Cosmo Kramer is one of the best television characters of all time. On Seinfeld, Kramer offered the wacky and insane hijinks to go along with the show's hilarious take on the mundane world. Kramer eccentricities made him hugely entertaining, but he wasn't always easy to like.
Like the other main characters on the show, Kramer wasn't always the best person. He wasn't as meanspirited as the others, but he could do some rotten things. Yet he still had our sympathy, on occasion. Here are some times we felt bad for Kramer on Seinfeld and some times that we hated him.
Felt Bad: Lost Downtown
The characters on Seinfeld often see their relationships end for ridiculous reasons and Kramer is no different. While dating a girl that lives in another part of the city, Kramer gets fed up with the long commute. He tells her that she has to move or they are over, and she wisely kicks him out.
However, Kramer finds himself stuck downtown without any money and without any idea where he is. He frantically calls Jerry for help and begins by saying he misses him. Sure, it's pathetic for a grown man to get lost in his own city but Kramer's childish reaction is touching.
Hated Him: Ruining Japanese Tourists' Trip
Kramer likes to lend a helping hand, which is more than can be said for his friends. Unfortunately, when Kramer helps out, the person is more likely to end up in bigger trouble. When he meets a group of Japanese tourists, Kramer's social nature takes over and he becomes their tour guide.
Kramer gets a little confused with the currency exchange and winds up blowing their entire budget. Without enough money to afford hotels, Kramer has the Japanese men sleep in his bureau drawers. That's likely not the New York vacation these men had in mind.
Felt Bad: Jerry Takes His Keys
Having Kramer as a neighbor would have its ups and downs. On the positive side, he is a good friend. On the other hand, he seems to have no concept of personal space and will barge into your apartment at any time.
When Kramer's unannounced visits go too far, Jerry finally takes away his keys. Though one could see Jerry's side of it, it's hard not to feel for Kramer who seems genuinely hurt. He is like a puppy dog who has been scolded.
Hated Him: Insulting George's Girlfriend
Honesty is something Kramer is very good at, almost to a fault. He has no filter on his thoughts and opinions, sharing them openly with everyone. Sometimes this could be seen as a good thing, but it can also be incredibly rude.
When the gang meets George's new girlfriend, Kramer compliments her beauty but mentions that she needs a nose job. While Kramer tries to this off as being helpful and the woman does appreciate it in the end, there is really no justifying that kind of insensitivity.
Felt Bad: Beat Up At The AIDS Walk
So many times, Kramer's heart is in the right place, yet it still manages to get him in trouble. For instance, he decides to pledge his time and energy to a good cause by participating in the AIDS walk. However, his refusal to wear a ribbon causes some problems.
Kramer stands up to the bully and remains strong in his refusal to wear the ribbon just because he is told to. However, the fact that he is still participating in the walk doesn't seem to matter to the mob, who surround him and beat him up for his stance.
Hated Him: Beating Up Kids
Kramer often finds unique outlets for his endless amounts of energy. Some of them are inspired and creative, while others are just wrong. After bragging about ing a karate class and learning a lot of discipline from the experience, Jerry comes to find that it is a children's class.
Kramer does not take it easy on the young kids, throwing them around like ragdolls and not even using proper karate techniques. He even has the audacity to feel superior after beating up a bunch of kids who aren't even half his size.
Felt Bad: Kidney Stone
Kramer seems to have bad luck with his health, suffering a number of unusual ailments throughout the series. While some of them are just funny, like when he shares a cough with a dog, there's nothing to laugh about when he gets a kidney stone.
It's hard to imagine the pain and discomfort that one would go through with this condition, but Kramer gives us some idea. He is in agony during the long and extended process. Despite his faults, no one deserves to go through something like that.
Hated Him: Kidnapping A Dog
Kramer is all too quick to jump at the chance at some kind of wacky scheme. Without a job or any real path in life, these wild adventures seem to be how he fills his days. Some of these schemes are harmless, but sometimes Kramer sinks to new lows.
When Elaine complains about a barking dog in her neighborhood, Kramer immediately comes up with the idea to kidnap the dog and take it out into the country. Not only does this put the dog's life in danger, but it is also horribly mean to the dog owner.
Felt Bad: Accused Of Murder
After losing apartment privileges from Jerry, Kramer decides to move to Los Angeles and attempt to make it as an actor. As one might guess, things do not go well for Kramer in the new city and he soon finds himself the prime suspect in a series of murders.
Given the fact that he knew one of the victims and the fact that he is a pretty weird guy, it's not too surprising that this mistake was made. Seeing him begging Jerry and George for help while in prison and getting berated by a detective to the point of crying earns him some sympathy.
Hated Him: Filming The Mugging Victim
Though many fans didn't care for the show's finale, Seinfeld ended in a logical way by making all the terrible main characters pay for their lifetime of bad behavior. It all started when the gang witnesses an overweight man getting mugged and they decide to mock him instead of helping him.
While Kramer isn't usually known for this kind of mean-spirited behavior, he decides to film the poor guy, which only adds to the embarrassment. It's one of Kramer's more despicable moments and it's hard to deny he deserved the punishment.