Rachel Berry is annoying.
Anyone who has watched the iconic 2009 musical comedy-drama Glee has probably thought this at least once. Her self-absorbed, irritating, and tone-deaf behavior has made her a heavy target of criticism since the show began airing. At times, the show’s over-the-top storylines only amplify these traits, leading viewers to dislike her character rather than dive deeper into her own insecurities and need for perfection.
Rachel Berry has qualities that do not make her a likeable character. She makes poor decisions that greatly support her own agenda. Rachel Berry is also bullied for years by the people who later turn out to be her friends. She is treated as an outcast, driven by pure loneliness and a need to succeed. She puts herself first, because nobody else did. Yet, ten years after the show ended, she is still treated as an annoying character who only ruined the lives of others.
After consuming any media with a morally questionable female character, many people will go straight to Letterbox reviews and TikTok comment sections to voice their opinion. The opinions are often oversimplified and do not provide a true overview of the character's backstory or internal dialogue. This phenomenon is relevant in young female characters, especially those targeted for teenagers and young adults (those whose brains are not fully developed).
This is not simply an issue of ignoring character development. Compared to their male counterparts, who often can do no wrong or have excuses made for them, women are scrutinized more for making mistakes, which is a direct reflection of the patriarchal society that we live in. Both media and everyday life lead us to expect a woman to be perfect, and a man to be met with grace when experiencing conflict.
Over the years, the phrase “you couldn’t even handle her” became popularized on social media sites when defending their favorite characters in reference to people wanting more complex female characters. The phrase challenges current viewers to reframe their understanding of the characters we currently have before inventing new women to hate.
For the last several summers, Belly Conklin from The Summer I Turned Pretty has been all the rage as the most unlikeable character. Belly is indecisive, unrealistic, and expects things from people who are unaware of her disease. Belly is also navigating the transition from childhood to adulthood while grappling with unexplainable grief. One of the most important aspects of her character that everyone conveniently forgets is in the very title of the show. Belly grew up thinking she was undesirable, and when she was overwhelmed with the idea that two of her best friends both wanted to be with her, she reacted poorly.
I am not defending every action that Rachel Berry or Belly Conklin has ever done. I don't think Rachel Berry is justified in sabotaging the foreign exchange students' audition. On the other hand, I can understand why she did it, because I recognize her insecurity about the one place she felt she belonged. I don’t believe that Belly should have made Susannah’s funeral about herself, considering that many people there also had similar relationships. However, I can also understand that she was a teenage girl who lost someone incredibly close to her.
There is a difference between justifying actions and understanding the circumstances that lead to a certain decision. Complex characters do not need to be innocent to deserve empathy. If we can give understanding to a man, we can certainly give the same understanding to a woman.
In the age of movie and TV reviews, I urge you to look deeper into the characters that make up your favorite media, and acknowledge why the unlikeable characters, especially female characters, have made the decisions that they have.
About the author: Mia Lange is a second-year student majoring in public relations and minoring in sociology.
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Cover image: https://www.pinterest.com/pin/456200637227015092/