Content warning: this article discusses eating disorders.

Ginny & Georgia is jam-packed full of complicated characters played by a talented cast — here are all of the Ginny & Georgia characters, ranked by likability. Netflix's hit series Ginny & Georgia is something like Gilmore Girls meets Big Little Lies. A single 30-year-old mother raising kids in an East Coast town might sound familiar, but this cast of characters stands out. These are truly individuals, rather than recycled formulas. Even Ginny & Georgia's Hunter is a fresh character for the small screen. There's a lot to like about the residents of Wellsbury, like the fact that the characters defy outdated teen drama stereotypes.

Ginny & Georgia's Abby is one example of a unique character – however, this doesn't automatically qualify her as likable. Similarly, many fans find themselves hating Ginny because of the way she treats Georgia and her classmates. On the other hand, Georgia's character is inherently complex, and she makes a series of terrible decisions when it comes to parenting her two children. All the Ginny & Georgia characters are different, but it's their choices that define how likable they are, and their decisions have varied greatly from season to season. Here's the cast of Ginny & Georgia ranked from least to most likable.

17 Gil

Austin's father was finally introduced in season 2, and he's easily the least likable out of all the Ginny & Georgia characters. Gil waltzed into Georgia's life after getting out of prison for embezzlement, a crime that he was legitimately committing, but Georgia had to frame him for it to get him caught. As soon as he got out, he made it his personal mission to torture Georgia via blackmail and attempt to win custody of Austin.

Austin was heartbroken when he discovered that his father was abusive, so much so, that during an altercation he found Georgia's gun and ended up firing at him. Every time Gil is on the screen he's either being abusive, or threatening further abuse, making him wholly unlikable. It isn't until Paul threatens to get him thrown back in jail for blackmail and violating parole that he finally backs off.

16 Max

Maxine may be self-absorbed, obnoxious, and attention-seeking, but at least she's honest about who she is. Despite this, season 2 saw her sink in terms of likability out of all the Ginny & Georgia characters. For the first part of the season she was particularly ugly toward her friends, kicking Abby out on Thanksgiving and getting angry with Abby and Norah for reconciling with Ginny. She also displayed some seriously obsessive behavior when Sophie moved on to having a boyfriend and completely ignored Silver's attempts to get to know her better.

Max can be intense at times, and her tendency to focus everything on herself is frustrating. Though she has some likable qualities, Max overcompensates for her insecurities and ends up hurting people in her carelessness. Some people are turned off by her over-the-top theatrics, which is why she isn't one of the most likable Ginny & Georgia characters.

15 Norah

Norah is the quietest member of MANG, often staying out of arguments. When she feels that the drama is getting a bit too much, she usually ditches her friends to spend time with Jordan. This may reveal her disloyalty and even superficiality, but it also means she has a head for common sense. She's the second to reconcile with Ginny out of the MANG group in season 2, but besides that, her role is severely diminished in terms of Ginny & Georgia characters.

While Norah may be the mature one of the group, it's hard to like her because she doesn't do much in either season. Most of the time, she agrees with what the other girls say, but she rarely speaks her own mind. In the grand scheme of Ginny & Georgia, Norah has little impact on the story, which is why she doesn't leave much of an impression either way.

14 Abby

Abby goes through a lot of her own struggles during the season, from dealing with her parents' separation and her own body image and self-esteem. Abby is easy to empathize with, especially because she hides her struggles, as many young people do. She's the first to make up with Ginny in season 2, skipping class to smoke, and she was genuinely hurt and surprised when Max kicked her out on Thanksgiving because she was still mad at her.

However, what fans don't like about her out of all the Ginny & Georgia characters is that she constantly lashes out at her friends, often in a hypocritical manner. This cools down a bit in season 2, making her more likable, but the fact stands that she blamed them for their absence, yet she's just as wrapped up in her own problems as they are in theirs. All in all, Abby may be an authentic character, but she's not as likable as some of her fellow classmates, simply because she's unkind and not pleasant to be around.

13 Hunter

Hunter may be the perfect boyfriend on paper, but in reality, he and Ginny just didn't work. He should be likable, with his "good guy" persona that balances out Marcus's "bad boy" archetype. At school, Hunter appears to be one of the more popular kids, and most people like him. However, viewers don't tend to share this sentiment. Conflict reveals character, and the conflict surrounding Hunter in Ginny & Georgia reveals that he isn't who he pretends to be.

He's not a very kind person, as proven by his infamous "oppression Olympics" line. In the backend of the season, he says a lot of hurtful things and even punches Marcus, who's still recovering from a concussion. However, he is somewhat redeemed in season 2 when he and Ginny discuss their relationship ending and both are given closure. Most of the Ginny & Georgia characters are complex, and even side characters like Hunter are more than they appear.

12 Cynthia

Most fans don't like Cynthia simply because the main characters don't like her, but season 2 revealed a reason she could be so awful. She's portrayed as a stereotypical helicopter mom, getting too involved in the way her son's school is run. She then takes this one step further and tries to meddle in how the town is run. Over season 2, Cynthia eventually lets Georgia into the Neighborhood Club and its revealed that her husband is so ill he doesn't even remember her name anymore.

Surprisingly, Cynthia strikes up an affair with Joe, one of the Ginny & Georgia characters who is far more likable than her. Joe must see something in Cynthia, but to make Cynthia a more likable character, audiences need to understand where her ideas for reform are coming from. Fans haven't yet seen any wholesome family moments in Ginny & Georgia involving Cynthia, so there's potential for her to become more likable in the future.

11 Georgia

Georgia is a confirmed murderer, but somehow she still possesses a lot of redemptive qualities out of all the Ginny & Georgia characters. Her crimes are uncomfortably easy to justify, and when it becomes clear that all she's trying to do is be a good mother and make something of herself, she's surprisingly easy to defend. However, in season 2 she shows flagrant disregard for Austin, refusing to get him counseling even though he's having trouble in school. She argues with Paul as he pleads with her to help her own children, and doesn't change her tune until she sees that Ginny is self-harming.

Georgia's charm is the most important thing when it comes to the audience's attitude to her. Even when she's scheming or spreading her ex-husband's ashes over Wellsbury, she's fun to watch. Ginny and Georgia are similar characters, but what makes her a little less likable is the fact that she doesn't seem as affected by her illegal exploits (such as Georgia murdering Tom Fuller) as her daughter does and continues to show a certain disregard for Austin to an almost dangerous degree.

10 Ginny

Ginny comes to Wellsbury as the new girl, someone who has never had friends because of her nomadic lifestyle. She quickly befriends Max and is attracted to Marcus, which is when she starts behaving like a totally different person. The first time this is obvious in Ginny & Georgia is when Sam is left out of MANG's activities at Ginny's suggestion. However, season 2 showed that out of all the Ginny & Georgia characters, she was most affected by Georgia's actions. Ginny was struggling with self-harm and was haunted by her mother's decisions, she revealed Kenny's murder to Marcus and the two began dating — for a time.

Ginny's personality fluctuates between tender and selfish; she protects Austin and shields Georgia from trouble, but also cheats on her boyfriend and verbally abuses her parents. However, in the season 1 finale, Ginny's choice to leave with Austin reveals her true character. She was able to reconcile with MANG in season 2, and despite her fear, never betrayed Georgia's secrets. At the end of the day, she's still a teenager, and a lot of her character traits reflect that. Fans tend to either hate Ginny or feel bad for her – sometimes both.

9 Marcus

Marcus may not make the best first impression, but he ends up being one of the more likable Ginny & Georgia characters. When he stops pretending to be someone he's not, viewers see that he's much more vulnerable than he lets on. The way Marcus hides his true self is something many viewers can relate to, especially those familiar with a high school setting. Season 2 sees Marcus struggling with depression in a major way, changing his personality and causing him to act out.

He eventually breaks up with Ginny because of his insecurities, a decision that angered audiences and proved he still had a long way to go in terms of healing. What initially made Marcus likable was his decision to grow and try to do right by other people, but season 2 saw him regress and fall deeper into himself. Regardless of their breakup, he promised to keep Ginny's secret that Georgia had killed Kenny.

8 Sophie

Sophie balanced out Max with her calm and understanding personality. She's a great listener and truly cares about other people, even people she doesn't know. The first time she approaches Max, she's worried for her. She also encourages Marcus to tell her what's on his mind when she's over at the Bakers'. However, Sophie and Max broke up and Sophie found a boyfriend relatively quickly afterward, sending Max into a tailspin.

Sophie is a calm, composed, and mature young woman who helped Max feel seen and heard, but their relationship ending marked a halt in positive changes for Max. She spends season 2 focusing on herself and her new relationship. Despite this, she's one of the least problematic Ginny & Georgia characters, but may at times feel a little dull in comparison with other cast members. Because she doesn't leave as much of an impression, she's not exactly a fan-favorite, but she's likable nonetheless.

7 Padma

As a supporting character, Padma doesn't get a lot of screentime in either season, but when she does show up, she leaves an impression. Padma is unafraid to speak her mind, even if she needs a little encouragement first. She helps Ginny see that Marcus isn't the best person for her to be with, which then inspires Marcus to change his ways.

One of the most important decisions Padma makes is to put herself first. She gives Marcus an ultimatum and asserts her own power as an individual. She has a lot going for her and doesn't need a romantic partner to fulfill her life, especially one who doesn't care about her. Not only that, but she and Joe have great back-and-forth as siblings and coworkers. Hopefully, Padma is seen more in season 3 of Ginny & Georgia.

6 Silver

Silver is the costumier in the theater department at Wellsbury High School. Despite playing a background role in season 1, her presence is magnified in season 2, and it's revealed that she has feelings for Max. Shy and friendly, none of the Ginny & Georgia characters have a single bad word to say about Silver throughout the series.

She vies for Max's attention several times in season 2, but Max is so consumed with Sophie that she doesn't even notice Silver's affections. The two finally end up sharing a kiss toward the end of the season, showing that Max and Silver should be an item going into season 3. Silver doesn't appear much on Ginny & Georgia, but she's likable enough that audiences hope to see her given more screen time as the show goes on.

5 Zion

From the get-go, Zion is a charming, charismatic, and very likable character. He's smooth, suave, and it's clear that his family likes him as much as they love him. When he shows up in the latter half of the season, his personality lives up to the praise. While he didn't start out as a very committed father, which is why Georgia is frustrated that he can win Ginny over so easily, he proved in season 2 that he was dedicated to Ginny's mental health when he found out that she was self-harming and got her put into therapy.

This helped him rise the ranks of likability in terms of Ginny & Georgia characters, and Ginny almost ended up living with him in the beginning of the season. His major failure was not telling Georgia that Ginny was self-harming, but this was because Ginny didn't want him to. As a co-parent, communication should be much higher on his list of priorities, but he lives as if his actions don't affect anyone else. Regardless, Ginny & Georgia is seeing Zion improve as a father as the series has gone on.

4 Austin

Austin's sweet demeanor earns viewers' sympathy when he struggles to fit in, is bullied at school, or is overlooked by his family. He does display some worrying tendencies, like his violent outbursts (aka shooting his father) and dishonesty, but he's one of the most likable Ginny & Georgia characters because he's a lonely child.

However, even fans can't overlook the similarities he shares with Georgia. He's not a perfect kid by any means, but it's not entirely his fault. He's been raised in a tumultuous, ever-changing, environment, and he seems to be struggling to understand who he really is. He's devastated to discover who his father truly is, and doesn't tell on his mother when she witnesses him murder Tom Fuller.

3 Ellen

Ellen is Georgia's first friend when she moves to live in the idyllic Wellsbury. The two build a swift, easy rapport, chatting about their children and what it's like to be a mom in Wellsbury. Ellen is an easygoing sort of person most of the time, but she's also very different from Georgia in that she stresses over her children's wellbeing. She doesn't have nearly as large a role in season 2, but maintains her likability nonetheless.

Out of all the Ginny & Georgia characters, there's little to dislike about Ellen – she's a supportive mother who is very open and honest about her parenting struggles, and she allows herself to be frazzled. She's funny, charismatic, and proves to be a very good friend to Georgia. She always listens, but she's also not afraid to tell the truth. It's a cathartic moment for the audience when she points out Georgia's flaws.

2 Paul

Paul Randolph displays his generous heart when he offers Georgia a job despite her having no political experience. He constantly tries to do right by the town and is the one to call Georgia out on her behavior in more than one instance. Paul fights for Georgia's children as though they were his own, which sometimes leads to disagreements between them. Despite his snooty family's opinion of his fiancé, he never falters in his love for her and stands by her.

Season 2 sees Georgia admit everything to Paul, save for the murders, and Paul doesn't leave. Rather, he uses his power and influence to keep Gil away from her, and ends up marrying Georgia in the season 2 finale. However, something of an unpopular Ginny & Georgia opinion, at least according to Reddit, is that Paul shows signs of being a megalomaniac, from his unconventional engagement with Georgia to his desperation to stay in power as mayor. Out of all the Ginny & Georgia characters, Paul has proven that he has a good heart.

1 Joe

Joe, the owner of Blue Farm Café, is one of the nicest people in Wellsbury and definitively the most likable out of all the Ginny & Georgia characters. This is something Georgia notices the first time she meets him as a teen, and again when she moves to the small town. Ginny also finds refuge in his café, mostly because it's where he gives her some great fatherly advice. Despite Ginny's failures, he gives her job back. In a surprising move, however, he has an affair with Cynthia.

Audiences love Joe because he always puts other people first, sometimes to a fault. But in both seasons, the quality is endearing. He does everything Georgia asks of him but also hides his feelings from her because he doesn't want to ruin her happiness. Joe is probably the most likable character in the series, despite his growing relationship with someone like Cynthia, and so far he's only given viewers reasons to root for him.