Who is the worst fictional parent?

[OneUmberJoker]

Cilla Battersby

I’ve just read the synopsis on Wikipedia.

Jesus Christ, it’s awful!
You just know the author was indulging some sort of fantasy with all the abuse and violence; and i wouldn’t expect that from a woman.

A foul book for impressionable teenage girls.

There's been a lot of these 'parlour game' type threads recently, with the OPs making good suggestions for a stream of witty replies, and then just sitting back.

I wonder if MNHQ are seeding them, in an attempt to bring back some good-natured humour to balance out all the social-media-inflamed rage and division and trolling.

I wouldn't mind at all if they were doing this. It is a gift to our mental health!

This.

Edwin Dodd (Antonia Forest's Marlow books) is pretty bad - ill-tempered and violent.

I agree.
It certainly makes a change from a lot of the threads that just degenerate into Christ knows what.

This thread is kinda charming.

Tbf, your should judge on the times the fiction was based in.
I think the famous 5s parents were neglectful, how many times did they let them go off alone a d they end up in life threatening situations?

Social services would be involved these days with those famous five (non) parents. Though maybe not as they are posh and rich

Livia Soprano, Tony's mother, was an absolute monster.

She was awful, but the bits of the Sopranos that i enjoyed the most were the scenes with his family.
The gangster-y bits i could take or leave!

YES!!!! Wanders about being horrible to Chas on his birthday and slashing Peter across the face with a riding crop!

Though whilst Binks certainly didn't deserve that, he was being unbelievably annoying.

I lent my mum TRMF last year and she's kept slating Mrs Marlow for being so very absent. Though there is that bit in the Bronte book where one of them almost shoots themselves on purpose. So maybe she had a point.

Since Pam Marlow spunked the family jewels on ponies for herself and Ginty, then a few months later was threatening to take Nicola away from Kingscote because she couldn't afford the fees, I think your mum definitely has a point there!

Mrs Frewen is also pretty awful - writing to Esther to tell her she's getting rid of Daks, when it should have been clear to anyone that this would devastate Esther and at the very least, should have been a discussion in person.

That scene on the rooftop where Nick gets the letter is so well drawn I think. Eating sweets with, argh, what's her name? Not Lois Sanger, the other one.

Mins you, that sixth former always seemed unbelievably grown up and mature to me.

And then flipping Lawrie snags the Prosser!

Janice Scott.

Thank you!

Tywin Lannister has to be in the running. I love this scene with Charles Dance, the barely suppressed contempt and loathing that eventually spills over. You know it's been like that Tyrion's whole life.

The Railway Children Mum, kids totally neglected and left to play on the rail lines.

Well she had to prioritise earning a living.

And as said above, children are more capable than they are often given credit for and don't actually need an over-involved parent hovering over them 24/7.

I'd take Pam Marlow's parenting approach over Joey Maynard's any day of the week.

Ah, yes I agree, but there is SO MUCH wrong with Joey's parenting I wouldn't know where to start.

The mum from flowers in the attic

Philip and Elizabeth from the series The Americans

Also Lorelei Gilmore the more you rewatch the more you sympathise with her Mum. Selfish and childish

Frank's dad. (The Wasp Factory)

There are compelling theories that Heathcliff is Earnshaw’s illegitimate child, which adds a whole other dimension to his spectacularly poor parenting.

Thats actually my favourite childhood book, read it so many times. You can choose your family 🙌

Agree with pp that The Gellers are shite parents to Monica, who is severely traumatised

Oo i'd say Jay from modern family

I know he grows as a person through the show etc but he was a shite man

And somehow he kept the closeness with the kids he didnt raise. Poor dede, she deserved better, especially from Claire

Literally me 😄, I am firmly camp Emily Gilmore at this point

Very imperfect but not at all deserving of lorelai's treatment of and disdain towards her