10 TV Shows Whose Leads Are The Worst Character

The key to Gilmore Girls’ appeal is the interplay between Lorelai and Rory Gilmore, the titular mother and daughter whose lived-in relationship is one of the best in TV history. They feel like a real family, albeit a uniquely witty one, and Lauren Graham and Alexis Bledel have unsurpassed chemistry in their roles.

The problems come when Rory doesn’t have Lorelai to play off. In such circumstances, she’s an annoying and often downright dislikable character. The bratty teen is never an especially likeable presence on any TV show, and it gets a lot worse when said teen is the lead of your show, and a character you’re supposed to find effortlessly charming.

Yes, Rory has an impressive set of references for her age and can banter with the best of them, but her penchant for a tantrum can be infuriating, generally taking place after she’s been rightly called out for dreadful behaviour. She’s also a child of immense privilege, albeit a generation removed, which puts a knock on any sympathy we might be able to raise for her.

The character isn’t supposed to be heroic, by any means, but the character flaws often mutate into a character who’s simply annoying - not a good look for one of your titular characters.