Being a good dad is hard, but finding good fictional dads on TV is harder
Phil Dunphy – Modern Family
Phil manages to somehow be cool and uncool at the same time
Phil is the Dad that you secretly want but would never admit to. Phil is always trying his best to be a “cool dad” by using the practice of “peerenting” – acting like a parent but communicating to your kids like they’re your peers.
Phil is always trying to bond with his kids, often unsuccessfully but this never stops his childish optimism. A fun loving dad, Phil enjoys Sci-fi, roleplay and virtual reality. He is also very good at picking out presents for people, much to his wife Claire’s annoyance. Despite his somewhat sad attempts to be a cool dad, Phil is a very loving father.
Ned Stark – Game of Thrones
He may be dead, but his kids survived (most of them anyway)
Eddard Stark is perhaps a bit separated from modern day parenting to be immediately relatable to most fathers but he has all the values that many dads aspire to have; honourable, stoic and dutiful.
He is also a dedicated father. It can’t be easy to be a decent dad and Warden of the North. Good acts of parenting include giving his tomboy daughter, Arya a tutor to learn how to wield a sword. Another would include raising his sister’s child, Jon Snow and pretending that Jon is his own illegitimate offspring.
Homer Simpson – The Simpsons
Perhaps one of the most heartfelt Simpsons moments
Perhaps a surprising addition to list, what with Homer’s constant strangling of Bart, general greediness and utter stupidity but despite all of Homer’s failings as a father, he always manages to make up for them.
A prime example is the season six episode And Maggie Makes Three where Homer quits his job at the Nuclear Power Plant to work his dream job at the bowling alley. Marge’s pregnancy with Maggie jeopardises the family’s financial security so Homer has to beg for his better paid job back from Mr Burns. The episode ends with Homer covering a sign placed by Mr Burns saying “Don’t forget: you’re here forever” with photos of Maggie altering it to say “Do it for her”.
Jim Hopper – Stranger Things
Who doesn’t want their dad to give you Eggos for breakfast?
Technically not a dad, Hopper used to have a daughter but lost her to cancer before the events of Stranger Things unfold. However in season 2, Hopper takes on the role of looking after Eleven and hiding her from the mysterious organisation who are hunting her down.
Hopper becomes the girl’s surrogate father and he tries his best to teach and look after her. This has fairly mixed results since being stuck in hiding for months on end would drive any kid crazy, let alone one with psychic powers. Nonetheless Hopper has his heart in the right place and put himself in a lot of danger by protecting Eleven.
Daddy Pig – Peppa Pig
Beard, glasses and dad bod, Daddy Pig is a true dad
If he wasn’t a pig, Daddy Pig would probably be the closest dad on our list to the reality of what it is to be a father. He is the father of Peppa and George, always finding the time to play with them. Like any true dad, Daddy Pig hates getting fit and is proud of his “dad bod” believing his relatively rotund frame is “pure muscle”.
Daddy pig is rarely grumpy (except when he loses his glasses) and always remains a cheerful and loving father. This is pretty impressive considering Peppa Pig is fairly annoying.
