I hate so-called "cool, calm, and collected" characters being presented as superior beings that are shown being correct so often that the consumer take-away message is that being emotionally cold and abrasive makes them smart too. :reddit-logo: worshiped characters like that pretty much since Digg collapsed and also LARPed as being the same way in their own self-descriptions. The "misanthropic genius asshole flattered by the script and by total screen time" cliche is related to this too.
I hate when the bad guy is able to easily sow mistrust between characters who are supposed to be lifelong friends. You know, making accusations without any evidence and then the heroes start to doubt each other. It's like don't you see that the bad guy has a reason to make you believe them and wants you to fail in your goal? They have every reason to lie and if anything, you should just talk it out.
Another is when the bad guy joins the party and still does a lot of their evil things like killing but it's okay now because they're on the good side now. Kinda takes away from the reality that certain actions are bad regardless of what side you're on.
I can't stand young-looking old or ancient characters who are just an excuse to make them look cool or worse, used as an excuse to sexualize someone who looks like a child. It's such a wasted trope sometimes. An ancient person could have stories about their experience of the world or contribute with their insight in some other way. I think Umbrella Academy has a lot of flaws but I thought 5 was a cool exploration of a character like that.
Star Trek Discovery is loaded with this one, especially with having the mass murdering empress of the Terran Empire as a quirky quippy party member that everyone apparently likes and eventually misses. :scared-fash:
Hitler as a girlboss