By the way, if we disagree about Betty, I hope you can agree female characters generally monopolize the roles most of the audience hates. It’s not in my opinion because we can’t accept women as flawed, complicated characters. I believe it’s because they’re mot written as well, though maybe I exaggerate. Whether or not it’s because mist writers are men, well, it’s just a theory.
There are plenty of unlikeable as human beings female characters who come off better than Lori. Andrea on The Walking Dead, for instance. Katy Sagal on Sons of Anarchy is an extreme example who gets away with it. I dislike Peggy on Mad Men not as much as Don, but enough. She’s nevertheless a great character.
People write what they know. Most writers rooms are male dominated, and of course writers don’t tend to be the most socially accomplished people in the world. So the male writer’s interaction with women tend toward the extremes, they tend to be highly desirable, and either untouchable, or man hating (because guys that get turned down a lot don’t tend to ask what the common denominator was).
Mad Men is an interesting case for a couple of reasons. 1 being that the room is like 80% women. But the other interesting thing is that when you really think about it almost none of the characters are likable. All the men are philandering POSes. Most of the women are shallow and catty, except for Peggy who wants to be one of the guys so bad I’m surprised she hasn’t gone les. Peter’s wife is probably the most likable character on the show, but her problem is she’s unaware of how viciously and constantly she emasculates Peter.
But yeah for the most part women in TV and movies tend towards the unlikable. Even when they try to make a “positive strong” female she’s usually a bitch.