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When I was last at work, I got talking with one of my friends/coworkers who brought up the Disney movie The Lion King. As we were talking, he mentioned that he was of the opinion that Mufasa is the best father character of all fiction.

Now I wasn't quite in disagreement, as Mufasa is indeed a great father figure. But to label him as the best fictional father ever is quite a bold statement indeed. Since then, I've been trying to think of who else might be the best fictional father and see if that character might be better than Mufasa.

Thus far, I've got nothing (it's about 1am right now, so I'm tired ). I mentioned this to another coworker at work and he suggested Liam Neeson's character from the film Taken, whom I think is also a good choice. But I'm not certain if he's better than Mufasa, or if there's an even better choice.

So, I turn to the Internet for assistance. Who would you say is the best fictional father and why?

Jonathan Kent. Not his actual father, and Iv'e only ever watched Smallville, but a good father none the less. Even if he isnt biological.

Even though Al Bundy is the most entertaining, I'm going with Red Forman. He was tough but fair, and portrayed fatherhood as it is in real life. A fictional character, but strong role model qualities.

Homer. In the end, he always does what's right instead of what's easiest.

Me, Grimlock! wrote:Homer. In the end, he always does what's right instead of what's easiest.

Better than Mufasa?! Open you eyes, man!

BeastProwl wrote:Jonathan Kent. Not his actual father, and Iv'e only ever watched Smallville, but a good father none the less. Even if he isnt biological.

nice thought.


sabrblade what on earth are you thinking asking the internet...........


well since I agree with BP ill just add in a different dad....hmmm how about andy taylor

njb902 wrote:sabrblade what on earth are you thinking asking the internet...........

Hey, I asked this on other sites and got some pretty good responses. Atticus Finch, Marlin from Finding Nemo, Heathcliff Huxtable, Captain Sisko from Star Trek: DS9, and even God (though, many consider him nonficitional).

Sentinel Prime!!!

Uncle Ben!!!

No.

DARTH VADER!

SlyTF1 wrote:Sentinel Prime!!!

Uncle Ben!!!

No.

DARTH VADER!

What's funny is my friend considered Vader to be the worst father, and noted the irony in James Earl Jones having voiced both the best and worst fathers in his opinion.

what about Hank Hill? He's like a real person, I tell you what.

BeastProwl wrote:what about Hank Hill? He's like a real person, I tell you what.

he isn't what I would consider a good father though.

njb902 wrote:

BeastProwl wrote:what about Hank Hill? He's like a real person, I tell you what.

he isn't what I would consider a good father though.

Why not? He's fair in his diciplinary actions, and he teaches his kids the values of life. He is flawed do to how outdated he is, but so was my dad. Hank hill kinda reminds me of my father a bit, but without the southern accent.

His kids never take anything he says to seriously because of how old fashioned he is. I think that's really his main problem.

Sabrblade wrote:God

Wow, seriously? If anything he's the worst father ever, even worse than Kratos.


Now, this is a truly difficult question here, there doesn't seem to be a perfect father person in fiction.

Maybe Splinter? No actually he's also pretty terrible.

Maybe Shredder from the 2002 TMNT show?

Dead Metal wrote:

Sabrblade wrote:God

Wow, seriously?

I DID NOT WRITE THAT!

BeastProwl wrote:

njb902 wrote:

BeastProwl wrote:what about Hank Hill? He's like a real person, I tell you what.

he isn't what I would consider a good father though.

Why not? He's fair in his diciplinary actions, and he teaches his kids the values of life. He is flawed do to how outdated he is, but so was my dad. Hank hill kinda reminds me of my father a bit, but without the southern accent.

His kids never take anything he says to seriously because of how old fashioned he is. I think that's really his main problem.

he is so closed minded....and kind of bigoted(though we all are to a certain degree).

Sabrblade wrote:

Dead Metal wrote:

Sabrblade wrote:God

Wow, seriously?

I DID NOT WRITE THAT!

I know, I was just expressing my amazement.

Marlin from Finding Nemo?

Darth Vader...I mean who doesn't want a red lightsabre wielding, deep-voiced, dark force emitting freak of nature.

Nemesis Jason wrote:Darth Vader...I mean who doesn't want a red lightsabre wielding, deep-voiced, dark force emitting freak of nature.

He killed his son's mentor, had his son's only known family murdered, tried to turn his son towards evil, slaughtered innocent children, kidnapped/imprisoned/tortured his own daughter, stood by idly as his daughter's home planet and people were annihilated, all on top of many actions of murderous villainy and wickedness. His only redeeming actions (saving his son from Palpatine) came much later after years and years of tyrannical evilness. He is far from being the best father.

Sabrblade wrote:

Nemesis Jason wrote:Darth Vader...I mean who doesn't want a red lightsabre wielding, deep-voiced, dark force emitting freak of nature.

He killed his son's mentor, had his son's only known family murdered, tried to turn his son towards evil, killed innocent children, kidnapped/imprisoned/tortured his own daughter, stood by idly as his daughter's home planet and people were annihilated, all on top of many actions of murderous villainy and wickedness. His only redeeming actions (saving his son from Palpatine) came much later after years and years of tyrannical evilness. He is far from being the best father.

from a certain point of view.

My friend's reason for Mufasa being the best were:
1. He raises Simba on the righteous path to kinghood, mentoring him at a young age.
2. He bravely saves Simba twice from being killed, risking his own life both times (even losing his life during the second rescue).
3. He returns after his death to set Simba back on the right path to save their home and loved ones.
4. After Simba got into trouble with the hyenas, Mufasa's berating him was more of that a caring, concerned father than a harsh, scolding father, and his talk with Simba led to the two of them becoming even closer as father and son. How many fathers do you know who berate their sons and ultimately grow closer to them because of that?

What about Spike?

MightyMagnus78 wrote:What about Spike?

what ABOUT spike? He was just like HIS father, a cookie cutter personality. I mean, come on. He left his son, with the autobots, while he flew off into space with bumblebee. And later on in the series, he brings him along on missions with him and the autobots. I liked the whole "Saving him by turning him into a headmaster" bit, but really, thats all I can remember about him, and if I recal, even that was his fault for having his son along in the first place. If your goint to adventure off into spca, leave the kid with mom.

Vegeta's a better father than Spike.

SlyTF1 wrote:Sentinel Prime!!!

Uncle Ben!!!

No.

DARTH VADER!

No. Worst father ever
-Luke