Keeping a character likeable through the unlikeable moments.
What are the writers doing to Beth? She is one of my favorite characters but even that is becoming debateable. It depends on what happens in season 3. The writers have the major responsibility to make one of the main protagonist likeable through the unlikeable moments.
Take Walter White from Breaking Bad for example. A chemistry teacher with a family living in the suburbs by day and crystal meth drug lord by night--- an anti-hero. His motivating factor was his family. He had cancer and wanted to ensure that his family was well taken care of even if he was gone. He turned to a life of crime. When he had rotten eggs, he actually took care of them. The writers have taken the audience and really took the time to take us through the emotions, actions, and motivations of the character. They developed the story and character arcs in a way that it still made sense. The writing was so good that there were times there was no dialogue and the audience just GOT IT. They just KNEW wtf was going on. No words needed. We celebrated with him through the good and stuck with him through the bad. Even when he was quite literally breaking bad, we understood him and still cared for him. He was a character that stayed likeable even through the unlikeable moments.
The second half of season 2 of GG especially the finale was a big jumbled mess. We needed more character development, more backstory, more dialogue, more action, more scenes, and more sense in general lol. And like the game of thrones fans say, "Foreshadowing  doesn't equal character development". They foreshadowed "To be the king you gotta kill the king" but they were missing the vital aspect of actually developing Beth's character to the point of getting there. For goodness' sakes she didn't even shoot him with intent. It was by accident. Instead, we get blank stares from Beth with little to no insight into her thoughts and feelings. The viewers are left to speculate, not really forming a strong connection with the character-- and we are two seasons in ya'll. We are left thinking if we actually read the character right. Did we even know Beth at all?
A majority are seeing Beth in a more negative, as opposed to positive light and that's not what you want for the supposed protagonist. You want your audience to still root for the main character. The good guy, but in this case, the good girl. Instead, the writing fell flat making us actually sympathize and side with the antagonists.
I'm starting to see why Turner wants to arrest her so bad. The white privilege, entitlement, victimhood, lack of accountability, hiding behind a fasade are bleeding through. Beth's ability to lie through her teeth used to be framed like she's so clever, but it's starting take the opposite effect instead-- very snake-like đ. That's not a good look, hun. Keep the snakes in the garden.
Characters can be morally gray and still be likeable. These are the anti-heroes-- characters like Walter White, John Wick, Selina Kyle, Wade Wilson, Frank Castle, just to name a few. The show should stick to it's initial draw which is good girls doing bad things with well intentions.
We will just have to wait until season 3 đ€·
