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As long as theres been TV, the family has been one of its favorite go-tos.
All week long, Vulture is exploring how its been represented on our screens.
The TV Teenager is a curious species.
We get it being a teenager is hard!
Youre hormonal and angry and probably smelly and you have no idea why.
Of course youre going to be a brat!
Its a part of life.
But not all TV teen brats are created equal.
Those are the kind of teens were here to discuss.
Here are the brattiest TV teens, ranked from bad to worst.
Soprano, The Sopranos
To be fair, Meadow and A.J.
are supposed to be a little irritating.
Tony may be the head of a mob family, but the guy still gets frustrated with his kids.
Hey, thats relatable!
Its a way into Tonys world and a way to understand our anti-hero.
Still, Meadow and A.J.
were much more than irritating.
Meadow eventually becomes a tolerable adult, but as a teenager she lets her spoiled-princess flag fly.
(And thatsbeforeone semester of college turns her into an insufferable know-it-all.)
is on the other end of the spectrum, since hes mainly whiny and lazy.
If youre going to be a brat about things, at least add a little excitement!
Dawn does not kick ass.
Dawn is not courageous.
She is literally described as helpless.
Mainly, she just gets in the way of the Scooby Gang.
Also, she dabbles in black magic and has a kleptomania problem.
So, no, Dawn doesnt have too many fans.
Dana Brody, Homeland
Listen, I get it.
That whole hit-and-run situation!
If this list were solely based on scathing eye rolls and furrowed brows, Dana wins hands down.
Alas, it is not.
She gets some slack since her home life is so screwy.
But, still, was it really that hard to be nice to her mother?
Maddie Conrad, Nashville
Oh, Maddie, you dope.
Shes been irrationally mean to her sweet-faced younger sister.
(Daphne just wants you to love her, Maddie!)
Plus, she treated her mother with such contempt, the girl should win an award.
Their biggest beef stemmed from Rayna forbidding Maddie from becoming a professional musician at such a young age.
Rayna was attempting to protect her, not punish her.
But, like, what would international superstar Rayna James know about the music industry, right?
She regrets it eventually, but the damage is done.
Dawson Leery, Dawsons Creek
Real talk, Dawson: Even your friends didnt like you.
You were pretentious and annoying and it was tough to be around you.
You always acted like Pacey was beneath you.
(News flash: He was not!
He was most definitely better than you.)
You were super rude to both Joey and Jen, and then got mad when neither chose you.
You were always angry and sulky.
And kindly dontcry over this.
Nobody wants to see that.
So, yeah, the kid has been through a lot.
Rick isnt always the best leader, but hes still your dad and you should listen to him!
When he runs away or disobeys orders, people literally die.
So, Carl, would you just hey stay in the house?
Jenny and Dan Humphrey, Gossip Girl
Thats right, people, Im putting Jenny and Dan together.
Jenny is awful in your predictable rebellious teen who discovers eyeliner and contemplates emancipation kind of way.
Its ballsy, but, oh honey, no one plays Blairs game better than she does.
Jenny isnt totally at fault for her awfulness, of course she does have to live with Dan.
Hes a different bang out of teen brat: self-righteous, selfish, and just generally condescending.
being a gossipmonger who ruined peoples lives and secretly tortured his friends.
Forget being a brat, Dan Humphrey is just a dick.
Daughter to wonderful humans in a deeply loving marriage!
Serious question: When did you finally realize Julie Taylor was the worst?
Tim may have forgiven Julie after she comes clean, but I never will.
For everyone but Julie Taylor, sure.
Hes disrespectful to everyone.
He throws temper tantrums when he doesnt get his way.
He throws people under the bus when the mood strikes.
Hes whiny and wimpy.
He believes that the rules do not apply to him.
In short, hes a teen monster.
Even his mother-aunt and father-uncle seem a little relieved when the kid bites it.
If that doesnt win you Brattiest TV Teen, I dont want to know what does.
