20 Most Hated Characters In TV History
14. The Sopranos - Anthony Soprano Jr.
No doubt, like most made men, Anthony Soprano Sr. intended to mould his only son Anthony Soprano Jr. into the image of himself: a tough, loyal no-nonsense soldier who would, one day, take his place as the head of the family, and maybe even the Family.
As with most things in Tony’s life, he was headed for crushing, stultifying disappointment. A.J. was the epitome of what, only a decade or so later, people would insist on referring to as the lazy, entitled millennial: a dim, sulky brat, petulant and self-centred, bored and, ultimately, boring.
Thirteen or so when the series begins, he’s nineteen in the final episode, which means that the lifespan of the show more or less records A.J.’s entire adolescence. Or perhaps that should be ‘his teenage years’, as it’s fairly obvious that A.J.’s adolescence is likely to last until old age (assuming Tony’s violent life doesn’t catch up with his son before then).
A.J. has lived in luxury all his life: with a grumpy bear like Tony as a male role model and every whim and desire catered to from an early age, he’s learned to avoid things he doesn’t enjoy, like his father’s temper and anything resembling work.
Never bright enough to be ambitious like his father, A.J. seems destined to aimlessly scoot through life picking at shiny things he encounters along the way. Useless and utterly lacking in any kind of skill set that might help him make something of himself, he pretty much reaches his level as a teenage wannabe thug: but even here he fails to succeed, becoming depressed as a result.
Of course, A.J.’s depression and resulting suicide attempt are as half-assed and insincere as everything else he attempts. He’s not deep enough to be as existentially numb as he thinks he is, and not shallow enough to sit back and enjoy the free ride he’s getting. What a maroon.