Television is usually divided into heroes and villains, good characters and bad characters. What happens when a seemingly bad character suddenly becomes one of the most beloved characters on a show? Here are four female characters who went from most hated to most beloved.
4. Mellie Grant ("Scandal")
Most First Ladies of the United States, both real and fictional, are usually lovable women. However, when we first meet Mellie Grant, played by Bellamy Young, viewers are less than happy with her character. Mellie is seen as mean, snarky, weak and nothing more than a roadblock to Fitz (Tony Goldwin) and Olivia’s (Kerry Washington) relationship. We found ourselves asking “why is she still with him?” As the seasons went on, we learned Mellie’s backstory and soon found ourselves sympathizing with her and rooting for her. Mellie Grant has become a symbol of empowerment for many women, giving them courage. Who didn’t feel a sense of girl power after Mellie stood in the middle of the senate and argued for women’s healthcare? Many more of us will be rooting for her as she makes her bid for the presidency when the show returns for its 6th season.
#MellieGrantforPresident
3. Pamela Swynford De Beaufort ("True Blood")
What’s there to love about a
vampire? When she first appears on the show, Pam (played by Kristin Bauer Van
Straten) is anything but likable. She is rude, crass, and has no respect for
anyone, person or vampire. The only person Pam seems even remotely warm towards
is her maker Eric and later, her progeny Tara. Pam has always been this way,
even in her human days when she was a brothel owner. However, by the show's end,
Pam became one of the show’s most popular characters. Maybe it was her wit, her
ridiculously funny barbs, or her killer sense of style; it doesn’t matter, Pam
is a character we will always love.
2. Addison Forbes Montgomery ("Grey’s Anatomy" and "Private Practice")
When we meet the former Mrs.
Derek Shepherd, she is dressed in all Black and delivers one of the most iconic
lines on television, “Hi, I’m Addison Shepherd, and you must be the woman who’s
been screwing my husband.” She was hated both by fans as well as on the show,
earning the nickname “Satan” from her ex-husband. It didn’t help that audiences
later learned that she had cheated on her ex-husband with his best friend Mark
Sloan (Eric Dane). As the show progressed, Addison soon gained sympathy as well
as love from fans. She gained so much love that she received her own spin-off
series, "Private Practice." For six seasons, we got to see the beloved Neonatal
Surgeon (played by Kate Walsh) struggle with finding her footing in a new
co-operative practice in Los Angeles as well as her struggles with having a
child and her very messy and extremely complicated family and love life. In the
end, she finally found happiness with Dr. Jake Reilly (Benjamin Bratt) as well
as the chance at motherhood when she adopted her son Henry at the end of the
show’s 5
th season.
1. Regina Mills ("Once Upon a Time")
How can the Evil Queen from Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs become a beloved character? It’s simple; give her an incredible backstory, cast a phenomenal actress, (Lana Parrilla, where are your awards girl?!) and present a storyline of love, hope, redemption, and family. Thus, you get Regina Mills, perhaps one of the most popular villains on television today. In case you think I’m lying, she’s been voted as TV Guide’s most favorite villain several years in a row. We’ve seen this iconic character battle with her instincts to do good when she wants to do evil. No other character has had their happiness tested time after time after time like our beloved queen. The message that Regina provides millions of fans with each week is that good can come from broken and that evil isn’t born, it’s made. However, with the way the show’s 5th season ended, many fans are wondering if Regina’s evil side will make a return now that she’s managed to split the two personalities thanks to a serum that was used by Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde. Either way, we will continue to watch Regina’s journey towards redemption…even if some of us will forever be bitter about the death of Robin Hood.
#LongLivetheQueen
