The 10 Best Dads in Sci-Fi and Fantasy TV

Happy Father’s Day! Whether in science fiction or fantasy, good fathers make the TV world go round, spanning various genres. Some of my favorite characters are prime examples of what makes a well-rounded dad who goes above and beyond the norm. These characters also defy stereotypes and turn toxic masculinity on its head.

To celebrate the occasion, here’s a list of the 10 best TV dads – and father figures – in sci-fi and fantasy. A few of these entries might surprise you, while others are par for the course.

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Joel Miller, The Last of Us

Joel Miller and Ellie Williams aren’t blood-related, but they’re unequivocally one of the best on-screen father-daughter relationships. Of course, this is thanks, in part, to Pedro Pascal and Bella Ramsey’s gripping performances and easygoing chemistry. From the get-go, even though Ellie is wary of Joel and Joel only sees Ellie as a potential cure for the fungal pandemic ravaging the world, we, as the audience, see a burgeoning connection.

As with any familial relationship, there are peaks and valleys. However, these two would move mountains for each other. Joel commits a bona fide massacre to save Ellie. In season 2, Ellie goes against the Jackson community’s safety protocols to track down Joel’s killer. They were – and, in Ellie’s case, still are – each other’s whole world.

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Rupert Giles, Buffy the Vampire Slayer

Rupert Giles becomes an integral part of Buffy Summers’ life when he takes on the role of her Watcher. His bond with Buffy is of the mentor/father figure persuasion. Hey, you’d need all the support in the world, too, if you were deemed the Chosen One as a teenager, destined to protect humanity from supernatural threats.

Since Buffy’s relationship with her own dad is strained, Giles provides a more stable masculine presence. Best of all, Giles is a prime example of a man who doesn’t fall prey to toxic masculinity, a rarity in ’90s TV. Long live the Slayer and her Watcher.

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Gomez Addams, Wednesday

Every iteration of Gomez Addams, across all mediums, has one thing in common: his unwavering devotion to his wife, Morticia. He’s also steadfastly loyal to his children, Wednesday and Pugsley. Gomez encourages them to embrace their eccentricities and pursue their passions, no matter how head-scratching they might seem to the world at large.

For his loved ones, he had no problem with being a societal outlier – he prioritizes his family above all else. If they’re happy, Gomez is happy. His upbeat attitude, support for his kids, worship of his wife, and unorthodox approach to life make him a memorable TV dad.

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Benjamin Sisko, Star Trek: Deep Space Nine

Captain Benjamin Sisko’s relationship with his son Jake is one for the books. It’s brimming with warmth, affection, and an unmistakable love for each other. Ben isn’t emotionally distant, nor does he go the stereotypically “strong man” route of that TV era by pushing his son aside. Really, it’s a prime example of a solid father-son bond that still resonates today.

In addition, Ben wholeheartedly supports Jake. If you’re looking for a healthy masculine icon, look no further than Captain Sisko. Unfortunately, the strength of Ben and Jake’s relationship makes the outcome of the series finale all the more heartbreaking. Jake doesn’t get to say goodbye to his dad after he’s pulled into another plane. However, I’d like to think Ben eventually found a way home and reunited with his son.

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Largo Brandyfoot, The Lord of the Rings: The Rings of Power

A Harfoot of the Second Age (and ancestor of the Hobbits we know and love), Largo Brandyfoot is a “girl dad” through and through. His daughter, Nori, has a hankering for adventure. She often goes against the grain regarding Harfoot etiquette and traditions. Harfoots are nomadic people and endeavor not to stray from the trail. That usually equals death if a Harfoot wanders off or is left behind.

After meeting The Stranger (ahem, Gandalf), Nori can no longer suppress her instinct to explore, eventually leaving her family to embark on her own journey of self-discovery. Largo supports her without a second thought. He’s her most ardent champion. It’s a scary world out there, and, as a parent, it’s not easy to watch your children find their way through it without your guiding hand. Now, imagine that’s Middle-earth with Sauron running wild. Scary, indeed.

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Yusuf Khan, Ms. Marvel and Daredevil: Born Again

Is there a prouder dad out there than Yusuf Khan? Father of Kamala Khan, AKA the titular Ms. Marvel, Yusuf’s reaction to discovering his daughter is a super hero is nothing short of adorable. At one point, he tells Kamala how proud he is of her. He eventually gives Kamala the idea to call herself Ms. Marvel (“Night Light” was merely a placeholder), noting that her first name in Urdu means “wonder,” making “marvel” its synonym.

In Daredevil: Born Again, Yusuf gleefully shows Matt Murdock a Funko figurine of Kamala as Ms. Marvel. He brags about her exploits and that she’s New Jersey’s premier super hero. Later in that episode, Yusuf also teams up with Matt to thwart a hostage situation in a bank, proving he’s also a hero in his own right.

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Eddard Stark, Game of Thrones

Perhaps one of the most legendary TV dads (especially in sci-fi and fantasy) of the past few decades, Eddard “Ned” Stark literally lost his head in the name of doing the right thing. The head of House Stark, Lord of Winterfell, and Warden of the North is father to six children, including bastard Jon Snow (well, at least he thought he was).

During his short time on Game of Thrones, Ned is shown to be a loving, caring dad, a subversion of the norm in Westeros. He believes in justice and boasts a strong moral compass. He eventually takes his daughters, Sansa and Arya, to King’s Landing when he becomes Hand of the King to Robert Baratheon.

Ned is also the definition of “girl dad.” He encourages Arya to embrace her tomboyishness, even hiring someone to help her learn to fight. He does all he can to protect his kids, but in the end, Cersei Lannister’s influence on her son Joffrey proved to be his downfall.

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Din Djarin, The Mandalorian™

If I had a nickel for every time Pedro Pascal played a father figure, I’d have two nickels. Which isn’t a lot, but it’s weird that it happened twice. You can’t have a list like this without including Din Djarin, AKA the Mandalorian, and his sweet relationship with Grogu. After saving Grogu from a shady client, Djarin takes the Child in and sets out to find his homeworld. Of course, Djarin didn’t expect any dormant fatherly instincts to kick into high gear.

Djarin and Grogu endure so much throughout the series, from separations to kidnappings and an overabundance of violence. Djarin’s line of work certainly invites a whole host of colorful – and deadly – characters. Through it all, though, Grogu and Djarin’s bond never wavers. If anything, it becomes harder to break.

Eventually, Djarin adopts Grogu, whose name now becomes Din Grogu. We love an intergalactic bounty hunter and his green Force-sensitive son.

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Jamie Fraser, Outlander

The Laird of Lallybroch has quite a few children – biological, adopted, foster, and otherwise. And Jamie Fraser would fall on his sword for every last one of them. He’s a family man to a tee, always ensuring they take precedence, along with his love, Claire, of course, above all else. I mean, it’s the 18th century; there’s not much else to do besides care for your family.

Jamie’s respective relationships with Brianna, his daughter, and Ian, his nephew/foster son, in particular, are so sweet. At the start of the series, Jamie hews to toxic masculinity, having only been exposed to those kinds of “role models” in men.

Thankfully, Claire’s influence inevitably prevails, shaping Jamie into a kinder person and softening his edges. He’s unafraid of showing emotion around Brianna and Ian, nor does he shy away from telling them how he feels. His love for them is irrevocable.

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Dan Twelvetrees, Resident Alien

Family doesn’t always mean blood. Just ask Dan Twelvetrees, the adoptive father of Asta. After her mother abandoned her as a baby, Dan took Asta in and raised her. For a long time, he’s the only person besides Asta who knows that Harry Vanderspeigle is an alien.

Dan comforts Asta after the murder of her mentor and boss, Sam Hodges, and encourages her to partake in their Indigenous traditions to alleviate her grief. He loves Asta more than anything and reassures her that even when they aren’t okay, they’re okay. He’s a bastion of support.

Additionally, Dan doesn’t judge, accepting Harry into the fold despite his outsider status. Dan is always there to dispense words of wisdom, give a warm hug, and, more importantly, offer pie when necessary.

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Who are your favorite TV dads or father figures in sci-fi and fantasy? Join the conversation with other pop culture fans over at Sideshow Social Network or in side.show/geekgroup, and don’t forget to Let Your Geek Sideshow!