Fans Used to Love These Now Despised TV Characters

Fans can be fickle, and that definitely rings true when it comes to TV show opinions, especially in the age of streaming.

Because streaming delivers older shows to new audiences, the reception toward certain characters that were once beloved or empowering can change over time.

New generations have new views of things, but also sometimes, as society shifts, perspectives change. And sometimes we look back and realize we were watching certain characters through rose-colored glasses.

This is the case for these three popular TV characters who were once seen as iconic, aspirational figures but are now some of the most polarizing characters on TV.

Whether it's retroactive criticism or new information changing viewers' opinions on these characters, one thing's for sure: Many people find them annoying.

Serena van der Woodsen Is a Perpetual Victim

As one of the main characters on The CW's Gossip Girl, Serena van der Woodsen was the resident boho cool girl played by Blake Lively.

She was fashionable, pretty, rich and charismatic, making her the "It Girl of Manhattan," according to the Gossip Girl blog in the show.

However, though she has many fans, she has a lot of haters, too.

For some, it's because they simply prefer preppy Blair (Leighton Meester) over Serena, and the two frenemies/besties are constantly in conflict.

For others, they deem Serena "clueless," "selfish" and a "backstabber," especially for sleeping with her best friend's boyfriend. Some have also criticized Serena for acting like a victim constantly, and always getting away with her bad choices.

Recently, Lively's negative presence in the media thanks to her lawsuit battle with Justin Baldoni didn't help either, as some fans said Lively "wasn't acting" when playing Serena (derogatory).

Rory Gilmore Is a Pick-Me Girl

You can't have Gilmore Girls without Rory Gilmore, so why do some fans hate her so much?

When Gilmore Girls first aired, Rory (Alexis Bledel) was admired for her brains, wit, ambition and her ability to pull such love interests as a young Milo Ventimiglia or Jared Padalecki.

However, as fans grew up and re-watched the show, they noticed that she can be a little entitled and sometimes makes "questionable" choices, such as having an affair with a married man (actually, having multiple affairs...), dropping out of Yale and stealing a yacht.

Fans have also criticized Rory for not recognizing her privilege and wealth, as well as for her lack of self-awareness and being judgmental toward other girls, making her a "Pick-Me."

Carrie Bradshaw Is a Toxic Friend

We all know Carrie Bradshaw is a style icon, but looking back, some fans have realized her character was pretty flawed.

Carrie (Sarah Jessica Parker) was the star of Sex and the City and a so-called expert on fashion, romance and friendship thanks to her newspaper column.

Despite her it girl vibes, Carrie is also known for her self-centered personality and hypocrisy, such as cheating on her boyfriend Aidan, having an affair with Big while he's married and judging her friend Samantha for her sexuality—actions which she rarely takes accountability for.

Fans have also expressed that Carrie is a bad friend, irresponsible with money, "toxic" and even arrogant.

Of course, it's notable that all of these characters are women.

It's a common theme in our society, not just in television, for fans to start out liking and "stanning" a female musician, celebrity or influencer only for them to inevitably turn on her.

When it comes to TV show characters, it's worth noting that these are all complex, imperfect female characters, and their respective shows would be boring without them.