13 Worst Parents in Television History
Since its advent in the late 1920s, television has graced us with many shows that aim to capture the complexities of human life. TV shows have long been a mirror reflecting the spectrum of human experiences, including the highs and lows of parenthood.
While many shows depict nurturing and supportive parental figures, others offer a darker perspective, showing the reality some children have to live with.
Often exaggerated for dramatic effect, these portrayals highlight some of the most unsettling and dysfunctional parenting approaches in TV history.
1. John Winchester from Supernatural (2005 – 2020)
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Losing a partner can be rough, especially when you have children to raise. However, with becoming a single parent, the responsibility intensifies. Father to Sam and Dean, John Winchester singlehandedly carries the burden of parenting while having immense grief for his deceased wife. But as MovieWeb points out, rather than teaching his children how to live a good life, he trains them to kill vampires.
One example of this is when Sam is leaving for college, and John tells him never to come back if he walks out of the door. His lack of presence in his children’s lives is highlighted by his lack of screen time from seasons 1 through 9.
2. Alexis Carrington from Dynasty (2017 – 2022)
Did someone say, Diva? That’s the perfect word to describe this character. Alexis Carrington, as pointed out by BuzzFeed, abandons her husband and young children only to return to their lives fifteen years later by crashing a funeral. You’d expect she would give her daughter, Fallon, a bone-crushing hug after all those years, but instead, she makes a snarky comment, “Glad to see your father fixed your teeth if not your tongue.”
3. Peter Griffin from Family Guy (1999 – Present)
We all love the sarcastic humor this show gives us. But a deep and serious dive into the characters’ dynamics leaves one shocked. WatchMojo points out how Peter Griffin treats his daughter Meg horribly. From farting on her to pranking and insulting her, he definitely does not win the Father of the Year award.
Not to forget, he even shoots at her! Having close to no interaction with his youngest son, Stewie, and exerting superiority over his eldest, Chris, are too reminders of his awful parenting.
4. Jack and Judy Geller from Friends (1994 – 2004)
Two of the most beloved characters come from one of the most hated pairs of parents, Jack and Judy Geller. Ranker points out how they fuel the sibling rivalry among the two by always siding with their son, Ross. They also often display a lack of sensitivity towards Monica’s feelings by reminding her of her obesity as a child. Giving your child body image issues is pure evil.
5. Betty Draper from Mad Men (2007 – 2015)
She is a complicated character who is often criticized for being an emotionally detached mother. According to Vulture, she waged a lifelong power struggle against her daughter Sally. It seems Betty is more focused on maintaining her social status and material comfort than on the emotional well-being of her children.
Her preoccupation with appearances and her own personal desires sometimes overshadow her role as a mother.
6. Dan Scott from One Tree Hill (2003 – 2012)
Abandoning your son is one thing, but abandoning your son and then killing the only father figure he has in his life is on a whole different level. MovieWeb points out how Dan was a manipulative and vindictive father who had no role in his sons’ lives. After leaving his first son, Lucas, Dan exhibits blatant favoritism towards his other son, Nathan (only to use Nathan as a pawn to fulfill his own ambitions).
7. Mr. and Mrs. Wormwood from Matilda (1996)
This is a beloved adaptation of Roald Dahl’s novel Matilda. The parents, Mr. and Mrs. Wormwood, are just as disgustingly unbearable on screen as they are in the book. Taste of Cinema discusses how they are deceitful humans who lack the basic duty of childcare.
Largely self-centered and preoccupied with their own desires, they neglect their parental responsibilities in favor of personal pursuits, leaving Matilda to raise herself.
8. Ellis Grey from Grey’s Anatomy (2005 – Present)
As per Business Insider, Ellis Grey was a cutthroat workaholic responsible for her daughter Meredith’s emotional baggage. Her commitment to her profession leads her to neglect her parental duties and miss essential moments in Meredith’s life. Ellis also exhibits emotional coldness and detachment towards her daughter, often being critical and dismissive of her achievements and emotions.
9. Julie Cooper from The O.C. (2003 – 2007)
Having an intimate interaction with your daughter’s high school ex-boyfriend is a big no in our books! This one mother took the advice of staying youthful quite literally.
As Business Insider points out, she neglects to check up on her daughter Marissa in the pursuit of being young, rich, and desirable.
10. Evelyn Harper from Two and a Half Men (2003 – 2015)
There’s no debate about Charlie’s chaotic nature in the show Two and a Half Men. His brother Alan, while not as terrible, still has his fair share of personality struggles. Is it a surprise that these are the children of a heartless woman who didn’t give them a loving and safe childhood?
According to CBR, Evelyn Harper is a narcissistic individual who constantly guilt-trips her sons throughout the show. Let’s not forget she tried to sell her son’s home at his funeral.
11. Petunia and Vernon Dursley from Harry Potter (2001 – 2011)
Having a child live in a cupboard under the stairs for the first fifteen years of his life? Diabolical! The contrast between the pampering of their son, Dudley, and the neglectful parenting of Harry Potter starkly highlights their failed role as guardians.
12. Beatrice Horseman from BoJack Horseman (2014 – 2020)
Beatrice Horseman, from this animated series, is a deeply flawed and emotionally distant mother. Her relationship with her son, BoJack, is marked by neglect, harsh criticism, and emotional manipulation.
Her own unresolved issues and strict, often unreasonable expectations of her son leave him with unfixable emotional scars.
13. Walter White from Breaking Bad (2008 – 2013)
The show’s central character, Walter White, evolves from a mild-mannered chemistry teacher into a ruthless drug manufacturer.
Initially, he’s motivated to secure his family’s financial future after a terminal cancer diagnosis, but soon, his journey becomes increasingly corrupted by power and pride.
