Least favourite/most disliked WoT character?

Lyndo Shiranui

Aes Sedai
Joined
Apr 25, 2019
Messages
6,129
Age
28
Location
Istanbul, Turkey
Pronouns
  1. He - Him
Discord
Gildor Inglorion#6104
Least favourite:

1. Elaida; I just... can't...
2. Gawyn; he is almost side by side with Elaida when it comes to stupidity, but Gawyn at least tries to be a good person... Oh no, I've just remembered him killing innocent Warders, nevermind.
3. Elayne; everyone can tell Gawyn and Elayne are relatives. Just because of Elayne's stupidity lots of people have vanished from the Pattern. Before that I had no problem with her.
4. Whitecloaks... all of them...
5. Almost all the Seafolk
6. Perrin; without Faile he wouldn't be able to gather all the Two Rivers folk under one banner. Trying to teach him something is so hard, always whining about not wanting being a leader... I have no problem with Faile, she is smart when it comes to leadership and politics. I just don't like the povs of her and Perrin at the times when she was kidnapped.
7. Rand; I don't know why, I consider him too blind to see the most basic things in life. 'I have to be like stone, iron, mithril etc.' 'I can't stand a woman's death, even if she is cruel as fun like Semirhage' He is so cringe.
 
Last edited:
Joined
Apr 18, 2020
Messages
21
Location
Phoenix, AZ
I have never really had people that I have hated in the series. There are a couple of actions that are annoying but it had a real feeling to it. I know many dislike the lack of communication and how many problems could just be solved if people would talk...real talk. But I think this is true to life in general and might have been a hidden message Mr. Jordan was trying to tell us. May take their perception of what people said instead of talking about it. I am just as bad about this. I tend to be in my own head alot and think too much or just assume someone's action and motivation are one way. Only to find out it was something completely different.

That being said, I enjoyed hearing peoples perceptions of the different characters and what they brought up in people. Elaida, Sevanah and her cronies/detractors, Colavaere, Taim, and his cronies (or detractors), and Whitecloaks were not mentioned as much as i expected. I was also surprised Logain was not mentioned at all (or I missed it).

I appreciated the angst but sometimes it was cringe worthy and Rand lead that boat on many occasions by pressure and trying to rigidly stick to what they believe they should be most of the times causes lots of trauma because of the inward struggle and not accepting the balance of internal and external influences.

Sorry, I didn't answer the question.It would take me a while and probably another reread to decide on one or two.
 

Ilverin Matriam

Aes Sedai
Director of Research and Records
Historian
Joined
Jul 28, 2006
Messages
13,844
Pronouns
  1. She - Her
I have never really had people that I have hated in the series.

Everytime I see a chapter with Whitecloaks or Seanchan in it... I feel hatred... Like, really! Or maybe I despise them, I don't know, but it's a strong feeling :indifferent:

I cannot imagine how a writer comes up with such characters that readers feel such hatred towards. I bet it's easier to write good and likable character than characters that one day someone would say that they hate in their guts :laugh:
 
Joined
Apr 18, 2020
Messages
21
Location
Phoenix, AZ
Everytime I see a chapter with Whitecloaks or Seanchan in it... I feel hatred... Like, really! Or maybe I despise them, I don't know, but it's a strong feeling :indifferent:

I cannot imagine how a writer comes up with such characters that readers feel such hatred towards. I bet it's easier to write good and likable character than characters that one day someone would say that they hate in their guts :laugh:

Absolutely, bigotry and slavery are two actions that will earn a very strong avoidance from me. They make me feel uncomfortable and do not like to be around them. Robert Jordan does a very good job in encompassing those types of people in the Seanchan and Whitecloak culture. The departure of reason with hatred in those characters can be very annoying and unnerving. It is so hard to understand their point of view and even work in a common ground. Most of the Seanchan are ok people on a whole but that one glaring cornerstone of their culture is simply unnerving. They are great administrators and peacekeepers but damane and da'covale have to go - except maybe as a punishment though a time limit should be given on the sentence (plus the entitled imperialism).
 

Estelyn Blackfyre

Previously known as Brynden Blackfyre
Aes Sedai
Joined
Apr 24, 2020
Messages
439
Age
48
Location
Asshai by the Shadow
Pronouns
  1. She - Her
Discord
Brynden Blackfyre#4999
My likes and dislikes have changed over time. But these characters almost always made the list.

1. Elaida - Because she is literally the worst. She is like what happens if the sum of every bad boss you ever had suddenly developed the ability to kill you with their mind.

2. Semirhage - I don't even understand why someone didn't balefire her back during the Age of Legends. She is way too scary to just leave running around. Come to think of it that is exactly what happens to her in the books. Can you imagine how annoyed how Ishy had to be to let that happen?

3. Rhadam Asunawa - Really everyone in the Hand of the Light. Anyone twisted enough to run that outfit is seriously bad news.

4. Mazarim Taim - Proof that Lews Therin isn't always wrong. Also, President and Founder of the Demandred Fan Club, an individual who is truly lacking in merit enough to deserve one.
 
Joined
May 12, 2010
Messages
3,308
Location
Maryland, USA
Elayne. She is the most selfish character in the whole series, imo. She left her country in chaos because she somehow thought she just HAD to be running around with Egwene and Nynaeve. I can't begin to express the complete disgust I have for Elayne. No emoji is sufficient. Just. no.
 

Jocasta Braithe

Aes Sedai
Joined
Apr 4, 2019
Messages
8,189
Location
Maine
Pronouns
  1. She - Her
Tylin. The way she treats Mat is HORRIBLE. And I'm not a founding member of the Mat fan club either. Nobody deserves that kind of treatment. I suspect that's the response RJ was trying to provoke, but ye gods. /shudder

I also really dislike the fridging of Dena.
 

Jocasta Braithe

Aes Sedai
Joined
Apr 4, 2019
Messages
8,189
Location
Maine
Pronouns
  1. She - Her
I really despise Lanfear too. Her manipulative tactics and overconfidence remind me of people I don't like in real life.
 

Alora Sionn

Mama Wolf
Gaidin
Joined
Oct 30, 2012
Messages
44,898
I'm with you on Tylin, I don't think abuse is cute
 

Jocasta Braithe

Aes Sedai
Joined
Apr 4, 2019
Messages
8,189
Location
Maine
Pronouns
  1. She - Her

Maiel Sanvar

Citizen
Joined
Sep 11, 2019
Messages
59
Location
USA
I don't like Faile especially in book 9. Doesn't even think of Perrin who is going can't rest until she's found. Can't stand Avendhia and Elayne is pretty much centered on herself, complaining and too focused on her status.
 
Joined
Aug 10, 2020
Messages
4
Location
US
Gwayne is my least favorite character. Like, he's the only one who makes me roll my eyes when he shows up. Part of the problem is he basically vanishes for the entirety of the chess piece books (the books where RJ moves his characters where he needs them to be for The Last Battle), and so we don't get to know a single thing about him other than he hates Rand, thinks he loves Egwene, and is 100% unable to make a single good choice ever.
 

Merena Orithana

Aes Sedai
Joined
May 19, 2021
Messages
4,252
Location
Illinois
Pronouns
  1. She - Her
I thought maybe this would fit in here.

@Juliya Karisu Sedai's meme in WoT memes thread reminded me of a character that always bothered me.

Why/How did Asmodean get to be one of the Forsaken (vice regular old darkfriend)? I get why he joined the DO - apparently wanted to be immortal and listen to/learn all the music, but why did the DO place him so high in his list of favorite folks?
Not sure if I actively dislike him, though. Just mildly annoyed. :laugh:
 

Toral Delvar

Gaidin
Archivist
Joined
Oct 28, 2002
Messages
5,629
Location
Ann Arbor, MI, US
According to Robert Jordan (from his blog)
The criteria for rising among the Forsaken boils down to a combination of effectiveness and ruthlessness. Asmodean may have held few field commands, but he was quite effective as a governor and administrator. Even the Shadow needs those
 

Merena Orithana

Aes Sedai
Joined
May 19, 2021
Messages
4,252
Location
Illinois
Pronouns
  1. She - Her
@Toral Delvar Gaidin - Interesting! I guess I will have to add RJ blogs onto my TBR list after New Spring to get all these tidbits! :laugh:
 

Merena Orithana

Aes Sedai
Joined
May 19, 2021
Messages
4,252
Location
Illinois
Pronouns
  1. She - Her
:omg:wave
 

Leala ni al'Dareis t'al'Caleum

Anime Sensei
Aes Sedai
Mayor
Joined
Nov 21, 2012
Messages
35,439
Age
37
Location
Lost in the zemai
Pronouns
  1. She - Her
Least favourite:

1. Elaida; I just... can't...
SAME. I know there was supposed to be some sort of sympathy with her at some point, but I can't find it within me. I just found a vindictive, "Yeah, she deserves that and everything coming to her."

2. Gawyn; he is almost side by side with Elaida when it comes to stupidity, but Gawyn at least tries to be a good person... Oh no, I've just remembered him killing innocent Warders, nevermind.
Gawyn is one of those characters whose faults I feel lay more with the writer than with the character. Everyone was off having adventures and growing, and he ended up being an afterthought sooooo...he ended up being obsessed with protecting his love interest. What does bug me for him was when he was faced with Egwene's growth and refused to accept it. That was 100% not okay.

3. Elayne; everyone can tell Gawyn and Elayne are relatives. Just because of Elayne's stupidity lots of people have vanished from the Pattern. Before that I had no problem with her.
Weeeeeell, he had to give her lots of faults, otherwise she would be a gorgeous, powerful (in more than one way), faultless royal, then I really would hate her. :laugh: She needed room to grow.

6. Perrin; without Faile he wouldn't be able to gather all the Two Rivers folk under one banner. Trying to teach him something is so hard, always whining about not wanting being a leader... I have no problem with Faile, she is smart when it comes to leadership and politics. I just don't like the povs of her and Perrin at the times when she was kidnapped.
I learned a lot about myself and how I relate to my anxiety disorder with Perrin and these chapters. He and I both came out of it stronger, you gotta admit. ;)

7. Rand; I don't know why, I consider him too blind to see the most basic things in life. 'I have to be like stone, iron, mithril etc.' 'I can't stand a woman's death, even if she is cruel as fun like Semirhage' He is so cringe.
Rand is another one who is relatable with mental health struggles. (Could do without the obsession about misogyny, though.) Another thing I've taken into consideration during my subsequent re-reads...he is REALLY FREAKING YOUNG to take on all this responsibility. I would probably take on a lot of unhealthy coping mechanisms too. :look:
 
Top