While the sitcomRose was incredibly smart. But she used her high-level intelligence to manipulate, con, and deceive people, all hidden behind her sweet and innocent façade.
Though the show was fairly controversial to begin with, there was so much about Rose specifically—the woman who eventually married and tried to kill Charlie—that totally wouldn't fly on a sitcom today.
Being Obsessed With Charlie
No one wants to see a woman with a Fatal Attraction-like obsession for a man, especially on a sitcom, and especially a woman as beautiful and smart as Rose with a man as arrogant and womanizing as Charlie. Sure, Charlie was good-looking and successful, but Rose's behavior and thirst for him weren't exactly model behavior for a self-respecting young woman.
Portrayal Of Mental Illness
It's unclear what mental illness Rose suffered from, but she was clearly obsessive and wasn't alright in the head. Adding to this was that she was also apparently a licensed therapist who went into that field presumably to try and better understand her own issues. This totally makes a mockery of the profession, and Rose's mental illness is often used in the series as something to laugh at. It was yet another sticking point for a show that had no shortage of detractors.
The Idea She Tried To Kill Charlie
The way Charlie Sheen was written off the show is that he eventually realized he loved Rose, chased after her, and they got married in Paris—but then he wound up dead. It turns out she didn't actually kill him, but she tried to, and then ed off a dead goat's ashes as his.
His brother Alan seemed nonchalant about the idea that his brother was dead. Sure, he was upset, but he seemed more concerned that he'd lose the house than he did about his brother having potentially been murdered. Wouldn't he want to investigate, especially after Rose's speech at his funeral that was totally suspicious?
That Charlie Would Eventually Marry Her
The very idea that Charlie would want to marry Rose after she had been stalking Charlie for years, even trying to sabotage his other relationships, is ridiculous. This was arguably what the show's creators were going for in order to mark Sheen's exit with a bang. Nonetheless, it was silly.
There's no way anyone would believe this or be behind it and no way Charlie would be so gullible as to believe her fake wedding scheme to try and get him to marry her.
Restraining Order Break-Ins
Things got so bad with Rose at one point that Charlie even filed a restraining order against her so she wouldn't come on his property. She didn't really care and would constantly break into the beach house anyway.
She'd often be seen climbing through the window. If she was as dangerous and manipulative as viewers were led to believe, why didn't Charlie ever call the police or fear for his life? Today, viewers want to see restraining orders taken seriously.
That She Was Later Obsessed With Walden
After Charlie's presumed death, Rose then moved on to Walden, becoming just as obsessed with him. She stalked his girlfriends, even pretending to be pregnant to scare one off. Not only that, but she managed to get him to date her in the beginning until he realized her true nature. She even sent ferrets to attack Walden when he broke up with her.
Today, viewers want to see empowered women on television, not women who dedicate their entire lives to pining for a man who isn't worthy of them.
Her Cruel Deeds
Rose could be pretty cruel and vengeful and did things that would never fly today. She, for example, started a website dedicated to her hate for Charlie, glued his testicles to his thigh, glued a homemade car to Alan's nether regions, and dressed as a bride to scare Charlie's once fiancé.
But arguably the cruelest was pretending he was dead while actually keeping him in a hole for four years, brainwashing him the entire time into hating everyone who was close to him.
Being Labeled "Crazy"
The very idea of Rose being labeled "crazy" would never fly today. Society has become much more sensitive about mental illness, and the fact that everyone referred to her as crazy or a nutjob or wacko would be considered inappropriate. It's clear that she suffered from mental illness, but her issues were never treated as delicately as they should have been.
That Her Antics Finally Get The Guy
In the end, Rose's scheming finally landed her a guy, which is just a sad way to end off the story. Not only that, but she tortured and almost killed Charlie. The ending was insulting to both Rose—assuming she would never move on from Charlie or get help—and to Charlie, suggesting he was so messed up that he would fall for Rose's scheme and try to pin her down just so she couldn't marry the imaginary other man she made up.
Meddling In Charlie's Life
The very idea that Rose meddled in Charlie's and Walden's lives so much is off-putting. From making up stories to get rid of girlfriends and other one-night stands to breaking into his house, setting up hidden cameras, and constantly knowing what they were doing was frightening.
Sure, this was a sitcom. But, if this were real life, Rose would have been sent to jail, fined, or locked up—or at least forced to get mental help.