History YMMV / PuellaMagiMadokaMagica

** More than a few US fans don't like Sayaka for being too [[{{Wangst}} angsty]] and [[NotBadassEnoughForFans unheroic]]. This has notably declined over time as the latter has been resolved with more moments for Sayaka to shine, reducing the gap between western and Japanese fans in regards to Sayaka.

** Hitomi, of a sort. After [[MistakenForLesbian mistaking Madoka and Sayaka for becoming a couple]] and vehemently declaring that "girls can't love girls", her statement came off as ''[[ArmouredClosetGay too]]'' strong and it became common to depict Hitomi as a closeted yuri fan.

* OnceOriginalNowCommon: It is not uncommon for the show to seem tame compared to later MagicalGirlGenreDeconstruction stories, as the deaths are few and {{bloodless|Carnage}} while the story maintains an optimistic tone by the end despite the horrible things that the girls go through. But at the time when it first came out, the idea of a magical girl show that put on a front of cuteness only to take on dark topics and examine the grim implications of the genre was nearly unheard of; main heroines actually dying and/or going insane, [[MonsterOfTheWeek villains of the week]] being actually scary and legitimate threats, and grayer, more complex morality were all genuinely surprising to see in a magical girl show to audiences used to the first ''Manga/SailorMoon'' anime, ''Manga/CardcaptorSakura'', and similar fare. But ever since then, stories like ''Manga/MagicalGirlSite'' have pushed the bar so much and featured such dark and cynical storylines full of gore and dark topics that ''Madoka'' has somewhat lost its original punch, not helped by [[ItWasHisSled everyone going into the series fully expecting it to get dark]] (which was something the original marketing did its best to hide).

** Do not write any of the characters as straight, except ''maybe'' Mami, if you don't want the fandom to skin you alive. The only character who can routinely be written as a happy and heterosexual couple in the entire franchise is Madoka's parents. Everyone else is either attracted to other girls or in denial that they are, and even then Madoka's mother tends to be written as bisexual.

*** On the flip side of things, much of Sayaka's hatedom outright portrays her as completely selfish and unreasonable, while her wish to heal Kyosuke had selfish elements, a key element of Sayaka is the fact that her desire to protect others and fight for justice is beyond genuine and that's what partially ends up causing her downfall, unlike Kyoko or Homura she's very naive and wide-eyed to the world around her and before snapping she's shown as mostly a decent person who cares about her friends, yet it doesn't stop the inaccurate portrayal of her just being a mean spirited brat and her belief in justice a complete facade. This reaches the point where some completely blame her for turning into a witch while ignoring that she was a victim of Kyubey, just like the rest of the magic girls.

*** On the flip side of things, much of Sayaka's hatedom outright portrays her as completely selfish and unreasonable, while her wish to heal Kyosuke had selfish elements, a key element of Sayaka is the fact that her desire to protect others and fight for justice is beyond genuine and that's what partially ends up causing her downfall, the fact that unlike Kyoko or Homura she's very naive and wide-eyed to the world around her, yet it doesn't stop the inaccurate portrayal of her just being a mean spirited brat.

** It's popular to speculate about what Hitomi would be like as a magical girl, as the possibility never comes up in the series, and it also provides a good way to [[DieForOurShip kill her off so that Kyosuke and Sayaka can get together]], or otherwise pair her up ''with'' Sayaka and outright boot Kyosuke offstage.

* JerksAreWorseThanVillains: The mass-murdering Witches have their own supporters and redeeming qualities, especially after [[spoiler:what [[Recap/PuellaMagiMadokaMagicaEpisode09IdNeverAllowThatToHappen episode nine]] reveals]], and even the local ManipulativeBastard [[spoiler:Kyubey]] is generally enjoyed by the fandom for being so despicable. On the other hand, there are a few characters who do far less yet get far more straight-up hatred:

** Hitomi and Kyousuke, Sayaka's friends, frequently get bashed in the fandom for, respectively, [[spoiler:giving Sayaka 24 hours to confess her love to Kyousuke and then becoming his girlfriend herself when she fails to do so, and for not returning Sayaka's love and freaking out when she becomes a hideous creature in the PSP game]], all things that have fairly reasonable explanations, because those actions finally drove Sayaka to [[spoiler:become a Witch and subsequently die]], even though [[LockedOutOfTheLoop neither of them could have possibly known this would happen]].

** Hitomi and Kyousuke, Sayaka's friends, frequently get bashed in the fandom for, respectively, [[spoiler:giving Sayaka 24 hours to confess her love to Kyousuke and then becoming his girlfriend herself when she fails to do so, and for not returning Sayaka's love and freaking out when she becomes a hideous creature in the PSP game]], all things that have fairly reasonable explanations.

* JerksAreWorseThanVillains: The mass-murdering Witches have their own supporters and redeeming qualities, especially after [[spoiler:what [[Recap/PuellaMagiMadokaMagicaEpisode09IdNeverAllowThatToHappen episode nine]] reveals]], and even the local HateSink [[spoiler:Kyubey]] is generally enjoyed by the fandom for being so despicable. On the other hand, there are a few characters who do far less yet get far more straight-up hatred:

* OnceOriginalNowCommon: It is not uncommon for the show to seem tame compared to later MagicalGirlGenreDeconstruction stories, as the deaths are few and {{bloodless|Carnage}} while the story maintains an optimistic tone by the end despite the horrible things that the girls go through. But at the time when it first came out, the idea of a magical girl show that put on a front of cuteness only to take on dark topics and examine the grim implications of the genre was nearly unheard of; main heroines actually dying and/or going insane, [[MonsterOfTheWeek villains of the week]] being actually scary and legitimate threats, and grayer, more complex morality were all genuinely surprising to see in a magical girl show to audiences used to the first ''Manga/SailorMoon'' anime and ''Manga/CardcaptorSakura''. But ever since then, stories like ''Manga/MagicalGirlSite'' have pushed the bar so much and featured such dark and cynical storylines full of gore and dark topics that ''Madoka'' has somewhat lost its original punch, not helped by [[ItWasHisSled everyone going into the series fully expecting it to get dark]] (which was something the original marketing did its best to hide).

* SeinfeldIsUnfunny: It is not uncommon for the show to seem tame compared to later MagicalGirlGenreDeconstruction stories, as the deaths are few and {{bloodless|Carnage}} while the story maintains an optimistic tone by the end despite the horrible things that the girls go through. But at the time when it first came out, the idea of a magical girl show that put on a front of cuteness only to take on dark topics and examine the grim implications of the genre was nearly unheard of; main heroines actually dying and/or going insane, [[MonsterOfTheWeek villains of the week]] being actually scary and legitimate threats, and grayer, more complex morality were all genuinely surprising to see in a magical girl show to audiences used to the first ''Manga/SailorMoon'' anime and ''Manga/CardcaptorSakura''. But ever since then, stories like ''Manga/MagicalGirlSite'' have pushed the bar so much and featured such dark and cynical storylines full of gore and dark topics that ''Madoka'' has somewhat lost its original punch, not helped by [[ItWasHisSled everyone going into the series fully expecting it to get dark]] (which was something the original marketing did its best to hide).

** More than a few US fans don't like Sayaka for being too [[{{Wangst}} angsty]] and [[NotBadassEnoughForFans unheroic]]. This has notably declined over time as the latter has been resolved with more moments for Sayaka to shine.
** A much more significant part of the American fandom thinks Kyubey [[spoiler:is inconsistent, with plans that work ineffectively long term for the sake of sadism, in comparison to the Japanese fandom.]] As a result many more Western fans see Kyubey as outright evil than the Japanese fans.

* CharacterPerceptionEvolution: Homura Akemi, when the original anime first came out, quickly became one of anime's most popular AntiHero characters for her cool, stoic demeanor, proficiency with all sorts of weaponry, and HiddenDepths that reveal her to be a far more kind and caring person than she lets on, especially in regards to the titular Madoka; shipping them was extremely popular. Then ''Anime/PuellaMagiMadokaMagicaTheMovieRebellion'' had her [[spoiler:abruptly betray and usurp Ultimate Madoka to become Akuma Homura and trap everyone in a LotusEaterMachine so she could have Madoka to herself forever]]. She quickly became THE BaseBreakingCharacter of the series; while some fans thought this action was perfectly justified in context, other fans viciously turned against her for it and [[spoiler:[[AbandonShip reinterpreted the Madohomu ship]] as toxic and unhealthy]]. Then you have a third faction of fans who simply disregard her portrayal in ''Rebellion'' as Character Derailment that exaggerates her worst qualities to an absurd degree.

* JerksAreWorseThanVillains: Although the Witches [[spoiler:and even HateSink Kyubey]] have their own supporters and redeeming qualities, especially after [[spoiler:what [[Recap/PuellaMagiMadokaMagicaEpisode09IdNeverAllowThatToHappen episode nine]] reveals]], the same can't be said for the StrawMisogynist duo on the train in [[Recap/PuellaMagiMadokaMagicaEpisode08IWasStupidSoStupid episode eight]] who do nothing to the story but talk politically-incorrect smack about their girlfriends and serve as the final catalyst for [[spoiler:Sayaka's transformation into a witch by shattering what little faith she had in her idealist mission in protecting Earth]].

* UnfortunateImplications:  A number of critical viewers have pointed out, in regards to the explanation that Kyubey contracts teenage girls because they are overly emotional--and thus have the most energy to harvest and exploit--that the show's crux (and the Magical Girl system in general) relies on the woefully tiring HystericalWoman stereotype. The inevitability of the witch process makes this even worse, as all it does is propel the notion that girls and women [[UnstablePoweredWoman are too weak-willed and capricious to handle power, and would only snap like twigs and succumb to their innate hysteria once it ultimately proves to be too much of a responsibility for them, wreaking havoc and suffering upon themselves and others.]] This is especially harrowing once you realize that MagicalGirl is supposed to [[FeministFantasy celebrate women with power]], not condemn it. And yet, despite the fact that Kyousuke is hospitalized, bedridden, and crippled, not to mention so consumed by grief and despair that (in the PSP games, at least) he attempts suicide, Kyubey never once approaches him with the prospect of becoming a Magical ''Boy''. Because apparently [[SarcasmMode only girls are susceptible enough to break and manipulate.]] Elaborated upon [[https://the-sun-is-up.dreamwidth.org/95051.html here]], [[https://ladyloveandjustice.tumblr.com/post/158563157552/i-cant-remember-if-youve-posted-about-this here]], and [[https://against.moe/madoka-the-profitability-of-lesbianism/ here]].

** A big part of the fandom took [[spoiler:Mami's FreakOut]] in a horrible way, declaring that she's only a mass murderer and nothing else. In addition, these fans tend to ignore [[spoiler: Mami's]] repeated warnings about being cautious about their wish and instead focus only on how [[spoiler: desperate Mami is to have other magical girls in her life]], depicting her as completely unaware of the dangers and selfishly putting her own needs before others, despite the fact she was quite clear on the dangers. The only thing that made her different from [[spoiler: Homura]] was that she didn't know just ''how'' dangerous the life was, and didn't know about the [[spoiler: origin of witches and, presumably, the literal nature of Soul Gems]], or that [[spoiler: Kyubey]] was not a friend, factors that if she had known, [[spoiler: Mami would have told Madoka and Sayaka about given how willing to remind them on the danger of being a magical girl and the dangers of a poor wish she was.]]

* WhatTheHellCastingAgency: While the Spanish dub of the series was generally well received, with critics noting that Creator/CarmenAmbros did an awesome job as Madoka and that Inmaculada Villalonga made it look like Creator/EmiriKatou had magically learned to speak Spanish like a native, Creator/AriadnaJimenez's Homura was widely criticized. People pointed out not only that Jiménez was heavily miscast from the start (she usually plays children and hyper characters, not aloof Byronian heroines), but also that her acting made Homura sound as if she had laringitis. Some came to the extent to suggest that she and Creator/CarmenCalvell (who voiced Sayaka) should have switched roles, given that Calvell has a long tradition of playing worldly female characters and would have probably nailed Homura.

* SeinfeldIsUnfunny: It is not uncommon for the show to seem tame compared to later MagicalGirlGenreDeconstruction stories, as the deaths are few and {{bloodless|Carnage}} while the story maintains an optimistic tone by the end despite the horrible things that the girls go through. But at the time when it first came out, the idea of a magical girl show that put on a front of cuteness only to take on dark topics and examine the grim implications of the genre was nearly unheard of; main heroines actually dying and/or going insane, [[MonsterOfTheWeek villains of the week]] being actually scary and legitimate threats, and grayer, more complex morality were all genuinely surprising to see in a magical girl show to audiences used to ''Manga/SailorMoon'' and ''Manga/CardcaptorSakura''. But ever since then, stories like ''Manga/MagicalGirlSite'' have pushed the bar so much and featured such dark and cynical storylines full of gore and dark topics that ''Madoka'' has somewhat lost its original punch, not helped by [[ItWasHisSled everyone going into the series fully expecting it to get dark]] (which was something the original marketing did its best to hide).

* SeinfeldIsUnfunny: It is not uncommon for the show to seem tame compared to later MagicalGirlGenreDeconstruction stories, as the deaths are few and {{bloodless|Carnage}} while the story maintains an optimistic tone by the end despite the horrible things that the girls go through. But at the time when it first came out, the idea of a magical girl show that put on a front of cuteness only to take on dark topics and examine the grim implications of the genre was nearly unheard of; main heroines actually dying and/or going insane, [[MonsterOfTheWeek villains of the week]] being actually scary and legitimate threats, and grayer, more complex morality were all genuinely surprising to see in a magical girl show. But ever since then, stories like ''Manga/MagicalGirlSite'' have pushed the bar so much and featured such dark and cynical storylines full of gore and dark topics that ''Madoka'' has somewhat lost its original punch, not helped by [[ItWasHisSled everyone going into the series fully expecting it to get dark]] (which was something the original marketing did its best to hide).

** While it wasn't as serious a fandom faux-paus in the earliest days of the fandom, especially after ''Rebellion'' do not ever attempt to redeem Kyubey or write him as a heroic or noble character at all if you don't want the fandom down your throat. The only possible exception being his incarnation in ''Tart''.
** Do not write any of the characters as straight, except ''maybe'' Mami, if you don't want the fandom to skin you alive. The only character who can routinely be written as a happy and heterosexual couple in the entire franchise is Madoka's parents. Everyone else is either attracted to other girls or in denial that they are.

** More than a few US fans don't like Sayaka for being too [[{{Wangst}} angsty]] and [[NotBadassEnoughForFans unheroic]]. This has notably declined as the latter has been resolved with more moments for Sayaka to shine.