32 TV Siblings Who Still Get Under Our Skin Today

You may recall the mischievous children and overbearing older siblings from sitcom families that are often meant to be comedic? In all honesty, I don’t find their bothersome mannerisms particularly amusing, and at times, I even feel a sense of unease when they appear on screen. Instead, I eagerly await their departure from the show. Here are some examples of the grating TV siblings I am referring to.

Megan Parker (Drake & Josh)

In most episodes of Nickelodeon’s show Drake & Josh, the two main characters, Drake Bell and Josh Nichols (who portrayed the titular stepbrothers), often found themselves in trouble, but this was mostly their own doing. Despite this, they frequently suffered at the hands of their younger sister Megan (played by Miranda Cosgrove). At first, her pranks were cute and playful, but as she grew older, they became remarkably cunning and even potentially dangerous, making Megan a character in fiction who was best not to cross.

Bobby Brady (The Brady Bunch)

Frankly speaking, I believe that every child from “The Brady Bunch” had some irritating qualities. Yet, Bobby stood out, not only due to being the youngest boy, but also because he found innovative methods to irritate the rest of them across various episodes.

Trina Vega (Victorious)

Trina Vega, portrayed by Daniella Monet on Nickelodeon’s Victorious, and the older sister of the central character Tori Vega (played by Victoria Justice), embodies the kind of individual that truly grinds my gears. Her unapologetic self-centeredness, coupled with her inflated beliefs about her beauty and talent, have left her bereft of any semblance of humility. Convinced she is entitled to belittle anyone she perceives as inferior, which seems to be almost everyone she interacts with, only serves to exacerbate my annoyance.

Sue Heck (The Middle)

The sitcom titled “The Middle” presents a family with children who can sometimes be irritating, but it’s Sue Heck (portrayed by Eden Sher) that seems to stir the most discontent among viewers. While certain fans appreciate Sue’s uninhibited optimism, others think she might tone it down a bit.

Stephanie Tanner (Full House)

It’s safe to say that fans of the classic sitcom “Full House” would likely concur that the show’s most grating character isn’t a part of the combined core family, but rather D.J.’s best friend, Kimmy Gibbler, portrayed by Andrea Barber. Nevertheless, when it comes to the Tanner clan, middle child Stephanie (played by Jodie Sweetin) would undoubtedly be the one to top the list, particularly during the early seasons. She was known for her dramatic and bratty behavior, and she often withheld crucial information because as she put it, “nobody asked” her about it.

Brad Taylor (Home Improvement)

Almost every character in the “Home Improvement” series has their appealing qualities, but I find that Brad Taylor (Zachary Ty Bryan), Tim (Tim Allen) and Jill’s (Patricia Richardson) oldest son, is perhaps the least endearing. Initially, he was infamous for bullying his younger brother Mark, and as he grew older, his intellect seemed to deteriorate rather than improve.

Pim Diffy (Phil Of The Future)

In Disney Channel’s sci-fi sitcom Phil of the Future, it was Pim Diffy, younger sister of Phil, who frequently came close to exposing their true identities as a family from the 22nd Century living in the past. This was due to her habit of using futuristic devices for personal advantage and her ambition to rule the world with those same gadgets.

Caillou (Caillou)

In the show “Caillou,” the main character, who was four years old, had a younger sister named Rosie. However, Caillou often acted like the biggest baby in the family, and his constant whining and tantrums were so frustrating that I, as a child myself, stopped enjoying watching PBS’ version of the illustrated Canadian children’s books based on his behavior.

Tonya (Everybody Hates Chris)

As a movie enthusiast, I can’t help but draw parallels between Tonya from Everybody Hates Chris and the consequences of overindulgent parenting, as portrayed by her father, Julius. In this series, we see a chilling depiction of how such parenting styles can breed a domineering and cruel child, particularly towards the oldest sibling, Chris (played by Tyler James Williams, a talented actor who continues to shine in the industry today).

Reese (Malcolm In The Middle)

Among the characters in “Malcolm in the Middle,” it’s often debated that Dewey, played by Erik Per Sullivan, is the most irritating. However, compared to Reese (Justin Berfield), the second oldest brother, Dewey stands out with his intelligence and self-control. Unfortunately, Reese seemed to enjoy being disobedient, which was worsened by his lack of good judgment.

Candace Flynn (Phineas And Ferb)

In simpler terms, I’m troubled by the fact that the main characters from the popular Disney Channel show, Phineas and Ferb, always strive to have an amazing summer vacation. Yet, their older sister Candace seems intent on spoiling their fun for unclear and self-centered reasons, when she really ought to learn to take things easy.

Stewie Grffin (Family Guy)

To be honest, among all those irritating television siblings, I find myself appreciating Stewie Griffin, voiced by Seth MacFarlane in Family Guy, quite amusing due to his sophisticated infant demeanor. Yet, I’ve never been able to comprehend why he is so determined to kill his mother, Lois (played by Alex Borstein).

Kyra Rockmore (Kenan & Kel)

Upon revisiting the show Kenan & Kel as an adult, I’ve realized that Kenan Rockmore’s younger sister, Kyra (played by Vanessa Baden), seems to be defined by just one trait: her intense crush on Kel Kimble (portrayed by Kel Mitchell). It’s surprising that the creators of this otherwise amusing Nickelodeon sitcom didn’t explore her character more deeply, as her one-dimensional nature is what makes her grating for me.

Ferguson Darling (Clarissa Explains It All)

How did Clarissa Darling, Melissa Joan Hart’s initial breakout character in Clarissa Explains It All, end up getting a younger brother as snobbish, pompous, and intrusive as Ferguson? I can’t help but ponder if Jason Zimbler’s time portraying such an irritating kid on Nickelodeon’s comedy influenced the ex-child star to step away from the limelight and instead pursue a career in software engineering (as reported by The Sun).

Carrie Ingalls (Little House On The Prairie)

Initially, during the early seasons of “Little House on the Prairie”, the twin sisters Lindsay and Sidney Greenbush portraying Carrie, with their difficulty in articulating clear dialogue, was one of the show’s cutest features. However, as the series progressed and adapted Laura Ingalls Wilder’s autobiographical novels, viewers found that Carrie seemed to remain stuck in childhood, and her lack of maturity lost its charm for many.

Henry Finnerty (Grounded For Life)

Following Jake Burbage and his family leaving the set of Grounded for Life, their character Henry Finnerty was written off during the series’ fifth and last season. To be honest, I found it quite satisfying not to have to witness any more scenes involving Sean (Donal Logue) and Claudia’s (Megyn Price) third child – a perpetually chatty kid with an annoying knack for causing chaos around the house, seemingly just for the sake of watching things go up in flames.

Erica Sinclair (Stranger Things)

Some fans of “Stranger Things” might argue that Dustin Sinclair’s (Caleb McLaughlin) sister, Erica (Priah Ferguson), and her lively, outspoken personality make her the standout character in the Netflix sci-fi series, particularly in Season 3. While I can see why they might feel this way, if she were my sibling, I’d be at a loss as to how to handle myself!

Matt McGuire (Lizzie McGuire)

An interesting tidbit about me: The show “Lizzie McGuire” premiered on Disney Channel around the same time my sibling was born. After enduring the intensely frustrating rivalry between Lizzie (Hilary Duff) and her trickster younger brother, Matt (Jake Thomas), I vowed to ensure that my bond with my sister would never resemble theirs. So, in a way, I owe it to Matt for helping me avoid such a dynamic!

D.W. Read (Arthur)

In a surprising twist, young Arthur Read, the kind-hearted aardvark, appeared to embody many positive values. However, it seems these qualities were scarcely inherited by his sister, D.W., who at four years old, is known less for endearing traits and more for her spoiled behavior and blunt honesty. Although she isn’t the most irritating character on the cherished animated series, her attitude can still be quite jarring, particularly given the family-friendly nature of PBS Kids.

Cory Baxter (That’s So Raven)

In the popular show “That’s So Raven,” Raven Baxter, portrayed by Raven-Symoné, possesses the power to foresee the future, yet she seems oblivious to her tendency towards self-centeredness and bossiness. Contrarily, Raven’s younger brother Cory (Kyle Massey) is introduced as a skilled manipulator in the series premiere, often employing his cunning strategies for personal gain at the expense of others.

Dee Dee (Dexter’s Laboratory)

I must confess, I rarely found the overly intelligent and somewhat pompous protagonist of Dexter’s Laboratory easy to like. Conversely, I could relate to his struggles with his energetic and dim-witted elder sister, Dee Dee, who frequently ruined his experiments.

Ross Gellar (Friends)

This list doesn’t necessarily have to cater only to kids, as there are grown-up TV characters just as irritating as Ross Gellar from the show “Friends.” David Schwimmer’s character, Ross, is particularly grating for numerous reasons. He’s overly needy, hypocritical, and perhaps most aggravating of all, he’s possessive towards Rachel (Jennifer Aniston). In contrast, his younger sister Monica (Courteney Cox) comes across as the more mature sibling.

Sarah (Ed, Edd N Eddy)

Apart from possibly Nazz, almost all the youngsters in the cartoon series Ed, Edd n Eddy were difficult to handle, particularly the less intelligent Ed (Matt Hill). Interestingly, even he was less troublesome compared to his younger sister Sarah (Janyse Jaud), who is one of the most fiercely tempered kids on the cul-de-sac.

Laurie Forman (That ‘70s Show)

In the world of That ’70s Show, had it not been for Red’s apparent bias, Laurie Forman would have undoubtedly faced more consequences for her actions than her younger brother Eric. Initially portrayed by the late Lisa Robin Kelly, and later by Christina Moore following a cast change, Laurie was a character who frequently tormented her brother and belittled her mother. She even manipulated Kelso into infidelity with Jackie, and her own marriage to Fez was marred by unfaithfulness.

Timberly Johanssen (Hey Arnold!)

On the animated series “Hey Arnold!”, some of the tricky situations and mishaps Arnold and Gerald encountered often stemmed from Gerald’s little sister, named Timberly. For example, there was an occasion where they attempted to sell chocolate turtles as a business venture, only for all their stock to disappear when Timberly ate them. This left the friends no choice but to make more from scratch.

Kelly Bundy (Married… With Children)

In another phrasing, if Bud Bundy (David Faustino) didn’t possess a significantly higher intellect compared to his self-centered older sister Kelly (Christina Applegate), I might label him as the more irritating child from the legendary blue-collar sitcom, Married… with Children. Regardless, these siblings were set on a path of destruction, having been raised in a home ruled by Al (Ed O’Neill) and Peg (Katey Segal).

Debbie Thornberry (The Wild Thornberrys)

In the animated series “The Wild Thornberrys” on Nickelodeon, Eliza, voiced by Lacey Chabert, often expressed thanks for the chance to explore various cultures and animal life around the globe as a result of her parents’ travels. Conversely, Debbie, their older sister, portrayed by Danielle Harris, was frequently dissatisfied during these adventures.

Wayne Arnold (The Wonder Years)

In the late 1960s and early 1970s, life appeared challenging for Kevin Arnold (Fred Savage), especially with an older brother like Wayne around. Over the six seasons of The Wonder Years (1988-1993), Jason Hervey’s character embodied every TV viewer’s dreadful big sibling experience.

Cindy Brady (The Brady Bunch)

Among the younger characters from “The Brady Bunch“, Susan Olsen’s character, Cindy, is one I’d be least inclined to share siblingship with, due to her overly trusting nature and propensity for informing on her brothers and sisters.

Alan Harper (Two And A Half Men)

In my movie-loving days, whenever I tuned in to “Two and a Half Men,” it was always Alan Harper (Jon Cryer) that struck a chord with me – a divorced dad grappling endlessly for love and financial security. Yet, his hypocritical nature, whiny snobbery, and freeloading ways make me find myself rooting more for the man stuck living with him: his older brother, Charlie (Charlie Sheen).

Liv Rooney (Liv And Maddie)

One great reason why you might enjoy watching Liv and Maddie is that it showcases Dove Cameron’s outstanding, Emmy-winning portrayal of the two contrasting title characters. Unlike her sister Maddie who is wise and compassionate, Liv is often forgetful and self-absorbed.

Max (Max & Ruby)

In the popular Canadian kids’ show “Max & Ruby”, both the main characters, Max and Ruby (the rabbits), have their flaws. While older sister Ruby can be bossy at times, the energetic and impulsive three-year-old Max frequently challenges her patience due to his rambunctiousness and overeagerness.

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2025-03-14 22:07