Appearing in every episode Two And A Half Men, Alan Harper (Jon Cryer) was one of the funniest characters in the show. Even though he was broke most of the time and not lucky when it came to relationships or anything, his sarcasm, and sense of humor made him one of the well-liked characters in the show.
Despite playing the main role, he was constantly disrespected and looked down on especially with Charlie Harper (Charlie Sheen) and Walden Schmidt (Ashton Kutcher) being way more successful than him. In conclusion, Alan was a full-rounded character who was treated the way he deserved to be sometimes and not some other times.
Overrated: Helping Walden
When Walden came to live at the beach house, he was still getting over his ex-wife – Bridget (Judy Greer). At that time Alan tried to be very supportive and helped Walden in his relationship problems. Walden let Alan stay in his house temporarily in return.
While Walden saw Alan as a genuinely helpful person, Alan's main intentions were to continue living in that house. He even convinced Walden to go meet a psychiatrist when Walden wanted to get away from all his troubles and as a result, he wanted to sell his house and Alan wanted to avoid it.
Underrated: Charlie telling Alan's childhood story to others
The incident of Charlie convincing Alan to let their family dog eat peanut butter off his testicles is one of those stories that gave us an insight into their childhoods.
When Charlie narrates them, he sees them as fun memory thus making it all sound as hilarious. However, it is sad and traumatic from Alan's perspective. He was constantly bullied and there was no on to support him – not even his brother and mother who we would expect to help him.
Overrated: Joining Charlie's Meet Group
Charlie was part of a star-studded group with which he got together to discuss his feelings. With Charlie seeing it as his personal space where he can be open, he did not want Alan to join the group.
However, Alan saw it as Charlie being ashamed of him. Alan made it all about himself and was completely overreacting by sitting in his car for a while. When he was finally invited into the group, he was overbearing and did not have anything common with the others.
Underrated: His Financial Difficulties
Almost every other character in the show made fun of Alan for his cheapness and his unwillingness to pay. While he did give them all the reasons to be ridiculed, they rarely mention his financial troubles.
From his failing chiropractor clinic business to making the alimony and child support payments to Judith, he had more to deal with. In addition, the other characters were totally insensitive about it. For instance, when Alan tried to cut down his costs, Judith got Jake, expensive shoes, and asked Alan to pay for it.
Overrated: Assuming He Is The Father
When Judith (Marin Hinkle) and Herb (Ryan Stiles) were having some troubles in their marriage, Alan and Judith dated for some time. Later, Judith got back together with Herb and she got pregnant.
Alan immediately started making calculations and assumed it was his child for sure. Even with Judith telling him he was wrong, he constantly got himself involved in the unborn child's matters. Adding to it, he also tried to sideline Herb's opinions while here Herb is the father and he is more important than Alan. Besides, after their daughter was born he still thought she could be his daughter.
Underrated: His Career
With Alan being a chiropractor, the other characters constantly made fun of him and pointed out how he is not a real doctor. Adding to it, he complained about not making enough profit from his clinic as more people were going towards Western medicine.
On the other hand, Charlie made way more money from his jingles and rhymes. Thus, comparing Charlie, Alan was less respected and constantly ridiculed despite the fact that he had to work and study harder, unlike Charlie.
Overrated: Pretending To Be Jeff Strongman
With Lyndsey McElroy (Courtney Thorne-Smith) dating Larry Martin (D.B. Sweeney), Alan started getting curious about Larry so, in order to know him better, Alan pretended to be Jeff Strongman. Larry found Alan's alter-ego Jeff to be funny and they became friends.
While Alan is just lying and betraying, Larry saw him as an important person in his life thus making Jeff the best man in his wedding with Lyndsey, and he even trusted him to be a great boyfriend for his sister. Given that Larry is portrayed as gullible and Alan was in a better light, his character was overrated.
Underrated: Camping With Jake
After Alan realizes Jake Harper (Angus T. Jones) is growing up, he starts worrying about how he did not spend much time with his son. In order to improve their father-son relationship, Alan plans on going camping with him.
However, Jake is not interested in it at all. Adding to it, Jake respected Charlie's opinions over Alan's. For instance, Jake chose to ask Charlie's advice for his date instead of Alan. Moreover, Jake constantly mocked Alan for his cheapness. Despite Alan's efforts, Jake found Alan's affection for him to be cringe.
Overrated: Separated From Judith
In the very first of the sitcom, we see Alan coming to live at Charlie's house because Judith kicked him out of their house. From then on, we often hear Alan's perspective of the failed marriage and his complaints. With Alan being the main character – one of the two and a half men – we obviously heard more from him.
However, Judith's side of the story is rarely told and even her opinions are usually told through Alan or Jake. She is as important as Alan in this divorce.
Underrated: The Childhood Shoplifting Incident
Recalling a story from their childhood, Charlie and Alan talk about the time Alan was accused of stealing a Silly Putty toy. While in reality, it was Charlie who put the toy in Alan's pocket. However, Alan who did not know this assumed he had a bad alter-ego within him – who he referred to as Bad Alan.
The incident definitely impacted him a lot but no one was particularly worried about it. Even his mother was not bothered about how it affected him instead complained about how she had a difficult time hiding her jewelry from him.