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Telly addicts

Who do you think are the worst parents on tv?

80 replies

MrStarkIDontFeelSoGood · 22/06/2018 02:03

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 Blush

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

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HaroldsSocalledBluetits · 22/06/2018 18:39

Mike and Nancy's parents in Stranger Things. Me and the dcs often laugh at how they're dense to the point of being dangerous.

WhoWants2Know · 22/06/2018 18:39

Betty and Don Draper from Mad Men.

Middleoftheroad · 22/06/2018 18:42

Stannis and The Drapers, yes!

MrStarkIDontFeelSoGood · 22/06/2018 20:21

@middleoftheroad Bree was at least an adult who Claire consulted before making that decision unlike Jamie who just walked away from Willie

Yes Game Of Thrones, Robert, Stannis, Cersei and even Catelyn!

@StableGenius I really disliked the Pastor Tim character in The Americans but his assessment of them was spot on. Elizabeth much worse than Philip though

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Middleoftheroad · 22/06/2018 20:24

Ah yes poor wee Willy!

Agree re Catelyn
Don't get me started on Tywin either!

SDTGisAnEvilWolefGenius · 22/06/2018 20:24

The parents in Outnumbered are pretty crap, in my opinion - they are a pair of wet Nellies who have let their children have the upper hand their entire lives, and have, as a result, raised three little horrors.

TroubledLichen · 22/06/2018 20:27

Ryder from Paw Patrol. He’s supposed to be 10 yet no parents in sight, he doesn’t go to school and he’s living alone with a pack of puppies.

GameFrame · 22/06/2018 20:30

Ross Gellar

MrStarkIDontFeelSoGood · 22/06/2018 20:34

Yes! Ross Geller is SO shit! Loads of examples, but mainly dismissing a nanny who is great with his baby because he doesn’t want a male nanny

Forcing Ben to give up a Barbie for the same misogynistic crap

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MrsTorrence · 22/06/2018 20:40

Horrid Henry's, hands down.

I came in to say exactly this. "don't be horrid Henry" that's it, that's all she ever says.

Scienceforthewin · 22/06/2018 20:42

Ruby and her little brother Max.

Grandma does what she can to help out but has anyone ever seen either parent?

Nothisispatrick · 22/06/2018 20:45

Urm, Jamie and Cersei surely.

NotTheOriginalGreen · 22/06/2018 20:46

Another who came on to say Horrid Henry’s parents. Henry’s clearly acting out due to lack of attention and the clear favouritism towards his brother and all his mother ever says to him is “Don’t be horrid, Henry”. Poor kid.

flapjackfairy · 22/06/2018 20:49

Well what about Dave and Denise from the Royle Family ? They must be up there with the worst !

YorkieDorkie · 22/06/2018 21:22

Definitely agree with Jaime and Cersei Grin

Gosh there are a lot of Corrie parents being slated here!

Also Peter Griffin. That man-child should never have reproduced.

Pauperlil · 22/06/2018 23:06

The rugrats parents , they leave the children unattended and never check on them! And Tommy Mum obsession with that child psychologist DR lipshick , who knows nothing !

dingdongdigeridoo · 23/06/2018 20:38

I always thought Lorelei Gilmore was extremely lucky she had a well behaved kid. She filled Rory with junk food and coffee, let her watch crap TV all the time and made fun of her for being a nerd. Any other kid in the universe would have grown up lazy and unmotivated!

Agree with the Drapers from Mad Men. Betty isn’t too bad when the kids are little. You feel sorry for her being stuck alone all day. But post divorce she’s an absolute monster. I’m glad Sally rebelled as a teenager.

Any parents from US teen dramas. There are always 15/16 year olds drinking and sleeping over each other’s houses without so much as a text. Gossip Girl was full of parents who barely even showed up on screen so the kids were just living in New York unsupervised.

MrStarkIDontFeelSoGood · 23/06/2018 20:43

The more you watch Gilmore Girls (not that I’ve repeatedly watched it at all) the more problematic Lorelei becomes and the more you sympathise with Emily

Although the revival is very poor it is somewhat fitting that adult Rory has failed to launch and is rude, entitled, aimless and petty

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3DSpex · 23/06/2018 20:47

Most of the Eastenders parents, but especially Danny Dyer and 'L', who leave their toddler roaming around the upstairs of a pub alone while they pull pints downstairs for hours and hours.

JenBarber · 23/06/2018 21:26

Can't stand Lorelai.

First episode: She's hounding her parents for money.

Last episode: She's hounding her parents for money.

Nothing like learning from your actions...

Loonoon · 25/06/2018 17:31

I came on to say Lorelai too. She’s all over Rory when Rory is being a Lorelai clone but as soon as Rory starts to think for herself and go against Lorelai’s values she goes cold on her. She thinks the world revolves around her. In her own way she is as controlling as Emily. The lovely Max had a narrow escape.

Mrs Kim on the other hand, starts off being very strict but continues to support and love Lane even when she makes life choices that disappoint Mrs Kim.

TheNoseyProject · 25/06/2018 21:08

I read something once that in film and tv - especially that aimed at kids - they have to get rid of the parents or the story won’t work. Hence why so many fictional kids are at boarding school/are orphans/have feckless parents. They can have the adventure if they have good parents!

I think the parents on Modern Family leave a lot to be desired!

Ross is meant to be crap in Friends isn’t he? Aren’t we meant to be laughing at him most of the time?

FiftyShadesOfDuckEggBlue · 27/06/2018 14:04

Came across this article that I thought was relevant to this thread!

gryffen · 27/06/2018 14:21

Dora the explorer's parents.

I mean what the actual fuck?

PodgeBod · 27/06/2018 19:24

Half of the cast of teen mom and teen mom 2 are awful. But that's a reality show so genuinely sad. Worst of the lot is probably Jenelle but Amber, Ryan, Adam and Farrah are up there as well.