The Simpsons: 10 Worst Characters Ever

Regardless of how you feel about the most recent seasons of the show, The Simpsons is one of the finest shows ever to grace television. They’ve spawned some fantastic characters, many of whom are so iconic they’ve been parodied or borrowed in other successful shows.

However, in the mix they have some pretty poor characters too. Either because they’ve changed for the worse down the years, because they’ve never been fully utilised or just because their schtick has grown stale, these are Springfield’s worst offenders.

Importantly, one-off guest stars who flopped haven’t been included here. The likes of Gal Gadot, Steph Curry, and Nikolaj Coster-Waldau have all played themselves for forgettable single scenes in recent seasons, but it seems unfair to lump them in against Springfield regulars.

Instead, it’s the characters who either draw a groan every time they appear on screen, or if not that a tumbleweed. These characters might have been good once, or might have at least had potential, but with some cracks appearing the writing these days, it’s unlikely they’re going to improve much. Unfortunately for them, it means they’ll likely be remembered as some of the worst characters Springfield has ever been home to.

It hurts to put Lisa on the list, it really does. However, the most recent seasons demand her inclusion, and it’s a sobering reminder of how far she has fallen. At one point she was one of the most relatable characters in the show, with passion, intelligence and integrity, but Season 30 Lisa is a far cry from Season 3 Lisa.

Heck, even by around Season 20 she was starting to get rocky. Admittedly, Season 21’s The Squid And The Whale is a genius Lisa episode, one to rival golden age tales Lisa The Vegetarian and I Love Lisa. In it, Lisa befriends a beached whale, falling asleep while reading it poetry and imagining it being rescued.

Unfortunately, Lisa wakes up and has her tiny heartbreak when she realises Bluella the whale has died. This was Lisa at her best; genuine, vulnerable and selfless. As the plots have become looser, Lisa has become the whiny, overly moral catch-all villain there to stop Bart or Homer’s schemes.

Once upon a time, she was a fantastic character. Alas, she’s suffered from burnout more than most of the cast.