This is just my opinion, but as someone who dislikes Zoey, I think the problem with comparing Jo to Zoey is that Jo was supposed to be an antagonist. She was put on the villainous vultures in TDAS, it’s well-established that it’s part of her character to be hypocritical, a liar, and whatnot.

Zoey is painted to be a small town sweetheart, but in s4 especially she’s really more of an annoying character than anything (in my opinion, of course). From my perspective, it seems like the show tried to make her seem like just a cute little cutie, but certain events like her treatment of Dawn versus her treatment of Mike when she finds out about his MPD is obnoxious at best. 

The “but Dakota could have seriously hurt her” argument just doesn’t cut it for me, considering Mike’s personalities (especially in TDAS) can be dangerous. It’s the end of s5 and Zoey knows about Mal, how dangerous he is, and so on, but she’s going head to head with him?

Her character is too contradictory to me; the writers want her to seem one way, but then she ends up getting used for plot so her actual characteristics mean nothing (this season she’s really only been useful in supplementing the side plot with Mal. They even ended up dumbing her down hardcore to prolong the moment when she realized what’s up with Mal.

Anywho, I’m not trying to change your mind. If you love Zoey, rock on with your bad self (and make Zoke fanart because I like seeing Mike happy). This is just kind of an explanation from another perspective as to why Zoey is disliked.

((Not to justify the Zoey hate. I’m 100% against people filling the tags with hate and harassing Zoey fans. That’s not rad.))