Joachim is a man who has his demeanor against him. - In other words: He is not easy to like.
You have to take a closer look at him and no doubt get to know him, before you realize that he is perhaps not so arrogant as he appears.
Joachim is not folksy. He is not a peoples-person and he is also a bit old-fashioned.
On top of that he is very intelligent and very articulate - that can make it difficult to find him endearing as well... unfortunately.
That makes him easy to dislike and as we all know, every good soap-opera needs a villain or at least an unlikable character. - That character is Joachim.
Joachim is IMO a complicated person who deserve a better press than what he is getting. But that is unlikely to happen until someone come along who suits the role as the dislikable member of the DRF better.
And I agree with you.
Joachim was told as a child that you are going to get a manor and be a farmer. That's your life - regardless of your dreams, interests and abilities.
On top of that Schackenborg was neglected and worn down.
So yes, Joachim tried and failed. Better and more talented men than him have failed too in a similar situation.
It didn't exactly help either that he had to sell off a considerable asset in order to finance Alexandra's house after the divorce.
Yet, Schackenborg was modernized, restructured and rationalized - at a huge cost due to investments.
And with four children, it's difficult to divide a manor (with debts) into four portions.
I see elsewhere that Joachim seems to have been quoted for saying that he should have sold Schackenborg earlier.
Perhaps he should never have taken over the place.
I do not agree with you that the heat Joachim is getting is to beef up M&F.
However, and I know this may be considered controversial, the criticism Frederik got earlier on in particular would have been much worse had Joachim
not been around.