19 Male Characters That Just Prove Not All Men Are Trash

    Klaus Mikaelson > everyone else.

    Lauren Garafano
    by Lauren Garafano

    BuzzFeed Staff

    We asked the BuzzFeed Community to share which male TV characters they hated at first but learned to love. Here's what they said:

    🚨Warning: There are MASSIVE spoilers ahead!🚨

    1. Jess Mariano from Gilmore Girls

    Jess staringly longingly for Rory, even though he claims to be "over it."
    Netflix

    "Watching him while he was simultaneously trying to be Rory's boyfriend and a ~badass~ was awful. I hated every scene he was in. But in the reboot, he becomes one the most successful, well-rounded characters and has some really great growth! I’m still hoping for another season to see him and Rory get together for good."

    —ashleys454fb1255

    2. Justin Foley from 13 Reasons Why

    Justin telling his friends that they're meant to go through shit, but they always make it out alive.
    Netflix

    "When we met him in Season 1, he was the worst. He did a lot of pretty horrible things and got involved in some messy shit. But then he had SOOO much character growth — more growth than anyone else in the series. He became someone that you wanted to root for. By the end, I found myself sobbing during his death because he deserved so much better."

    —allycostanzo8387

    3. Oscar "Spooky" Diaz from On My Block

    Spooky telling Cesar that his mother was never really around when he grew up.
    Netflix

    "When the show started, I seriously hated his guts. He was making Cesar become part of his gang and lose all the friends he had. It wasn’t until that scene on the beach when Spooky shared about his love for cooking that I realized he gave up everything to protect Cesar. I loved seeing him become more loose, relaxed, and funny in Season 2. By the time Season 3 came around, I was excited for his story more than anyone else. His character growth was a redemption arc at its finest, and watching him stand up for himself and leave the gang to be happy was so beautiful. I never would have thought that I would say Oscar Diaz is my favorite character, but here I am and I’m damn proud of it!"

    —megana459810788

    4. Theon Greyjoy from Game of Thrones

    Theon taking Sansa's hand as they getting ready to jump off the side of the castle together.
    HBO

    "Theon Greyjoy was a little sh*t, and then he was a heinous murderer. But by the end, I was cheering him on when he went to rescue Yara. I cried just as hard as Sansa did when he died."

    —aaronr41a39e0d1

    5. Rogelio de la Vega from Jane the Virgin

    Rogelio telling Rafael that Jane is a special girl and he should treat her right.
    The CW

    "He verrrrrrrry slowly became an especially lovable character despite his rough, self-centered beginning."

    —lexienicole

    6. Steve Harrington from Stranger Things

    Steve getting adorably excited when he realizes Dustin is back from summer camp.
    Netflix

    "At first, he was a big asshole and didn't care about anyone else’s feelings. As the show goes on, you really get to see the true mom side in him. He really does care about other people!"

    —lillym_24

    7. Tom Koracik from Grey's Anatomy

    Teddy guiding Tom through a panic attack during surgery.
    ABC

    "He came on the show and was pretty much an arrogant dick to everyone. But the more I learn about him and why he is the way he is, the more I like him. Also, he hates Owen Hunt and messes with him constantly, which makes me love Tom even more."

    —stephaniev23

    8. Nathaniel Plimpton III from Crazy Ex-Girlfriend

    Nathaniel telling Rebecca that she makes him feel like a better person.
    The CW

    "I hated him at the beginning. He just waltzed in like this rich amoral dude who was used to screwing everyone over. But as the series progresses, you realize how devoid of love he is. You start to see all the different sides of Nathaniel, including his insecurities and the negative impact his abusive father had on him. I absolutely fell in love with him."

    —shizhengt

    9. Zuko from Avatar: The Last Airbender

    Zuko practicing his apology and saying that he's good now.
    Nickelodeon

    "He started out as the antagonist and tried to capture Aang, but totally redeems himself by joining their group and helping restore balance to the world."

    —ehunter0713

    10. Captain Holt from Brooklyn Nine-Nine

    Captain Holt telling Jake to call himself "Velvet Thunder."
    NBC

    "Captain Holt from Brooklyn Nine-Nine, but he gets better literally in that same episode!"

    —elongb2015

    11. Lucifer from Lucifer

    Netflix

    "I thought he was just so disrespectful at first (he's Satan, duh). However, Chloe and Linda helped him evolve so much. I absolutely love him now."

    —matchamatcha

    12. Negan from The Walking Dead

    Negan saying, "Well, pardon me, young man. Excuse the shit out of my goddamn French, but did you just threaten me?"
    AMC

    "I thought I couldn’t forgive that douchebag for killing Glenn. But then I started to fall for him. It went from me being like, 'I love to hate him' to 'I hate that I love him.'”

    —donotgogentleintothatgoodnight

    13. Schmidt from New Girl

    Schmidt complaining about the neighborhood youths.
    Fox

    "Schmidt started off as the typical ~womanizer~ that everyone hated. But eventually, he turned out to be a really good husband, friend, and stay-at-home dad. He easily became one of my favorites on the show."

    —anjaxmiller

    14. Darryl Philbin from The Office

    NBC

    "Okay, so it's not that I disliked Darryl during the first season or two of The Office, but I think I was more indifferent toward him. His character was basically sidelined and only appeared when they needed someone to call Michael out on his bullshit (which obviously isn't his fault — that's on the show's writers). When he started becoming more of a primary cast member in the later seasons, his character was given actual ambitions and plotlines, rather than simply being the butt of the joke to Michael's ignorance or racism. He's someone you can't help but root for."

    —Spencer Althouse

    15. Alex Karev from Grey's Anatomy

    Alex telling Meredith that it's okay if she doesn't like her new ~love interest~ but if she does, that's okay too.
    ABC

    "At the beginning, he was the devil spawn and he was meant to be hated. But as the show went on, Alex had the best character arc — if you just ignore how he left the series. While I loved Cristina and Meredith's friendship, I think Alex was a more devoted friend to Meredith. He was there through all her highs and lows."

    —a407dcdcb7

    16. Daryl Dixon from The Walking Dead

    Daryl defending Rick and Michonne by sacrificing himself.
    AMC

    "In the first season, he was just like his brother Merle — awful, ignorant, and quick to submit to violence. But the more he distances himself from Merle, the more he grows and becomes a good man. Now, even though he can be violent at times, he tries to talk things through before going right to the kill."

    —jordans43125d2f3

    17. David Rose from Schitt's Creek

    David telling Stevie he wants to prove to everyone that he's not a joke.
    Pop

    "He starts out as bitter, insufferable, and pretty mean. Throughout the series, he slowly begins to let people in and you see him develop into a 'good' person, who finally sees himself worthy of love and genuine happiness. He becomes softer around the edges and a truly likable person, faults and all."

    —garbageinstarach

    18. Pacey Witter from Dawson's Creek

    Pacey telling Joey how he wants the world to see her the same way he does: classy, intelligent, beautiful, and more graceful than anyone on the planet.
    The WB

    "Pacey Witter had the best transformation ever! The show introduced him as a girl-chaser and an all-around selfish and superficial guy. Then, he grew to become one of the most wholesome and loveable characters on the show."

    —lindseyroe58

    19. Finally, Klaus Mikaelson from The Vampire Diaries and The Originals

    Klaus telling his daughter than nothing will ever hurt her because he'll always protect her.
    The CW

    "He started off as the main antagonist of the show and killed so many good characters. However, throughout the seasons and during his spin-off The Originals, he becomes such a sweetheart and a total heartthrob."

    —olivialukasik

    Responses have been edited for length and clarity.

    Did your faves make the list? Tell us in the comments!