These Hated Characters Are Actually Relatable AF Now
When you're a kid it's easy to fall into the trap that Hollywood lays out for you. They have the good guy and the bad guy, so you hop on the train of hated the villains. But then adulthood starts creeping up on you and you realize maybe these characters you used to loathe are actually kind of relatable.
The Grinch just wanted to have some alone time and Squidward was stuck in a dead-end job surrounded by incompetent workers. Everyone is just tired. Aren't we all? Maybe these hated characters aren't as bad as they seemed...
Jar Jar Binks Was Trying His Best
Okay, yes, Jar Jar Binks is one of the most hated film characters of all time and was the Senator that gave Palpatine emergency powers and basically set off the Clone Wars...but can you blame him? He was ostracized by his own planet for being clumsy and was the outcast senator since then.
When Padmé allowed him to stand in her place, of course he was overwhelmed and easily manipulated. If anything, this was Padmé's fault and we should hate her more for carelessly appointing Jar Jar. Mesa don't feel so bad for him anymore.
Squidward Was Obviously Just Having A Mid-Life Crisis
As you grow up Squidward quickly becomes the most relatable character in the SpongeBob universe. It's especially clear if you ever worked in retail or fast-food. It's so easy to quickly have the life and joy sucked out of you when you're front-facing customers all day and then before you know it, you're stuck in a dead-end job surrounded by equally-annoying employees.
Then when he just wants to go home and relax, he's constantly harassed by his neighbors. Give the man a moment of peace a quiet.
Meredith Blake Was Just Trying To Lock Down A Man
Being young and beautiful is not a crime you know. The only reason Meredith Blake from The Parent Trap came off as such a villain was because she happened to show up at the wrong time. If Hallie had never met Annie she probably would have welcomed Meredith with open arms.
And in all honesty, Meredith took finding out that Nick had twins and an ex-wife pretty well. She was just trying to lock down a rich man and own a vineyard, all before her good looks ran out. Can you blame her?
There Was No Real Reason To Hate Karen Filippelli
Yep, we said it. Karen is probably one of the most hated characters from The Office because she dated Jim. Seriously. That's the only reason. She was cool, funny, friendly and an overall good character. The only reason we all hate her is that she wasn't Pam.
Plus, Karen never held a grudge against Jim or made things awkward. She was genuinely happy to find out that Jim and Pam were engaged! Rashida Jones deserved to play a much better character.
Hades Embodies All Of Our Sass
On the surface Hades was just a Greek God of the Underworld bent on destroying Hercules so he can rule over Mt. Olympus. When you look a little deeper though, he's a lonely guy who is stuck in an unhappy job that uses self-deprecating jokes and sass to cover up his true emotions. Sound like anyone you know?
We'd have a short temper like that too if we were constantly surrounded by sickening love birds and your cooler, more successful older brother.
The Grinch Is Just Tired, And Honestly, Aren't We All
Dr. Seuss tried so darn hard to make The Grinch scary and as a kid, it worked. As an adult? It just feels like watching a green, fuzzy version of yourself. The Jim Carrey version in particular is like a glimpse into true adulthood. With iconic quotes like "Am I just eating because I'm bored?" and "Help me I'm...feeling!"
Even The Grinch's daily schedule of loathing and laying in bed staring at the ceiling is highly relatable. Oh, and his only companion is a dog. What more could you ask for?
Ursula Was An Entrepreneur
It isn't exactly easy to get a business off the ground when you're known as an 'Evil Sea Witch' yet Ursula made it happen. She was just trying to make a living helping others. Sure, each of her deals had something in it for her. But people always say if you're good at something then never do it for free.
Ursula would have thrived in today's economy but in the magical world of Disney, she's a villain.
Yzma Should Never Have Been Fired
Let's face it. Ysma was the smartest person in the room and spent her entire life over-preparing for her dream job. Then just imagine being the brains behind running an entire country only to have a young, cocky, stuck-up emperor fire you when you try to run things in an efficient manner. Kuzco really had some nerve.
It's pretty easy to have been easily frustrated with the imbeciles around her. Yet another example of women over-preparing and losing out to nepotism.
Sharpay Evans Deserved To Get That Role
Everyone used to think that Sharpay Evans from High School Musical was just a stuck-up teenager who thought the world should hand her everything but now, we see how much of a hard worker she was. Sharpay and Ryan both knew that musical number like the back of their hands. They even had choreography for it!
Then Troy and Gabriella swooped in to take the role with no formal training and zero coordinating dance moves. She was fabulous and talented and should have got the role.
Lori Grimes Was Clearly In Shock And Grieving
It's easy to say that Lori Grimes was awful for hooking up with her not-so-dead husband's best friend then having his baby in the middle of a zombie apocalypse, but people do crazy things when they're in shock. We can only imagine how hard it was for Lori to leave her husband in a hospital bed to find safety. Plus, once Rick returned she made it clear that her hook-up with Shane was a mistake.
We've all texted an ex or made a decision while grieving we normally wouldn't. Give the girl a break.
Izzie Stevens Was The Only Adult Intern At Seattle Grace
Izzie Stevens was one of the more complicated characters on the show but that's what makes her so genuinely likable. She made mistakes and often seemed self-centered but she also had a heart of gold and genuinely cared for the people she was with.
The George-Izzie storyline was ghastly but the Denny-Izzie storyline made up for it. Plus, she single-handedly opened the Denny Duquette Memorial Clinic that helped thousands of patients. How can you hate someone like that?
Cersei Lannister Was Just Being A Mom
There is a lot of Game of Thrones characters that are easy to hate but Cersei isn't one of them. She's one of the more complex characters because it seems like all her actions are a result of a loss. At the end of the day, Cersei is just a mother who will protect her kids at all costs. When she loses all three of her children, it's easy to see how rage can overtake grief.
At least she wasn't vengeful enough to burn down an entire kingdom for absolutely no reason (we're looking at you, Daenerys).
Maleficent Just Had Some Serious FOMO
Maleficent placed an evil curse on a newborn baby during her first scene but when you look at the reason why, we kind of get it. She was the only one in the entire kingdom not to get an invite to Aurora's christening.
Just think of how terrible you felt when you were the only kid in the class not invited to a birthday party. Six-year-old me would also try to put a curse on whoever is that disrespectful.
Zazu Was Keeping Simba Out Of Trouble
Zazu used to be the biggest buzzkill and reminded you of that snitch on the playground that was always ready to ruin the fun. As an adult though, he was just trying to make sure Simba stayed out of trouble and, you know, alive. Plus, Zazu was just following Mufasa's orders.
Zazu is basically any of us who has beeing the designated driver for the night and had to make sure to get our messy friends home for the night. Give the bird a break.
Plankton Was Just Trying To Make Ends Meet
It's easy to look back and see why Plankton appeared to be a villain on SpongeBob SquarePants but the fact of the matter is he was just a rival business owner trying to make a living. It's easy to feel down in the dumps when you're great business idea gets overshadowed by a rival one.
His actions make even more sense when you learn he had a part in creating the Krabby Patty secret formula. Today, you'd just sue Mr. Krabbs but in Bikini Bottom, he had to take desperate measures.
Ferris Bueller Pushed Principal Rooney To The Limit
If you've grown up and worked in childcare or education, then watching Principal Ed Rooney from Ferris Bueller's Day Off is like looking in the mirror. Sure, he took things a little too far and wasn't the best principal, but he was tormented by a cocky student.
Bueller lied and manipulated his way out of school and spent the rest of the day tormenting an adult he should be respecting. The youths truly have it out for the adults of this world.
Skyler White Shouldn't Have Been An Antagonist
The wife of Walter White from Breaking Bad had a very unique role because the show managed to turn a drug dealer into a hero. That meant her needed an antagonist which ended up being Skyler.
While we can't defend everything she did (like hooking up with Ted then giving him $600,000), she was also essentially a single mom to a child with cerebral palsy and who was married to a man dying of cancer. Life can't be easy when you have that much going on.
Kimmy Gibbler Wasn't Actually That Annoying
Everyone always thought that Kimmy Gibbler was the annoying friend who was always sticking their nose into situations that didn't concern them. Let's be honest...we were all that friend. As a kid, every one had that one friend's house that was like a second family.
It gets even worse as an adult too, when hearing the hot gossip from someone else's problem is basically a necessity to make your own problems not seem so bad.
Draco Malfoy Just Hated High School
Yes, Draco Malfoy was a stuck-up bully who didn't know when to keep his mouth shut but looking back, he was just that kid that hated high school. He may have been walking around like he was the cream of the crop but you could tell deep down that he just hated being surrounded by imbeciles.
And let's face it, we all feel that way overhearing the silly conversations people have in the office lunch room.
Harley Quinn Was In A Toxic Relationship
Harley Quinn is the accomplice and lover of The Joker which makes it so obvious that her actions are thanks to her toxic relationship. When she met The Joker, she was a psychiatrists intern with the world at her feet. Then The Joker manipulated her into doing anything he wanted, even if those things were illegal and dangerous.
Harley goes along with it because she's in love with him and can't see past his gaslighting. It's a sad fact, but this is all too common in the real world too.
