Seeing a young world with old eyes

So I'm sure you've noticed by now that the new logo theme is Mad Scientists, and to save myself from answering various questions over and over (the number of people who didn't recognize Mickey from "Rocky" last week really depressed me), they are, from left to right, Professor John Frink from "The Simpsons," Walter Bishop from "Fringe," Dr. Bunsen Honeydew from "The Muppet Show" and Walter White from "Breaking Bad".

But the only one I want to talk about in this post is Dr. Honeydew, whom I haven't been able to look at in the same way since I became a grown-up. Seen through adult eyes, the man is a monster - and not a cute one like Grover or even an excitable one like Animal. No, he's an out-and-out SOB, constantly torturing poor Beaker, aware of Beaker's suffering and not really caring. I was aware of the dynamic when I watched as a kid, but as an adult, I just feel bad for Beaker all the time, and cheered when Beaker was a pumped-up bouncer in the Pottersville fantasy in 2002's "It's A Very Merry Muppet Christmas Movie." (At last! Beaker could stand up for himself for a few minutes!)

In a similar vein, I know lots of adults make jokes about Bert and Ernie being a couple, but if they are, it's an emotionally abusive relationship, with Bert as Ernie's constant victim.

So here's my question of the day: what fictional character or characters from your childhood do you have a completely different take on now that you're an adult? Is there someone you once loved and now find creepy? Anyone you've developed a greater appreciation for as a result of age and (alleged) wisdom?