Annoying Buffy Characters Fans Still Can't Stand

Hey Buffy fans! It's been over two decades since Buffy the Vampire Slayer first graced our screens, and the show remains a cult classic. But let's be real, not every character was a winner. Some characters just rubbed us the wrong way, and even after all these years, the annoyance lingers. So, let's dive into the 15 most annoying Buffy the Vampire Slayer characters that fans still can't stand!

1. Riley Finn

Ah, Riley. Where do we even begin? Riley Finn, Buffy's super-soldier boyfriend, was supposed to be the stable, normal guy after the brooding intensity of Angel. But guys, he just came off as bland and insecure. His main problem was his inability to deal with Buffy's strength and destiny as the Slayer. He constantly felt emasculated by her powers, leading to a whole lot of whining and a ridiculously misguided affair with a vampire den. Seriously, Riley? His constant need for validation and his inability to accept Buffy for who she was makes him one of the most frustrating characters in the entire series. We get it, being a superhero's boyfriend isn't easy, but Riley's approach was just so… annoying. He lacked the depth and complexity of other love interests like Angel and Spike, making his relationship with Buffy feel forced and ultimately unfulfilling for many fans. Let’s not forget his dramatic exit, joining another demon-fighting organization because he couldn't handle being Buffy's equal. It felt like a cop-out and cemented his place on this list. So, for his insecurity, his blandness, and his inability to appreciate the amazing woman he was with, Riley Finn takes the top spot as one of the most annoying characters on Buffy.

2. Dawn Summers

Okay, okay, before you come at me with pitchforks, hear me out. Dawn's arrival in season five was… jarring, to say the least. Suddenly, Buffy had a younger sister, and we were all supposed to just accept it? The retcon was a bit much for some viewers. Beyond the logistics, Dawn Summers herself often felt like a plot device rather than a fully realized character. Her constant need for attention, her whininess, and her penchant for getting into trouble made her a magnet for danger, often putting Buffy and the Scooby Gang at risk. While we understand she was a teenager dealing with a lot, her actions sometimes felt incredibly selfish and immature, even for a teenage girl in Sunnydale. Look, we know she eventually became a valuable member of the team and her arc in later seasons showed growth, but those early seasons were rough. The constant screaming, the door slamming, the general teenage angst dialed up to eleven – it was a lot to handle. And let's not forget the Key storyline, while crucial to the overall narrative, it initially made Dawn feel more like a magical MacGuffin than a person. So yeah, Dawn's got a spot on this list, even if we appreciate her contributions later on.

3. Professor Maggie Walsh

Professor Maggie Walsh, the head of the Initiative, was a brilliant scientist, but her cold, calculating demeanor and her willingness to experiment on humans (and vampires!) made her a major antagonist. Her secret project, Adam, a Frankenstein-esque monster made of demon parts, robot parts, and human parts, was a testament to her ambition and her lack of ethical boundaries. Guys, she saw living beings as lab rats, and that's just messed up. Her manipulative nature and her attempts to control Buffy made her a formidable foe, but also a deeply unlikeable character. She treated Riley like a puppet, pulling his strings and exploiting his insecurities. Her obsession with control and her belief that she knew what was best for everyone led to disastrous consequences. Maggie Walsh represents the dangers of unchecked ambition and the dehumanizing effects of scientific hubris. Her actions were a constant threat to Buffy and the Scooby Gang, and her ultimate demise was hardly mourned by fans. She was a brilliant villain, yes, but also incredibly annoying in her self-righteousness and lack of empathy.

4. Andrew Wells

Oh, Andrew. Where do we even begin with this guy? Andrew Wells, one-third of the infamous Trio, started out as a bumbling, comic relief villain, but his presence became increasingly grating as the series progressed. While his attempts at evil were often laughable, his constant stream of pop culture references and his inability to take anything seriously, even in the face of danger, wore thin pretty quickly. Andrew's hero worship of Warren and his willingness to follow his lead, even when it was clear Warren was a sociopath, was baffling and frustrating. He often acted as the comic relief, but his humor frequently fell flat, and his presence often detracted from the seriousness of the situation. In the later seasons, his attempts at redemption felt somewhat forced, and his continued presence in the Scooby Gang was a point of contention for many viewers. While he had moments of genuine remorse and even bravery, his earlier actions and his generally annoying personality made it hard to fully embrace him as a hero. He was the Jar Jar Binks of Buffy, if you will – a character that many fans just couldn't get behind.

5. Warren Mears

Speaking of The Trio, let's talk about Warren Mears, the leader and the most reprehensible member of the group. Warren was a misogynistic, controlling, and ultimately evil character. His creation of the Buffybot, his manipulation of Katrina, and his ultimate murder of Tara cemented his place as one of the most hated villains in the Buffyverse. His actions had devastating consequences for Buffy and the Scooby Gang, and his lack of remorse made him all the more despicable. Warren's inability to see women as anything other than objects to be controlled and manipulated was a recurring theme, and his behavior was consistently appalling. Even his intelligence and technical skills couldn't redeem his deeply flawed character. He was a classic example of a villain who is both intelligent and utterly lacking in empathy, making him a truly terrifying and annoying antagonist.

6. Connor

Okay, so Connor technically belongs to the Angel universe, but his presence in Buffy's life during the sixth season crossover arc was… memorable, for all the wrong reasons. Connor, Angel's son, was raised in a hell dimension and returned as a brooding, angry teenager with a serious daddy-issue. His constant angst and his violent outbursts made him a difficult character to sympathize with, even considering his traumatic past. His actions were often impulsive and reckless, putting himself and others in danger. While his backstory was tragic, his constant brooding and his inability to communicate his feelings in a healthy way made him a frustrating character to watch. He was like the angsty teenager stereotype dialed up to eleven, and his interactions with Buffy and the Scooby Gang were often strained and uncomfortable.

7. Principal Snyder

Principal Snyder, the perpetually grumpy and power-hungry principal of Sunnydale High, was a thorn in Buffy's side from the very beginning. His unwavering dedication to maintaining order and his complete disregard for the supernatural made him both a comic and a frustrating character. He was constantly trying to expel Buffy and her friends, often for ridiculous reasons, and his by-the-book approach to everything clashed spectacularly with the reality of living in a town on the Hellmouth. While he provided some comedic relief, his constant antagonism towards Buffy and the Scooby Gang made him a consistently annoying presence. He was the epitome of the oblivious authority figure, completely unaware of the dangers lurking beneath the surface of Sunnydale.

8. The Gentlemen

While technically villains rather than characters, The Gentlemen deserve a mention for their sheer creepiness and the unsettling silence they brought to Sunnydale. These demonic creatures stole the voices of the entire town, making them unable to scream while the Gentlemen extracted their hearts. The episode featuring The Gentlemen is considered one of the scariest in the series, and their silent, menacing presence is truly disturbing. They are a testament to the show's ability to create truly terrifying monsters, and their memorable appearance makes them worthy of a spot on this list, even if they aren't technically individual characters.

9. Kathy Newman

Kathy Newman, Buffy's college roommate, was the epitome of the annoying, perky college student. Her constant singing, her obsession with crafts, and her general cluelessness made her a source of irritation for Buffy and for viewers alike. It turned out she was a demon stealing Buffy's essence, but even before that reveal, her annoying personality made her a character fans loved to hate. She was the embodiment of the roommate you'd dread getting assigned to, and her presence in the early college episodes was a constant source of discomfort for Buffy.

10. Olivia

Oz's girlfriend, Olivia, was introduced after Oz left Sunnydale. She was a werewolf, like Oz, and she and Willow bonded over their shared experiences. However, Olivia was really annoying because she represented a love triangle between Oz and Willow, which is very annoying for the fans of the ship. In addition, she wasn't charming like Oz, or Willow so she was a flat character that was used to cause problems, but never had any interesting plot of her own.

11. Clem

Clem, the lovable demon, is a character that divides fans. While some find his laid-back attitude and his love of kittens endearing, others find him annoying and unnecessary. His presence often felt like comic relief for the sake of comic relief, and his character never really evolved beyond that. While he had some funny moments, his overall contribution to the series felt minimal, and his constant presence sometimes felt grating.

12. Sunday

Sunday, the leader of a vampire gang at UC Sunnydale, was a particularly nasty and superficial vampire. Her attitude was annoying because she did everything she could to feel superior, which was unlikable for the fans. Her death was one of the most gratifying, because she was a bully that used and mistreated others. She was so annoying that fans did not care for the first vampire Buffy slayed in college.

13. Holden Webster

Holden Webster, a student in Sunnydale High, was not evil but definitely creepy. He was trying to obtain the powers of the slayer, and he made several attempts on Buffy's life. His behavior was really unsettling, and his obsession with Buffy was not appropriate, he was disturbing and annoying. He was one of the few people who tried to exploit Buffy and her powers, he was more than annoying because he represents obsession.

14. Gwendoline Post

Gwendoline Post, a Watcher filling in for Giles, was a controlling and interfering woman who thought she was better than everyone else. She wanted to take the reins on Buffy's training and life, even going behind Buffy's back to get what she wanted. Gwendoline was not someone to trust, and it made the fans feel uneasy and annoyed.

15. Veruca

Veruca, a werewolf and a singer of a band that Oz liked, was very aggressive and tried to seduce Oz many times while he was dating Willow. She was very persistent and it was annoying that she did not respect the relationship Oz had with Willow, she did not have boundaries which made Veruca an annoying character.

So, there you have it – 15 of the most annoying Buffy the Vampire Slayer characters that fans still can't stand after all these years. Do you agree with our list? Who would you add? Let us know in the comments below!