George Costanza (Seinfeld)

"Just remember... It's not a lie... If you believe it" (Seinfeld, "The Beard")

One of the four main characters in the sitcom Seinfeld (1989-1998), George Costanza (portrayed by Jason Alexander) served as the most bumbling and incompetent of the foursome. Due to the nature of the show, George doesn't undergo any kind of character arc, and is actually emphasized to be in the exact same spot in life at the end of the series as he was at the beginning.

The main characters of Seinfeld are consistently characterized as "awful people." George, however, is the most irredeemable and deplorable of the main cast. However, unlike some of the most deplorable characters in fiction, like Joffrey (Game of Thrones) or Dolores Umbridge (Harry Potter), George is never anything less than loveable. He has absolutely no redeeming qualities, and through his selfishness, apathy, and warped narcissism, he often represents the worst of what humans can be. However, unlike the aforementioned Joffrey and Umbridge, who the viewers can all watch from a distance and comfortably despise, anyone can watch George and realize he embodies many of the worst traits they see in themselves. No one can fully detach themselves from George, and so viewers are forced to face their own negative traits with a comedic twist. If any sane person knew George in real life, they would likely recognize him as a toxic, directionless, emotional drain, but through the way he is written and depicted, few can help but relate to and love him, and, in doing so, embrace their worst qualities.