Seinfeld Storylines That Fans Can't Stand

Throughout the 1990s, the hit show "Seinfeld" brought a unique brand of humor to the world of primetime sitcoms. The brainchild of comedians Larry David and Jerry Seinfeld ran for nine successful seasons on NBC and remains popular. The show follows Seinfeld and a group of other 30-somethings as they navigate life in New York City. However, instead of focusing on significant events, the show primarily highlights the funny quotidian happenings that make up real life. Unlike many sitcoms, "Seinfeld" isn't afraid to use sarcasm and dark humor, which is a big part of its appeal to viewers. Furthermore, the characters all have their own sets of neurosis that make them relatable and unique.

The characters often deal with minor issues that hilariously snowball into significant problems due to their actions. In a typical sitcom format, these problems usually resolve by the end of each episode and offer memorable laughs. Unfortunately, although this show features plenty of hilarious and heartwarming plotlines, there are some stories that even diehard fans can't stand. Some of these storylines are borderline offensive and invite controversy, while others simply fall flat. Some fans still voice their dislike for these failed storylines over two decades after the series went off the air. 

The Season 1 episode "The Stakeout" features a questionable "Seinfeld" storyline that paints both Jerry and his friend George Costanza (Jason Alexander) negatively. While attending a party, Jerry is captivated by one of Elaine's charming female friends. Unfortunately, she leaves the party before Jerry can ask for her phone number, or even her name. All he knows about her is that she works at a local law firm, the name of which he commits to memory. Later, instead of just accepting the chance encounter as a missed opportunity, Jerry decides to do something creepy. He enlists George's help in a stakeout and waits outside of the mystery woman's law firm for her to return to work. 

Although Vanessa (Lynn Clark) the mystery woman takes the strange meeting in stride, Jerry and George's attempts to cover up their reason for being at the law firm are pretty cringeworthy. Despite the scenario unfolding in a humorous light, this is definitely a moment in "Seinfeld" that hasn't aged well. As The New Yorker points out, Jerry's appearance at her workplace is a clear example of stalking, which is unsettling for some viewers. George's complicity in the stakeout doesn't speak volumes about his character, either. Though it's played up for laughs, this stalking incident is the first of many examples of why the two men struggle in romantic relationships throughout the series. 

When George Costanza starts dating Susan Ross (Heidi Swedberg) in Season 4, it appears that the typically unlucky man has finally found love. However, the relationship is less than ideal despite the two eventually getting engaged. According to Esquire, part of the issue with Susan stems from off-screen issues between cast members who found it challenging to work with Swedberg. Nevertheless, Susan's eventual fate in the series (death by envelope-licking in Season 7) left many fans with mixed feelings. Her death embodies the darker side of the sitcom's trademark humor, but the callous reactions from all of the main characters are still a little difficult to watch for some.

However, the next chapter in the George and Susan storyline is even more unpopular. In the Season 8 episode "The Foundation," a barely grieving George receives an unexpected assignment from Susan's parents. The family wants George to be on the board of directors for a foundation they created in her name. This position disrupts George's efforts to enjoy his life as a new bachelor, but he takes on the role out of guilt. This storyline arguably highlights the depths of George's selfishness more than any other, but the real issue is its lack of a satisfying conclusion. The storyline kicks off Season 8 but quickly disappears into the "Seinfeld" ether. Sitcoms don't operate with strict continuity, but this long-running storyline could have used a more official ending.   

Many people dream of Hollywood stardom, but Kramer's choice to move to Los Angeles is one of the character's weaker storylines. The final episode of Season 3, "The Keys," features Kramer deciding to take a swing at an acting career after a falling out with Jerry. The longtime neighbors argue about Kramer's overuse of Jerry's spare keys, and the disagreement ends with Kramer reluctantly returning them. Jerry later feels guilty about the argument's impact on Kramer, but it's already too late to make amends. The episode includes some funny scenes from Kramer's travels and sets the stage for an amusing subplot. However, when the story continues in the two-part premiere of Season 4, "The Trip," many viewers may feel slightly disappointed. 

The premiere follows Kramer through a case of mistaken identity in which authorities believe he is a serial killer. While this premise offers plenty of laughs, the tone and aesthetics aren't as on-brand as other episodes. As The A.V. Club points out, the storyline could easily be from a different series. "Seinfeld" never shies away from dark humor, but both parts of "The Trip" are decidedly darker than usual. Furthermore, the events have no real impact on the characters. By the end, Kramer winds up home in New York, scrounging through Jerry's refrigerator like any other day. This lack of continuity is typical in sitcoms, but it's a bit of a letdown for a story that takes the friends across the country and back. 

Although none of the main "Seinfeld" characters manage to find lasting love, Elaine's dating troubles are some of the worst. When she inadvertently starts seeing a man named Joe Davola (Peter Crombie), her love life goes from unlucky to downright terrifying. Davola first appears as a fellow would-be writer who holds Jerry responsible for his lack of success. He continues to harass Jerry periodically in the early seasons and is most recognizable for his impulsive behavior and short temper. Unfortunately, in the Season 4 episode "The Watch," Elaine has her first encounter with Davola and decides to start dating him, unaware that her new boyfriend is Jerry's infamous stalker. 

This storyline comes to a creepy climax in Season 4's "The Opera," when Davola begins to suspect that Elaine has been unfaithful. As one Reddit user pointed out, this episode feels more like a short horror film than a sitcom episode. Elaine unknowingly puts her own life at risk by going to find Davola at his apartment, facing what another Reddit user described as a nightmarish situation for most women. Although she emerges unscathed, this is one storyline from Elaine's dating life that goes a little too far for some fans. To the relief of viewers, she never reencounters this dangerous character. 

In the Season 6 episode "The Beard," Elaine's storyline may be offensive to some viewers. However, the story begins with what seems like a good deed — Elaine goes to the ballet with Robert (Robert Mailhouse), a man who works for a conservative bank and fears that his homosexuality might be problematic to his employers. Elaine is supposed to pose as his date, but she later gets carried away and decides she wants Robert to be her real-life boyfriend. Her fake date is cultured, well-spoken, and attractive — everything Elaine could want in a partner. Jerry tries to talk her out of planning to convert Robert to heterosexuality, but she refuses to listen.

Her subsequent attempts to convince Robert to be with her are cringeworthy at best. As a result, Elaine comes across as desperate and oblivious instead of funny. Furthermore, the idea that someone can change their sexual orientation at will is outdated, and this storyline has thus aged very poorly. One of the worst parts of this plot is Elaine's short-lived success. She gloats to Jerry that Robert has succumbed to her womanly charms, wrongly believing that her plan worked. Although "Seinfeld" generally presents the LGBTQ+ community positively, this storyline is a major misstep.