10 Characters from daily soaps that confused fans about whether they are good or bad

Sayan
The Young and the Restless (Image via CBS)
The Young and the Restless (Image via CBS)

Soap characters are never easy to pin down. One moment, they’re rescuing someone from a burning building, and the next, they’re blackmailing their own family. That’s the kind of chaos that keeps people coming back. The best part is, you never really know who you’re supposed to root for. Some characters show up with a clean slate and slowly fall apart.

Others start off dangerous and somehow earn a second chance. That push and pull is what makes them interesting. Viewers get drawn into the mess because it feels unpredictable. You can spend years thinking someone is the worst, only to watch them do something decent that makes you pause. It doesn’t mean they’re suddenly good—it just means they’re not one thing all the time.

That’s real life. People are complicated, and soap writers know it. These are not classic heroes or cartoon villains; they fall somewhere in between, and that’s what makes them worth watching.

Fans argue over them every week because no one can fully agree on what they deserve. These are the soap characters who constantly left people guessing. You never knew what side they were on, and that’s exactly what made them unforgettable.


Characters from daily soaps that confused fans about whether they are good or bad

1. Todd Manning (One Life to Live)

One Life to Live (Image via ABC)
One Life to Live (Image via ABC)

Todd began as a rapist who should have vanished after one storyline, but he became one of the most complicated characters in daytime. He saved people from danger yet also held others hostage. He loved his kids and protected Blair, yet he hurt Téa and manipulated countless others.

He showed moments of remorse but never stayed good for long. He always found ways to pull viewers in and then push them away. Every time he seemed like he might change, he would do something cruel again. Todd confused everyone because he could act like a father or a criminal without warning.


2. Sheila Carter (The Bold and the Beautiful / The Young and the Restless)

The Bold and the Beautiful (Image via CBS)
The Bold and the Beautiful (Image via CBS)

Sheila once stole a baby and shot people without blinking, yet later cried about wanting to be part of her son’s life. She faked her death, wore masks, and locked people in cages. She claimed to want peace but always returned to violence.

She tried to bond with Finn and even protected Hayes, but none of it ever lasted. One minute she wanted a family, and the next, she threatened their lives. Fans never knew if she was broken or just evil. Sheila never let people feel safe, and that’s why no one ever knew her real side.


3. Ava Jerome (General Hospital)

General Hospital (Image via ABC)
General Hospital (Image via ABC)

Ava had someone killed to cover her affair and then later grieved when her daughter died. She used Morgan while he was unstable, yet she showed guilt after he died. She betrayed people constantly but claimed to want a better life. She loved Avery and tried to be a good mother, but never stopped scheming. She helped people heal and then turned around and blackmailed them.

Every time she looked sincere, she made a move that destroyed trust. Ava made people feel sorry for her and then reminded them why they shouldn’t. She stayed in the middle of every storm.


4. Sami Brady (Days of Our Lives)

Days of Our Lives (Image via Peacock, NBC)
Days of Our Lives (Image via Peacock, NBC)

Sami stole babies and faked DNA tests, but also fought to protect her family. She hurt people who got in her way, yet she risked her life for the ones she loved. She could be warm one moment and ruthless the next. She told lies for years but also exposed the truth when it counted.

She shot people and forgave people, doing both without warning. Her emotions ruled everything, and her decisions left damage everywhere. Fans cheered for her victories and feared her next move. Sami was never just one thing, and that made her impossible to label.


5. Adam Newman (The Young and the Restless)

The Young and the Restless (Image via CBS)
The Young and the Restless (Image via CBS)

Adam switched paternity tests and kidnapped babies, yet he gave up everything to save his family. He hated Victor but also tried to be just like him. He wanted love and acceptance, but destroyed it every time he got close. He saved lives and also framed people for crimes they never committed.

He walked away from Genoa City, only to come back with more chaos. He helped Sharon and then turned on her without warning. Adam wanted to be seen as better, but always acted worse. He kept people guessing because every step forward came with another fall.


6. Carly Corinthos (General Hospital)

General Hospital (Image via ABC)
General Hospital (Image via ABC)

Carly switched Michael’s paternity to keep him from A.J. and never apologized. She held onto lies until they blew up, then found ways to justify them. She married Sonny for revenge, but stayed because she saw power in being his partner.

She helped cover up crimes while pretending she ran a clean life. She destroyed marriages and exposed secrets, then defended herself as a mother protecting her family. She ran the Metro Court like a businesswoman and ran her enemies off the road like a mob wife. Carly kept showing loyalty but always made people pay for crossing her.


7. Thomas Forrester (The Bold and the Beautiful)

The Bold and the Beautiful (Image via CBS)
The Bold and the Beautiful (Image via CBS)

Thomas used his son to pressure Hope and then pretended he had changed. He let people believe Beth was dead so he could have a better shot at keeping Liam away. He moved on to Zoe and planned a wedding while knowing he still wanted Hope. He claimed to love his family but kept pulling them into his mess.

After his surgery, he tried to rebuild trust, but his actions still raised questions. He said he wanted to grow, but never stopped manipulating situations to get what he wanted. Every time he stepped forward, he reminded people he could still do damage.


8. Kristen DiMera (Days of Our Lives)

Days of Our Lives (Image via Peacock, NBC)
Days of Our Lives (Image via Peacock, NBC)

Kristen stabbed Victor and later claimed she only did it to protect her child. She drugged Sarah and kept her locked away, then returned pretending to be someone new. She talked about wanting redemption while blackmailing people behind closed doors.

She hurt people and cried over losing Brady and Rachel as if nothing she did had played a part. She prayed with Marlena and then held her at gunpoint. She said she changed and then proved otherwise. She never stuck to one version of herself. Kristen tried to act like a mother but always led with fear and control.


9. Victor Kiriakis (Days of Our Lives)

Days of Our Lives (Image via Peacock, NBC)
Days of Our Lives (Image via Peacock, NBC)

Victor ordered people to be attacked and called it business. He cut people out of his will and welcomed them back the next day. He made moves that ruined lives and then poured drinks for the same people at dinner. He hurt people to protect his legacy, but claimed it was about family.

He pushed Sonny away and then paid his legal bills. He insulted people in public and helped them in private. He never said sorry, but he never let his loved ones fall. Victor ran his world his way, and fans never knew whether to cheer or flinch.


10. Julian Jerome (General Hospital)

General Hospital (Image via ABC)
General Hospital (Image via ABC)

Julian held a knife to Alexis and then cried over her in the hospital. He tried to be a bar owner but kept slipping back into deals that got people killed. He lied about Wiley and helped Brad carry the truth for too long. He tried to stay out of mob wars but always picked the wrong side.

He loved Kim but still let her believe he was someone different. He tried to be a father but never learned how to stay clean. Julian meant well most days, but his choices always left someone bleeding. Fans never knew if he deserved peace.


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Edited by Ritika Pal