When we watch our favorite TV shows, we connect with the characters. But what happens when those characters are unstable, and we love them and hate them at the same time? We don’t quite know what to do with them because we never know what they’re going to do next.
Their unpredictable nature is what keeps us watching. They add spice to every storyline whether we like them or not, and they take us on a ride like no other!
We love that part, don’t we?
Whether we root for them or not, and whether we love them or hate them, one thing we do is watch them, and we enjoy every minute of it.
Do you have an unstable character in mind yet? Flip through our list of the top 17 most unstable characters and see if yours made the cut. If they didn’t, add yours to the comments.
Gregory House – House
House is brilliant, it’s true, but his drug addiction coupled with his narcissism and arrogance, make him one unstable dude. You never know what’s going to come out of his mouth, but you know the person on the receiving end is going to hate it. It’s surprising he wasn’t smacked more on the show!
Are we the only ones who find him sexy?
Carrie Mathison – Homeland
Carrie takes bipolar to a whole ‘nother level as a CIA agent in Homeland. Those faces alone show you how crazy she is, and she doesn’t have to say a word.
She can’t blame everything on her disorder; however, because her decisions are shoddy at best, even on her meds. If she hasn’t already, Carrie Mathison will have you screaming at the TV.
Elliot Stabler – Law & Order: SVU
It’s no coincidence Dick Wolf chose Elliot’s last name as Stabler. It was obviously a joke because Elliot Stabler is anything but. He’s a great detective, ex-Marine, dedicated husband, partner and father.
Granted.
Put him in that interrogation room or in the court room, though, and you never know what to expect. Two words: anger issues!
Kai Anderson – American Horror Story: Cult
If you’re a fan of American Horror Story, you know that Evan Peters has played some unstable characters, but few hold a candle to Kai Anderson. He was messed up. Even the members of his cult didn’t know what he was going to do next!
He went from charasmatic politician, to murderer, to hurt little brother without batting an eye.
That terrible blue hair dye job alone could’ve landed him on this list!
Cosmo Kramer – Seinfeld
Not all unstable characters have to be dark, just look at Cosmo Kramer. This Seinfeld character shows that you can be insane and hilarious at the same time.
From erasing street divider lines to feeding Bette Midler pineapple italian ice, Kramer keeps TV viewers on their toes with his craziness. That’s why we love him.
Ben Linus – LOST
Who could forget Ben Linus from LOST? You never knew what side he was on. Was he good or bad? It’s hard to tell. Since you never knew what side he was on, you didn’t know what he would do next.
Once you thought you had him figured out, Ben proved you wrong. What a crazy roller coaster.
Troy Otto – Fear the Walking Dead
Troy wasn’t on Fear the Walking Dead for long, but boy did he make an impact. He did some horrendous things and was a psychopath, but his charisma and his pain drew you in. He had an endearing quality that he likely shares with other psychos.
Madison saw something in him. Did you?
Joyce Beyers – Stranger Things
Maybe if you were dealing with the upside down and the government secrets Joyce has had to deal with on Stranger Things, you would be unstable too. Sometimes you want to just grab her by the shoulders and remind her to breathe!
Joyce is a cross between a bipolar person stuck on manic and a nervous wreck.
Walter Bishop – Fringe
Yes, we know, it’s not Walter’s fault. Time travel and all. Let’s face it, though, he’s done a little too much LSD in his day.
We love Walter and all of his brilliant insanity, but you never know where his ideas will take us. His instability makes him such an interesting and funny character to watch.
Who couldn’t love an unstable guy whose best friend is a cow?
Martin Riggs – Lethal Weapon
A tragic character in Lethal Weapon, Riggs defines unstable. One minute he’s playing a who’s on first routine with Murtaugh, making us laugh, the next he’s jumping out of a building and thinking about eating his gun.
Don’t do that, Riggs, get some help. We love you and your insanity.
Negan – The Walking Dead
We love to hate to love Negan. Don’t we? He’s irresistible with his charms, but he bashes somebody’s brains in or burns their face off, and we remember we hate him.
Then he swaggers in and gives us that look and wags that silver tongue, and makes us forget he’s a bad guy. Love him or hate him, you never know what Negan’s going to do.
Howling Mad Murdock – The A Team
Although some of Murdocks issues may have stemmed from Vietnam War induced PTSD, he was living in a mental institution, regularly escaping to join The A Team on their adventures.
He talked to inadimate objects, hallucinated, and channeled fictional characters. Fun guy to spend a Saturday night with!
Cersei Lannister – Game of Thrones
Not only is the love of her life and father of her children Cersei’s own brother, but her decision NOT to send troops to the North was insane. She’s so concerned with staying on the throne, she’s risking all their lives.
You never know what someone with her mindset is going to do, so it’s hard to take your eyes off her when she’s on screen.
Kimberly Shaw – Melrose Place
Kimberly started out mild-mannered enough, but good old Michael finally drove her insane and she slowly unraveled over the years. Totally not her fault, but she made a pretty convincing crazy person and was fun to watch.
Gaius Baltar – Battlestar Galactica
Gaius Baltar was the best and the worst of humanity rolled into one. He put self-preservation above all else and his intelligence helped him manipulate effectively to get what he wanted.
Sure he sold humanity to the Cylons, but he also chose to stay on the Galactica to rescue Hera. Completely selfless.
So, what are we going to do with him? Pick a lane, Gaius.
Morgan – Fear the Walking Dead
Ever since Morgan lost his wife and kids to the walkers, he’s been on the edge of savity and crossed over a few times. We saw a glimpse of it in The Walking Dead when he went on a murderous rampage.
But Morgan’s a good guy! No, really.
Villanelle – Killing Eve
It’s never been so fun watching someone so undone. We have no doubt the fashionable serial assassin will only be more fascinatingly unhinged as the first season continues and going into the already renewed second season she’ll give Eve more than an urge to kill her with her bare hands.
Watch this one closely.
Villanelle may be the newest entry on the list, but she’s going to last. If she doesn’t, she’ll find the most delightful way to enter your life and kill you while you think she’s your new best friend. Minutes later, she’ll revel in the life as it drains out of your eyes.
