Why Gwen Taylor Was The Worst Character From L A Law

Ah, L.A. Law. A show that defined a generation of television. It had drama, it had fashion, and it had characters we loved to love. And some we loved to... well, let's just say we tolerated. Today, I want to dive into a somewhat unpopular opinion. Prepare yourselves, fans of the Sterling Cooper Draper Pryce of legal dramas. We're talking about Gwen Taylor.

Now, before you grab your pitchforks and your vintage Tommy Hilfiger jackets, hear me out. Gwen wasn't exactly a villain. She wasn't actively trying to ruin lives, at least not intentionally. But there's something about her that just rubbed me the wrong way. Every single time she sauntered into the frame, a little part of me sighed.

Let's be honest, Gwen was the queen of being utterly exasperating. She had this way of being so self-important. Even when she was clearly out of her depth, she acted like she invented brilliance. It was like watching a toddler explain quantum physics. Adorable in a way, but utterly perplexing.

Remember those moments when a case got complicated? While everyone else was digging deep, pulling all-nighters, Gwen was usually... elsewhere. Or perhaps she was offering a "unique perspective" that was less about legal strategy and more about how her scarf perfectly matched the courtroom drapes. Style over substance, much?

It wasn't just her attitude, though. It was her effectiveness. Or rather, her lack thereof. While other lawyers at McKenzie, Brackett, and Rollins were winning landmark cases, Gwen seemed to stumble into success by sheer accident. Or maybe a well-timed coffee spill. It was hard to tell.

And her personal life! Oh, her personal life was a perpetual soap opera. She was always embroiled in some messy relationship drama. It often bled into her professional life, which, as you can imagine, was a recipe for disaster. Because nothing screams "competent legal professional" like sobbing over an ex during a deposition.

She was also incredibly prone to making impulsive decisions. Decisions that, more often than not, had serious consequences for her clients. And her colleagues. And probably the office plant. It was like she operated on a dare, every single day.

Then there was her tendency to be so dramatically offended by everything. A minor disagreement would be treated like a personal attack. A gentle critique would be met with icy stares and dramatic pronouncements. It was exhausting to watch, let alone be around.

She had this uncanny ability to take a simple situation and make it ten times more complicated. It was a special kind of talent, really. A talent for sowing confusion and frustration. She was like a legal black hole, sucking all the common sense out of the room.

Let's not forget her fabulous lack of self-awareness. Gwen genuinely seemed to believe she was the most insightful, most talented person in the room. Even when the evidence – usually a pile of lost cases – suggested otherwise. It was a level of delusion that was almost admirable, in a dark, twisted sort of way.

Think about some of the other characters. Arnie Becker, for all his flaws, was a shark. Grace van Owen was the moral compass, albeit a sometimes frustrating one. Even Stuart Markowitz, with his perpetual anxiety, was relatable. But Gwen? Gwen was just... there. Being difficult.

There were times I’d be yelling at the TV. "Gwen, for the love of all that is holy, just listen to Ann Kelsey!" or "Don't do it, Gwen! That's a terrible idea!" I imagine the actors on set had similar internal monologues. Perhaps even external ones.

She had a flair for the dramatic, that's for sure. But it was the kind of drama that felt forced. Like she was trying too hard to be a character in a prestigious legal drama. Instead of just being a competent lawyer.

And her fashion choices! While many on the show served up iconic 80s and 90s power dressing, Gwen's outfits often felt... a little much. A little over the top. Like she raided a costume shop for "lawyer chic" and misunderstood the assignment. But then again, this is L.A. Law, so maybe that was the point?

It’s a shame, really. Because the show had so much potential for her character. She could have been a force to be reckoned with. But instead, she often felt like a liability. A plot device designed to create unnecessary obstacles. And mild annoyances.

Her interactions with Douglas Brackett were particularly painful. He was often exasperated, and frankly, I don't blame him. She seemed to constantly test his patience. And that of the entire legal community.

Sometimes, I wonder if the writers themselves were frustrated with her character. Did they secretly wish they could have given her a more sensible storyline? One where she actually achieved something without causing a minor catastrophe?

The show was brilliant for its realism. The messy lives, the moral quandaries. But Gwen often felt like the character who broke that realism. She was too much of a caricature. Too much of a distraction from the actual legal proceedings.

Let's be clear, though. This is all in good fun. L.A. Law was a fantastic show, and Gwen Taylor was a part of that tapestry. A part that, in my humble, slightly grumpy opinion, was the least entertaining. The most likely to make you groan.

Perhaps it's her self-deception. The way she genuinely seemed to believe in her own brilliance. While the audience was left shaking their heads. It's a powerful thing, self-belief. Even when it's completely unwarranted.

She was never quite on the same level as the other stars. Not in terms of impact, or charisma, or even just plain competence. She was the one you’d forget about five minutes after an episode ended. Until, of course, she did something particularly, spectacularly wrong.

So, there you have it. My little rant. My confession of mild resentment towards a fictional lawyer. Gwen Taylor, you were a character. You were on L.A. Law. And in my book, you were the worst. But hey, at least she kept things... interesting. In a highly irritating sort of way.

And maybe, just maybe, that was her ultimate purpose. To be the character we loved to critique. The one who made us appreciate the brilliance of everyone else around her. The one who, against all odds, somehow kept her job. A true testament to the bizarre world of law, and television.

I’m sure many of you will disagree. And that’s perfectly okay! Television is subjective, after all. But next time you rewatch L.A. Law, pay close attention to Gwen. And tell me, with a straight face, that she wasn't just a tad bit the worst. I dare you. You might just find yourself nodding along.

She was the legal equivalent of a pop-up ad. Annoying, persistent, and you just wanted her to go away. But somehow, she always managed to stick around. Like a bad penny. Or a really persistent hangnail.

Her storylines often felt forced. Like the writers were struggling for ideas and said, "Let's have Gwen mess something up again!" It was a predictable pattern. A pattern that, over time, became tiresome. But still, we watched. Because it was L.A. Law. And we were invested.

Ultimately, Gwen Taylor was a character who, for me, represented the less polished, less compelling side of the show. She was the one who pulled me out of the immersive experience. The one who reminded me I was watching TV. And not in a good way. In a "why is she still here?" sort of way.

But for all my grumbles, she was a part of the show’s legacy. A small, often frustrating, part. And perhaps, in her own way, she was necessary. To remind us that not every lawyer is a superhero. Some are just... Gwen.

And that, my friends, is why Gwen Taylor, in my humble, and perhaps overly critical, opinion, was the worst character from L.A. Law. Don't @ me. Unless you have compelling evidence to change my mind. And even then, I'm still not convinced.