Admit It, We All Hated These 8 TV Love Rivals
While some love rival characters in TV shows receive unwanted criticism, there are others that we all hate deep down. Many of these TV couples are doomed to fail from the start, especially as these rival characters are often introduced purely to cause conflict between a main pairing. Even if they’re designed to be hated, it doesn’t make these characters any less exasperating to watch.
Some of these rivals are great characters by themselves, but when placed in a situation that pits them against another for the attention of a love interest, their best qualities are thrown out and they become almost unrecognizable. Even years later, audiences cannot get on board with these love rivals, and can’t help but hate them, no matter how hard they try.
8 Ted Beneke
Breaking Bad (2008-2013)
While a lot of the hatred towards Breaking Bad’s Ted is because of Skyler, he’s still a generally disliked character by himself. Skyler’s affair partner and boss is one of Breaking Bad’s most hated supporting characters for several reasons. Initially, Ted seems like a simple divorcee with a normal life, but his lies and deceit prove otherwise. Although Skyler and Walter’s marriage isn’t in the greatest place, it’s just cringey to see him step into the “dad” role during Holly’s birth.
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Despite the fact their affair comes to an abrupt end, Ted still reappears. It’s baffling when he uses the money Skyler takes from Walt to help with his business to instead lease a brand-new Mercedes, and even though he doesn’t find out it came from her until later, it’s not the point. Ted admits fraud to Skyler, then when he is offered mysterious salvation, he blows it all away without thinking. While I wouldn’t wish his neck accident on anyone, I’m glad Breaking Bad found a way to write Ted out.
7 Karen Filippelli
The Office (2005-2013)
I have no issue with The Office’s Karen Fillipelli as an individual, but as a love interest rival, she disappoints me greatly. Karen is an independent and strong person, but it pains me to see how naïve she is at times. When Jim admits he still has feelings for Pam, Karen spends weeks talking it over with him in great depth, which I believe makes no sense for her character. The Karen that audiences meet initially would step back and remove herself from the situation, rather than cling on to jealousy and convince herself she can make it work with Jim.
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Karen’s brilliant and clever, but when she’s dating Jim, she somehow misses the very obvious signs that he is hesitant about anything to do with Pam. Karen and Jim aren’t a bad pairing, but it often seems like Karen sees a very different version of Jim than everyone else does. What’s especially disheartening, and something that frustrates many, is how she treats Pam after realizing there’s something with her and Jim. Karen is far better than the forced PDA, sly remarks, and dark glances, and it’s a real shame.
6 Ramona Nowitzki
The Big Bang Theory (2007-2019)
The Big Bang Theory’s Ramona Nowitzki is a TV character too ridiculous to exist in real life, and while I love Riki Lindhome, her role as Sheldon’s two-time love interest infuriates me to no end. Not a lot of people understand Sheldon, but I don’t think Ramona does, either. In season 2, she’s so obsessed with Sheldon’s work schedule and helping him boost his career even further, that she fails to realize that the genius is still human. It’s strange that an academically successful person like Ramona suddenly drops her own work to refocus her attention on someone like Sheldon.
Ramona is somehow even worse when she returns in season 10. Even though she’s fully aware of Sheldon and Amy’s relationship in The Big Bang Theory, Ramona has zero respect for either party. She pushes herself on Sheldon once again, making it clear she hasn’t matured since season 2. Ramona either lacks any self-awareness, or has plenty and simply doesn’t care. Unfortunately, there really isn’t anything else to learn about the character outside of her connection to Sheldon, which makes it easier to hate her.
5 Teddy Wells
Brooklyn Nine-Nine (2013-2021)
Amy and Jake’s relationship in Brooklyn Nine-Nineis so obviously endgame from the start of the show, that of course audiences are quick to dislike any of the pair’s other love interests. Teddy Wells, however, is an incredibly annoying character. Of course, Teddy is designed to be “the most boring man in the world,” but his responses to things at times are so unrealistic that he feels like a caricature. For example, every time he crosses paths with Amy after their breakup, he proposes to her, even on her wedding day to Jake.
Teddy knows people find him boring, yet his attempts to spice up his image and hobbies are never even close to making him look cool. As a sitcom character, Teddy isn’t really that funny either, and the constant gags about how mundane he is often fall flat. While I see the logic of why he and Amy could be a good couple, Amy is far more complicated and layered than Teddy, and she needs someone who challenges her, not a safe and simple option.
4 Christopher Hayden
Gilmore Girls (2000-2007)
Rory’s father in Gilmore Girls, Christopher, is an infuriating character. While Lorelai and Luke’s relationship in Gilmore Girlsis complicated, it’s far more genuine than Lorelai and Christopher’s. Christopher cares more about Lorelai wanting him than his relationship with their daughter, and he only seems to drop by to be a dad and cause drama when he feels like it. For example, he acts like he deserves to be the angry dad when he catches Rory making out with Logan, then dismisses the part Luke plays in his daughter’s life when he’s also mad.
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Even when he has Lorelai in the palm of his hand, Christopher still makes the wrong decisions. He sleeps with Lorelai and plans to get back together with her while engaged to Sherri, but upon discovering his fiancée is pregnant, he decides to stay. What’s even more baffling is that when he and Lorelai marry in Paris, she mentions that Rory should be present, but Christopher waves it off, which proves that he clearly doesn’t know the mother of his child (or the child herself) at all.
3 Jack Denvers
Ted Lasso (2020-Present)
Jack Denvers in Ted Lasso is a TV character I don’t think enough people discuss. While it’s great that Keeley finds herself through meeting Jack, their relationship isn’t the healthiest, either. Jack is spoiled and plays with Keeley’s feelings, and the weird power dynamic with the company never fails to make me feel uncomfortable. The situation surrounding Keeley’s leaked video and Jack’s insistence she release an apology statement is abhorrent, too, and I’m still shocked that the Ted Lasso writers even bothered with this subplot.
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Naturally, audiences are put off by Jack because they feel a connection to Roy, and there’s no doubt that he and Keeley together are a strong pairing. However, Jack’s love-bombing and constant gifts feel strange, and she even admits that she does this so she can feel like “owns” her girlfriend. Even though Keeley is materialistic, she’s also a good person at her core and cares about people’s feelings, and I can never understand why Keeley doesn’t end things with Jack sooner. Hopefully, Jack won’t appear in the upcoming Ted Lasso season 4.
2 Charlie Wheeler
Friends (1994-2004)
Charlie Wheeler in Friends is a well-written character in theory, but in execution, she’s pretty terrible. Because basically all of her past relationships are with eccentric and famous geniuses, Charlie is rather out-of-touch when it comes to dating, and it gives her a slight aura of nepotism, in a way. While I can admit that she is respectful of Joey before and after their fling, the way she treats Ross doesn’t sit right with me, which is saying something.
It baffles me that she goes back to her ex, Benjamin Hobart, right in front of Ross, with absolutely no consideration for him or any sense of basic social cues. Also, even though it’s clearly awkward for her to see Ross’ decline when Rachel and Joey’s relationship is revealed, Charlie doesn’t really offer him any reassurance or support, even in the context of how he feels about the situation as Emma’s father.
1 Michelangelo
Big Mouth (2017-2025)
Big Mouth’s Michelangelo is supposed to be terrible, and while I refuse to argue that Nick is a better fit for Jessi, the artist is definitely somewhat of a romantic rival of Nick’s. Michelangelo is arrogant, self-absorbed, and selfish from the first moment he is introduced. It’s obvious that Jessi is new to intimacy, but he ignores the clear signs that she is hesitant and uncomfortable. Plus, for someone who is meant to fit the forward-thinking, open-minded, almost hippy-like archetype, it baffles me that Michelangelo gets so angry at Jessi’s nervous response of laughing when he exposes himself to her.
Michelangelo thinks it’s okay to manipulate Jessi into believing “blue balls” are painful, too, which is just creepy and stupidly stereotypical. It’s a harsh reality that people like Michelangelo exist in the real world, but it doesn’t make his arc in Big Mouth any better. I’m glad that Jessi eventually gets out of this relationship before it takes a turn for the worse, which results in Nick finally shutting up about Michelangelo, too. However, it sucks that the two “rivals” are both bad for her, and I hope she gets the happy ending she deserves in Big Mouth season 8.
