And 2024's New Villains

Every great television show needs a villain, a moral foil, or at least a deeply flawed protagonist to drive the narrative, but sometimes, a character transcends mere plot device to become a lightning rod for genuine, passionate viewer hatred. As of December 2025, the landscape of television antagonism continues to evolve, with new characters from hit shows like House of the Dragon and 3 Body Problem joining the notorious ranks of all-time greats like Joffrey Baratheon and Ramsay Bolton. This deep dive explores the psychology behind the collective loathing for these figures, analyzing why certain characters ignite a visceral reaction that keeps them at the top of "most hated" polls for years.

The line between a well-written villain and a truly despicable character is often razor-thin, and the characters featured here have all crossed it in spectacular fashion. Their actions—whether acts of pure malice, moral cowardice, or simply being an obstacle to a beloved hero—have cemented their place in television infamy. This list combines the latest fan polls and critical analyses from 2024 with the established pantheon of television's most notorious antagonists, examining the specific narrative choices that made them so universally despised.

The New Faces of Fandom Fury: Most Hated Characters of 2024

While the classics of hate endure, every new television season introduces fresh candidates for collective viewer scorn. The 2024 television slate, particularly with the rise of high-stakes fantasy and complex sci-fi, has produced several characters whose actions have generated intense fan backlash and debate across social media platforms.

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Ser Criston Cole (House of the Dragon)

Ser Criston Cole, once the dashing knight of the Kingsguard, is arguably the most intensely disliked character from the latest season of the Game of Thrones prequel. His fall from grace is a masterclass in character assassination, transforming him from a sympathetic figure into a bitter, resentful, and utterly toxic antagonist.

The primary source of fan animosity stems from his dramatic shift in allegiance and his subsequent cruel treatment of Princess Rhaenyra Targaryen and her allies. His moral hypocrisy, coupled with his willingness to commit brutal acts of violence—such as his infamous public murder of Ser Laenor Velaryon's lover—solidified his status as a truly loathsome figure. Fans see him as a symbol of scorned male ego and a major catalyst for the civil war known as the Dance of the Dragons. He is a key entity in the show's political turmoil.

Auggie Salazar (3 Body Problem)

In the world of cerebral science fiction, the character of Auggie Salazar from Netflix's 3 Body Problem has become a surprising target of fan frustration. Unlike the purely evil villains, the hate for Auggie is often rooted in her perceived "annoying" or "stroppy" demeanor, particularly in the face of a world-ending existential threat.

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Her initial resistance to the scientific community's directives and her emotional reactions to the mysterious countdown phenomenon were seen by many viewers as frustratingly self-centered. While her actions are motivated by trauma and a desire to protect humanity from the San-Ti threat, her execution of these decisions often positioned her as a major obstacle, making her a lightning rod for viewer impatience with the character’s slow-burn arc.

Firecracker (Gen V)

As a spin-off of the highly popular and controversial series The Boys, Gen V introduced Firecracker, a Supe whose entire identity is built on a toxic mix of right-wing punditry, conspiracy theories, and blatant hypocrisy. Her character is a biting satire of modern media figures who weaponize victimhood and misinformation.

Fans despised her not just for her villainous role in the plot, but for her deeply cynical and manipulative personality. She represents a type of antagonist that feels uncomfortably relevant to real-world socio-political commentary, making the hatred for her character a blend of narrative dislike and ideological repulsion. Her rivalry with Marie Moreau served as a major plot point in the series.

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The Pantheon of Pure Evil: All-Time TV Villains Fans Love to Loathe

Some characters are so meticulously crafted in their depravity that they become the benchmark for television evil. These are the entities whose names instantly conjure feelings of dread and intense satisfaction upon their eventual demise. These ultimate antagonists are often referred to as "characters fans love to hate," though in their case, the emphasis is heavily on the "hate."

Joffrey Baratheon (Game of Thrones)

Joffrey Baratheon sits atop nearly every "most hated" list ever compiled, a testament to the character's flawless execution of pure, sadistic evil. The young King of Westeros was not a complex villain with understandable motivations; he was a spoiled, cowardly, and deeply cruel boy who reveled in the suffering of others, from ordering the execution of Ned Stark to tormenting Sansa Stark.

His hatred is a powerful example of how a character's actions—such as his constant psychological torture and petty tyranny—can elicit a visceral, almost universal response. The sheer relief and celebration surrounding his death remains one of the most iconic moments in television history, demonstrating the power of a truly despised antagonist.

Ramsay Bolton (Game of Thrones)

If Joffrey was a spoiled brat, Ramsay Bolton was a monster of calculated cruelty. The illegitimate son of Roose Bolton, Ramsay's atrocities included the brutal torture and castration of Theon Greyjoy (Reek), the hunting of innocents, and the horrific abuse of Sansa Stark.

Ramsay’s character represents the darkest extremes of human depravity, making him a figure of intense viewer revulsion. His sadistic nature and total lack of empathy cemented his place as one of the most terrifying and hated villains, often cited alongside Hannibal Lecter and other cinematic psychopaths. The Battle of the Bastards provided the cathartic end fans craved.

The Governor (The Walking Dead)

Philip Blake, better known as The Governor, stands out in the post-apocalyptic landscape of The Walking Dead as a chilling example of a charismatic leader who descends into madness and tyranny. His initial facade of a protective, idyllic community leader in Woodbury masked a brutal, sociopathic core.

The hatred for The Governor stems from his deliberate cruelty, his penchant for keeping zombified heads in tanks, and his senseless murder of Hershel Greene. He was a constant, dangerous threat to Rick Grimes and his group, proving that in a world full of zombies, the most dangerous entity is often another human being. His character arc explored the themes of power and corruption.

Protagonists Who Crossed the Line: The Phenomenon of Hated Heroes

The most fascinating category of hated characters are those who were meant to be the heroes or protagonists of their own stories. The viewer hatred for these figures often reveals more about the audience's expectations of morality, gender roles, and narrative satisfaction than it does about the character's inherent evil.

Skyler White (Breaking Bad)

Skyler White, the wife of Walter White in Breaking Bad, is perhaps the most famous example of a character disproportionately hated by a large segment of the audience. While Walter White was actively cooking meth, murdering people, and becoming a full-blown criminal mastermind, Skyler was often reviled for her reactions to his criminality—her fear, her attempts to protect her children, and her eventual complicity.

The intense, often misogynistic, vitriol directed at Skyler is a recurring topic of academic and fan discussion. Many critics argue that the hatred for Skyler stems from her challenging the male protagonist's authority and moral descent, an example of how female characters often receive harsher judgment for perceived flaws than their male counterparts. She is a critical entity in the discussion of hated protagonists.

Walter White (Breaking Bad)

Despite being the central figure of one of the most critically acclaimed shows of all time, Walter White, or "Heisenberg," is also frequently listed among the most hated protagonists. The hatred for Walter is a different kind of loathing than that reserved for Joffrey; it is a hatred born of disappointment and moral condemnation.

His transformation from a meek, underappreciated high school chemistry teacher into a manipulative, ego-driven drug lord is the core of the show. Fans grew to despise him not just for his criminal acts, but for his arrogance, his destruction of his family, and his constant need to justify his evil actions as being "for the family." He is the ultimate exploration of ego and moral decay.

Carrie Bradshaw (Sex and the City)

The protagonist of Sex and the City, Carrie Bradshaw, is a recurring entity on lists of "annoying TV characters" and even "hated protagonists." The animosity towards Carrie is less about outright evil and more about her perceived selfishness, financial irresponsibility, and self-absorption throughout the series.

Her tendency to prioritize her complicated, often toxic, relationship with Mr. Big over her friendships and her consistent poor decision-making often frustrated viewers. This character represents the phenomenon of a protagonist whose flaws, when viewed through a modern lens or binge-watching format, become overwhelming and deeply irritating, leading to a strong backlash against her romanticized lifestyle.

The Psychology of Loathing: Why We Hate Fictional Characters

The intense, sometimes years-long, hatred directed at fictional entities is a fascinating psychological phenomenon. It speaks to the power of narrative writing and the human desire for moral clarity. When a character is truly despised, it is often because they violate a fundamental moral code that the audience holds dear, or because they serve as an effective obstacle to the narrative's desired outcome.

For characters like Joffrey Baratheon and Ramsay Bolton, the hatred is straightforward: they are pure evil, and their demise offers catharsis. For protagonists like Skyler White and Walter White, the hatred is more complex, often tied to gender biases, the disappointment of a hero's moral failure, or the frustration of watching a character make consistently poor choices. The writers of these shows, including David Benioff, D.B. Weiss, Vince Gilligan, and Matthew Weiner (of Mad Men, which also features complex, often disliked characters), are masters of eliciting these strong emotional responses.

Ultimately, the most hated TV characters are often the most memorable. Their ability to provoke such a strong, unified reaction is a testament to brilliant acting, razor-sharp writing, and the deep emotional connection that audiences form with the fictional worlds they inhabit. The collective loathing for these figures confirms that a great villain, or even a frustrating hero, is essential to the enduring success and cultural footprint of a television series.