tvdinner&amovie

Not everyone can be a Buffy and slay vampires, as well as gender stereotypes about physical strength. Some characters were just born (or rather, written) to be pitiful. Sad. Limited on strength, both emotionally and physically. Whether they’re playing off of a stronger character, fodder for our funny bones or just so poorly written that they become a waste of screen time, these women know how to raise the bar on low self-esteem.

Tara Thorton from True Blood

“I didn't plan it. I just saw the bottles and I thought... enough. I deserve some peace.”

Tara has been the victim and Bon Temps’ very own damsel in distress for the last four seasons. If vamps aren’t beating her down, she’s throwing herself a big ol’ pity party every single week. It’s not that she doesn’t have her strong points (newly acquired MMA skills) and a smart retort for every situation, it’s that she’s so annoyingly defeated about everything that happens to her. I’d love to see a “just because I felt like it” moment from Tara.

Kimber Henry from Nip/Tuck

“I don't want to be pretty. I want to be better. I want to be perfect.”

I assbackwardsly watched the sixth (and final season) of Nip/Tuck first, so I saw this character’s demise before knowing how she got there. She managed to have love affairs (with less than fairytale endings) with all of the show’s main male characters, which resulted in a daughter whose grandfather and stepfather were the same person, and was a consistent emotional dump for all of Christian Troy’s issues. Kimber was always more Marilyn Monroe than Margaret Mead, but I loved her all the same.

Dawn Summers from Buffy the Vampire Slayer

“They were talking about me, just like everybody is.”

Dawn was the worst thing about the fifth season of BTVS. She was an annoying and unwelcome addition to the show. Buffy spent more time saving her than any of the other ‘Scoobies’ and the levels of hate she inspired are a testament to the acting talents of Michelle Trachtenberg. I’m sure the bratty, self-centered and shrill parts of her personality were to remind viewers that she was a little sister, but it just made me wish they would kill her off.

Peyton Sawyer from One Tree Hill

“Is it me? Am I the reason people always leave? Am I the reason all these things keep happening to me? Maybe I'm just destined to be alone.”

Peyton was perpetually emo (which is annoying enough all on its own) and could find something to complain about in every aspect of her life. The only time I didn’t hate Peyton was when she was snippy, but even then it always felt like she was pseudo-bitch and would never graduate to full on bitch (ala Brooke). Outside of perfecting whiny and winning the record for having multiple dead moms, Peyton really didn’t bring anything to OTH. The only way I will be happy to see her return to the show is if Lucas is trotting right behind her.

Claire Bennet on Heroes  

“I'm not normal. I tried to pretend that I was and I just hurt everyone; my Mom, my Dad. I ruined everything because of what I am. I hated it…”

I never took the whole “save the cheerleader, save the world” thing to mean that Claire was weak; I just saw it as a part of Hiro’s mission. But watching Claire waste her indestructible powers on doing absolutely nothing relevant to anything…ever…was tiresome. I blame the writers, as they were the one that initially made her such a big part of the show and then turned “blah, blah blah, no one gets me, blah blah blah I’m a lesbian now” into the biggest parts of her storyline until the ultimate demise of the show. A waste of a character on a waste of a show.