Uploaded November 2025 | Updated September 2026, 1 week ago
Some characters are born iconic. Others become iconic despite everything the writers throw at them. And then there are the characters who had all the potential in the world… only for the writers to drop the ball so hard it left a crater in the fandom. In today’s episode of Next Of Ken, we’re diving into the characters who deserved better — way better — than what the script ever gave them.
From emotional cornerstones tossed aside for shock value to fan favorites pushed into the background until they barely existed, these are the characters who were written dirty — the ones audiences loved, even when the writers clearly didn’t know what to do with them.
We start with Lafayette from True Blood, a character who stole every scene with charisma, depth, and unmatched presence. Fans adored him, but the writers never gave him the spotlight he earned, leaving a powerhouse stuck on the sidelines. And he wasn’t the only one.
Luna Lovegood could’ve carried entire storylines in Harry Potter, but instead she was often treated like a quirky side prop — a tragic waste of one of the most imaginative minds in the Wizarding World. Meanwhile, Glenn Rhee from The Walking Dead, the moral center of the show, was reduced to shock-value tragedy. Sure, it happened in the comics — but the timing and context on TV turned it into one of the most frustrating moments in the series.
Then we have Adebayo from Peacemaker, who brought real humanity to a series full of chaotic lunacy. She was set up as the emotional anchor — only to be pushed aside by louder personalities. And Trinity, once the beating heart of The Matrix, slowly turned into Neo’s accessory instead of the legend she was meant to become.
Nymphadora Tonks burst into Harry Potter like a firework, only to disappear into the shadows. Her death? A background detail. Her personality? Barely explored. Her potential? Completely wasted. And it only gets worse.
Captain Phasma was marketed like the next great Star Wars villain — chrome armor, commanding presence, endless hype. But across two films? Nothing. Not a backstory. Not a real arc. Not even one meaningful moment.
Mike Wheeler from Stranger Things went from group leader to afterthought, sidelined as other characters took over the spotlight. It’s not that he stopped being important — it’s that the script stopped showing it.
And then there’s Lexa from The 100 — a character whose death launched outrage, essays, charity movements, and a global conversation about representation. Fans didn’t just love her — they saw themselves in her. And the writers took all of that potential and threw it off a cliff for shock value.
But the number one spot belongs to Poussey Washington from Orange Is the New Black, a character who represented hope, humor, softness, and possibility. Her death wasn’t just heartbreaking — it was devastating, unnecessary, and emblematic of the injustices the series claimed to criticize. Her exit changed the show forever… and not for the better.
These were characters with power, depth, and stories worth finishing — and the writers dropped the ball. Hard.
So now it’s your turn: Which character do YOU think got done the dirtiest? Who deserved a redemption arc? A victory? Or at least… a better ending than the one they got?
Drop your picks in the comments — and as always, stay tuned to Next Of Ken for more top tens, deep dives, and nostalgic breakdowns of the characters we can’t stop thinking about.
Some characters are born iconic. Others become iconic despite everything the writers throw at them. And then there are the characters who had all the potential in the world… only for the writers to drop the ball so hard it left a crater in the fandom. In today’s episode of Next Of Ken, we’re diving into the characters who deserved better — way better — than what the script ever gave them.
From emotional cornerstones tossed aside for shock value to fan favorites pushed into the background until they barely existed, these are the characters who were written dirty — the ones audiences loved, even when the writers clearly didn’t know what to do with them.
We start with Lafayette from True Blood, a character who stole every scene with charisma, depth, and unmatched presence. Fans adored him, but the writers never gave him the spotlight he earned, leaving a powerhouse stuck on the sidelines. And he wasn’t the only one.
Luna Lovegood could’ve carried entire storylines in Harry Potter, but instead she was often treated like a quirky side prop — a tragic waste of one of the most imaginative minds in the Wizarding World. Meanwhile, Glenn Rhee from The Walking Dead, the moral center of the show, was reduced to shock-value tragedy. Sure, it happened in the comics — but the timing and context on TV turned it into one of the most frustrating moments in the series.
Then we have Adebayo from Peacemaker, who brought real humanity to a series full of chaotic lunacy. She was set up as the emotional anchor — only to be pushed aside by louder personalities. And Trinity, once the beating heart of The Matrix, slowly turned into Neo’s accessory instead of the legend she was meant to become.
Nymphadora Tonks burst into Harry Potter like a firework, only to disappear into the shadows. Her death? A background detail. Her personality? Barely explored. Her potential? Completely wasted. And it only gets worse.
Captain Phasma was marketed like the next great Star Wars villain — chrome armor, commanding presence, endless hype. But across two films? Nothing. Not a backstory. Not a real arc. Not even one meaningful moment.
Mike Wheeler from Stranger Things went from group leader to afterthought, sidelined as other characters took over the spotlight. It’s not that he stopped being important — it’s that the script stopped showing it.
And then there’s Lexa from The 100 — a character whose death launched outrage, essays, charity movements, and a global conversation about representation. Fans didn’t just love her — they saw themselves in her. And the writers took all of that potential and threw it off a cliff for shock value.
But the number one spot belongs to Poussey Washington from Orange Is the New Black, a character who represented hope, humor, softness, and possibility. Her death wasn’t just heartbreaking — it was devastating, unnecessary, and emblematic of the injustices the series claimed to criticize. Her exit changed the show forever… and not for the better.
These were characters with power, depth, and stories worth finishing — and the writers dropped the ball. Hard.
So now it’s your turn: Which character do YOU think got done the dirtiest? Who deserved a redemption arc? A victory? Or at least… a better ending than the one they got?
Drop your picks in the comments — and as always, stay tuned to Next Of Ken for more top tens, deep dives, and nostalgic breakdowns of the characters we can’t stop thinking about.
