Who do you think are the worst parents on tv?

[MrStarkIDontFeelSoGood]

The question came to me because I am watching The Americans Season 5 and I think Philip and Elizabeth are just dreadful parents to Paige and Henry

In the early series it was just deceit and neglect but as time goes on they just narrow focus on Paige and damage her and basically don't seem to care about Henry at all, when they find out he is gifted, Elizabeth is borderline sneery about it because it doesn't fit with their "Henry is a bit of a waster" narrative

I also hate Adam Braverman on Parenthood, though several scenes regarding his autistic son are very well acted, he is consistently a massive wanker to eldest child Haddie, to his siblings and his wife and is in general an arsehole.

He will often disregard Max's boundaries, behaviour management strategies and schedule if it doesn't suit him and what he needs regardless of how it impacts Max, whilst at the same time throwing massive hissy fits at anyone he thinks hasn't made adequate adjustment for Max regardless of whether this is accurate or fair. He gives me the absolute rage even though it's a great show and fictional

The Gellar parents treatment of Monica though played for laughs is really not funny at all

Vanessa on Emmerdale. She seems to be in the pub all the time with no explanation of where her invisible toddler is.

Yes, where is little Johnnie?

Fletch from Holby

Maria from Corrie

Fizz with 'Ope

Charlie and Lola's parents. Hands down.

Notable mention for any soap opera parents with children who disappear randomly without mention for months at a time and then come downstairs for an adolescent angst storyline with a completely different head and body - and their parents never even notice!

Probably not the worst examples out there but I have recently been watching lots of boxsets while breastfeeding DD and I'm always amazed at how little time parents in TV series seem to spend with their babies.

• Broadchurch: In Series 2, Ellie had the most flexible and understanding childminder ever working many late evenings in a row!
• The Marvelous Mrs. Maisel: Midge is clearly not breastfeeding her baby (which is probably historically accurate as this would have been the norm back then) but also rarely spends any time with her children and again seems to have a very accommodating nanny and mother, which allows her to go out in the evenings. Joel is only seen interacting with his children a couple of times during Series 1.

In both examples the babies never seem to cry and the toddlers/kids rarely throw tantrums (unless related to the plot)!

The dad of Jordan and his brother in Ackley Bridge.

You can't lock on Charlie and Lola's parents!!!!

Flop and Padget from Bing
Fletch from Holby
Topsy and Tim's mum

All the Barlows - Ken got rid of the twins when is first wife died - i.e. when they needed him most.
Ken wasn't involved in any of his other kids lives. Peter followed suit, now they are fucking harassing Eva.
The Connors - what a nerve. Johnny has only very recently let people know he is Carla's dad, but he is intent on getting together with Liz, shagging around behind his wife's back, and he thinks he should have custody of the baby.
Although I think the thread might be shorter if you asked who is a good parent on TV. I can't think of any

I forgot about Ken just sacking off his kids when their Mum died! And yet raising Tracey as his own ! So odd - was it considered odd at the time of the story I wonder?

I just remembered the doctors of Greys Anatomy. The hospital has this shitty one room daycare that is like someone threw a few toys around an office, the kids are there CONSTANTLY in what looks to be 24/7 arrangement, as Meredith, Bailey, Callie, Mark and Arizona all seem able to drop everything at a moments notice to go into work at 1am and then outside of work they are all seen drinking and socialising with no reference to who has their child and when it does come up they don't seem to particularly care. At one point Callies daughter comes in injured and neither parent stops work to sit with her leaving her to the comfort of the parent of her friend who brought her in. So bizarre

Any parents in a soap. They always seem to be in the pub etc and their children appear to be invisible until one of them gets hurt/sick/custody issues etc.

The pontipines from in the night garden. There’s far too many of them in such a tiny house, they feed them nothing but junk food and they’re always bloody losing them. I wish someone would ring social services!

The pontipines

How could I forget - anyone named Dingle.
Every
single
one

Parents that I think are fab are the ones in Young Sheldon. I love them

What about Carrie on Homeland? Although at least the programme recognizes that she's rubbish...

Dora's parents are awful.
She must be about 6 and she roams all over the place unsupervised!

Sharon from Eastenders - Dennis is never with her, no wonder he's a little tearaway

The Aliens

Horrid Henry's, hands down.

He wouldn't be so horrid and he's not even that's horrid if they didn't blatantly prefer Peter. It's like they've never heard of a self-fulfilling prophecy.

Both sets of parents from 'Meet the Fockers'! 😂😂

Horrid Henry's parents are vile.

Saffy's parents on Ab Fab. Why didn't the nice dad with the antique shop take Saffy to live with him? Yes, Edina was abusive but he sat back and let it happen.

And Lori from TWD.

No, Carol can't watch Carl. She's busy kicking zombies arses!

The parents on The Split and their invisible childcare

King Robert and Cersei Game of Thrones

Claire from Outlander had no hesitation leaving Bree either, knowing she may never see her again!

The pontipines - hands down!

I thought of The Americans as soon as I read your thread title.

But I don't think you can get much worse than Stannis Baratheon tbh.

Homer Simpson- always throttling his 10 year old. Marge isn't much better just standing there watching!