10 TV Characters Who Should Have Been Written Off Sooner

1. Piper Chapman – "Orange is the New Black"

Initially, Piper Chapman was the show's gateway into Litchfield Penitentiary. However, her character quickly descended into a spiral of self-righteousness and irritating obliviousness. Despite the Golden Globe nomination for Taylor Schilling, the audience found Piper increasingly unlikable.

The show, with a formidable 90% rating on Rotten Tomatoes, had a goldmine of complex, interesting, and diverse characters, but Piper's overbearing presence often overshadowed their stories. By the time she was released from prison in Season 7, many viewers felt it should've happened much sooner.

2. Nellie Bertram – "The Office"

Introduced in the seventh season, Nellie Bertram, played by Catherine Tate, became an increasingly central character in "The Office." Despite the series' overall popularity and a Rotten Tomatoes score of 81%, Nellie's bizarre and inconsistent character development led to fan backlash. She even won the 'Scranton Strangler' case in an online poll of the most disliked character on the show.

Behind the scenes, Tate's addition to the cast caused friction as it coincided with several original cast departures, creating a sense of unwanted change. Producer Steve Burgess remembered, "It was challenging for her, and for the writers, and I'm not sure they ever got the Nellie character the way they wanted it and the way Catherine wanted it."

3. Ted Mosby – "How I Met Your Mother"

Yes, Ted Mosby, the central character of "How I Met Your Mother". Don't get me wrong, Josh Radnor's performance was commendable, but as the show progressed, Ted's romantic escapades felt more tiresome than compelling.

The audience wasn't thrilled with Ted's eternal love triangle, and by the time we got to the ninth season, we all just wanted him to meet the mother already… or else. Despite the show's high ratings and multiple Emmy nominations, many fans felt the series could have concluded sooner and saved us from the dragged-out journey of Ted's love life.

4. Andrea – "The Walking Dead"

What can we say? While "The Walking Dead" was a hit show with an 80% Rotten Tomatoes rating, Andrea, played by Laurie Holden, was a character that fans loved to hate. Although a central character in the comics, her TV adaptation left much to be desired. Her misguided loyalty to the villainous Governor was infuriating, and the audience was left cheering when she met her end in season 3. A lot of drama could have been avoided had she been written off a bit sooner.

5. Nikki and Paolo – "Lost"

"Lost," despite its intricate plot and high ratings, had a couple of characters who seemed to serve no real purpose. Nikki and Paolo, introduced in the third season, were universally disliked. Their subplot felt forced, and their sudden prominence confused viewers. The duo was hastily written off in the same season, but the damage was done. Even the cast wasn't thrilled about their introduction, and in a later interview, Jorge Garcia (who played Hurley) admitted he felt their storyline was a misstep in the series.

6. Dawn Summers – "Buffy the Vampire Slayer"

"Buffy the Vampire Slayer," known for its witty dialogue and dynamic characters, made a peculiar addition in its fifth season – Dawn Summers. Buffy's suddenly existent younger sister was a mystery that ended up being a well-intentioned but poorly executed plot twist. Fans found her whiny and annoying, and her presence disrupted the previously established group dynamics. Dawn's inclusion was seen as a significant misstep.

7. Joffrey Baratheon – "Game of Thrones"

Here's a controversial pick – Joffrey Baratheon from "Game of Thrones". Now, don't get us wrong. Joffrey, played magnificently by Jack Gleeson, was designed to be hated, and his character was crucial to the plot. The show, with a high rating of 89% on Rotten Tomatoes, had numerous intriguing characters, but Joffrey's extended reign of terror was agonizing to watch. While his eventual demise was satisfying, many felt it could have happened a bit sooner, saving us all some heartache.

8. Larry Bloom – "Orange is the New Black"

Back to Litchfield Penitentiary, we go, but this time it's not an inmate – it's Larry Bloom. Larry was Piper's fiancé on the outside, and his character was intended to offer a perspective of those affected indirectly by the prison system. However, he quickly turned into an insufferable character with storylines that felt disconnected from the primary narrative. Jason Biggs did not return after the second season, leading many viewers to breathe a sigh of relief. Even Biggs, in a later interview, admitted that Larry had become increasingly irrelevant.

9. Skyler White – "Breaking Bad"

Anna Gunn's Skyler White in "Breaking Bad" was a divisive character. While crucial to the storyline, her character arc was filled with actions that frustrated viewers, leading to a surprisingly intense backlash. The show, despite being one of the highest-rated TV shows on Rotten Tomatoes with a 96% score, saw a significant portion of its fanbase harbor ill feelings towards Skyler. Although she had many redeeming moments, the overwhelming negativity surrounding her character had many wishing she'd been written off sooner.

10. Ross Geller – "Friends"

Rounding out the list is Ross Geller from the beloved sitcom "Friends". While the show, with a whopping 78% rating on Rotten Tomatoes, is iconic and adored by many, Ross's character gradually became less charming and more grating. His incessant whining, questionable decision-making, and often unkind behavior towards his friends made him increasingly unlikable.

Maybe this does sound like a blasphemy, but, in retrospect, reducing Ross's screen time might've given other characters more room to shine, adding a different dynamic to the group.