You probably remember that girl. The one with the veil, the constant rainy cloud overhead, and a literal trail of dust following her every step. Honestly, Misery from Ruby Gloom was basically the blueprint for every "sad girl" aesthetic that eventually took over Tumblr and TikTok, but she did it back in 2006 when the rest of us were still figuring out how to use a flip phone. She’s tall. She’s blue. She’s a banshee. And somehow, she’s the most relatable character in a show full of skeletons and cyclops girls.
She isn't just a sidekick. Misery represents that weird, specific feeling of being the person in the friend group who always has something going wrong but stays surprisingly chill about it. Nelvana, the Canadian studio behind the show, really leaned into the irony of her character. While most banshees are terrifying omens of death, Misery is just... clumsy. And perpetually unlucky.
The Weird History of Misery from Ruby Gloom
It’s easy to forget that Ruby Gloom didn't start as a TV show. It actually began as a series of stationery designs and stickers created by the company Mighty Fine. Because of that, Misery's look was perfected long before she ever uttered a line of dialogue. When the show finally aired, fans were introduced to this towering figure who lives in a Victorian mansion and somehow keeps her cool while lightning strikes her bed every morning.
She's voiced by Emily Hampshire. Yeah, the same Emily Hampshire who played Stevie Budd in Schitt's Creek. If you listen closely, you can hear that same dry, deadpan delivery. It’s perfect. Hampshire gave Misery a voice that sounds perpetually exhausted but deeply kind. It’s a tough balance. Most characters who are "sad" in cartoons end up being annoying or a drag on the plot, but Misery is usually the one keeping things grounded when Ruby’s "look on the bright side" energy gets a bit too intense.
Being a Banshee in Gloomsville
Most people think of banshees as screaming hags from Irish folklore. The show flips this. Misery has the voice of an angel—literally. When she sleeps, she sings beautiful operatic arias. The catch? If she tries to sing while awake, it’s a disaster. It’s that classic irony that defines her character. She has all this internal beauty and talent, but her "curse" keeps it locked behind her sleep cycles.
Her family tree is also a chaotic mess. We meet her cousins, Malady and Malaise, who represent different facets of being unwell. It’s a clever way for a kids' show to touch on the idea of chronic misfortune without getting too dark. Misery’s ancestors are documented in the show as being responsible for various disasters, yet she carries that legacy with a sort of quiet dignity. Or at least, she tries to between falling down stairs.
Why the "Doom and Gloom" Works
There is a specific psychology to why we like Misery. In a world that constantly tells us to be happy—symbolized by Ruby herself—Misery is the permission to just be "meh." She doesn't fight her bad luck. She embraces it. When a piano falls on her, she doesn't scream; she just sighs and moves on. That’s a level of emotional resilience most of us spend years in therapy trying to achieve.
She’s also the ultimate fashion icon for the goth-adjacent. The long, tattered black dress and the veil that hides her eyes? Pure style. It’s interesting that the creators chose to keep her eyes hidden for so much of the series. It adds to the mystery, sure, but it also makes her expressions—usually just a slight frown or a tilted head—much more impactful.
Misery and Her Relationships
The dynamic between Misery and Iris is underrated. Iris is a hyperactive cyclops who literally jumps over everything. Misery can barely walk across a room without tripping. They shouldn't work as friends, but they do. It’s that classic "opposites attract" trope, but it feels earned here.
Then there’s Skull Boy. Everyone in the mansion is trying to figure out who they are, but Misery already knows exactly what she is. She’s a disaster magnet. There’s a strange confidence in that. She isn't searching for a lost lineage or a secret talent; she’s just trying to survive the next five minutes without a chandelier falling on her head.
- Her Luck: It’s actually canon that her bad luck is a physical force. It’s not just "clumsiness."
- The Pets: She has a pet duck named Ferdinand. Even the duck is a bit of a mess.
- The Music: Her "sleep-singing" is one of the few times we see her truly at peace, which is a bit heartbreaking if you think about it too long.
Common Misconceptions About the Character
A lot of people think Misery is depressed. Honestly, I don't think that's right. If you watch the episodes closely, she’s actually one of the most content characters. She’s just... heavy. Everything about her is weighted down by her history and her nature. Depressed people often lack the motivation to engage, but Misery is always there for Ruby’s adventures. She shows up. She participates. She just happens to bring a thunderstorm with her.
Another misconception is that she hates her life. She doesn't! She loves her friends. She loves her home. She just accepts that her "normal" involves a lot more bruises and lightning strikes than the average person. It’s a very stoic philosophy for a cartoon character from the mid-2000s.
The Evolution of the "Sad" Archetype
Before Misery, "sad" characters in cartoons were usually villains or one-note jokes (think Eeyore, but even Eeyore was mostly just there to be gloomy). Misery has a personality beyond her misfortune. She’s witty. She’s observant. She’s often the one who points out how ridiculous Ruby’s optimism is being.
We see this archetype evolve later into characters like Raven from Teen Titans or even Mai from Avatar: The Last Airbender. But Misery is different because she isn't "edgy." She isn't trying to be cool or distant. She’s genuinely sweet; she’s just cursed. That distinction matters. It makes her approachable.
🔗 Read more: Love Island All Stars Season 2 Episode 36: Why the Final Dates Changed Everything
The Cultural Impact of Ruby Gloom Today
Even though the show hasn't had new episodes in years, the fanbase is still incredibly active on sites like DeviantArt and Pinterest. Misery is a huge reason for that. She resonates with people who feel like they don't fit into the "toxic positivity" of modern social media.
In 2026, looking back at a character like Misery feels like looking at a precursor to the "everything is fine" dog meme. She is the literal embodiment of staying calm while everything is on reference-level fire. The show's aesthetic—Gothic but bright—was ahead of its time. It paved the way for shows like Monster High and even the recent Wednesday series on Netflix.
Actionable Takeaways for Fans and Creators
If you’re looking to revisit the series or you’re a character designer looking for inspiration, there are a few things Misery teaches us about great character writing:
- Embrace the Irony: A banshee who sings beautifully but only when she's asleep is a goldmine for character conflict. Look for those "internal contradictions" when building a persona.
- Visual Storytelling: You don't need to see a character's eyes to know how they feel. Misery’s body language—the slumped shoulders, the slow gait—tells the whole story.
- Contrast is King: Pair your "darker" characters with high-energy ones. The humor in Ruby Gloom almost always comes from how Misery reacts to the chaos around her, rather than the chaos itself.
- Voice Casting Matters: If you’re a creator, don't just go for "scary" or "sad" voices. Emily Hampshire’s dry, rhythmic delivery is what made Misery iconic.
Whether you're a long-time fan or someone who just stumbled across a clip of a blue girl being struck by lightning, there's no denying that Misery is the heart of Gloomsville. She’s a reminder that it’s okay to have a bad day—or a bad eternity—as long as you’ve got good people around you.
💡 You might also like: A Bollywood Tail Jasmine Sherni: Why This Animated Crossover Actually Happened
To dive deeper into the world of Gloomsville, look for the original Canadian broadcasts which often had slightly different pacing than the international versions. You can also track down the original Mighty Fine concept art to see how Misery's design evolved from a simple sticker to a fully realized character. Pay close attention to the background details in her room during Season 2; the animators hid several nods to classic Gothic literature that explain her family's "misery" in much more detail than the dialogue ever does.