Onscreen girl-dads that repair hearts

Making us cry is part of their cure

When a father figure serves a prominent role in a narrative, you know you’re signing up for a bucket of tears. It doesn’t matter what kind of role it is, good or bad, the emotional ride is inevitable. Recall this trope from as further back as you can go, and you know the statement holds weight.

We are all aware of how natural of a role model a father is for his son. It’s a tale as old as time—fierce kings defend and warm the thrones that their heirs are expected to sit on. From Simba to Alex, a cub wouldn’t become the unflinching king that he aims to be without his father’s guidance. But how do the dynamics shift when it comes to a father’s bond with his daughter?

Goodwill personified

The standard-defining Ned Stark from Game of Thrones can tell you a thing or two about exemplary fatherhood. Although made rigid by tradition, Ned doesn’t let the ways of the world govern his kind heart. Despite admitting that “war was easier than daughters”, his forbearance towards his young girls knows no bounds.

Ned’s expertise lies in striking a balance between tradition and leniency. He isn’t slow at determining that Prince Joffrey will not be a good husband to Sansa and promises her a worthier match instead, despite her protests. He also doesn’t shrug off Arya’s passion for sword-fighting and allows her to take a stand for herself. It is in these moments that we discover that Ned’s wisdom isn’t reserved for just his sons; he heeds the roles that all his children wish to possess and guides them on how to come into their own.

In the same way that Ned is a warrior-turned-gentle-father, Ant-Man’s thieving protagonist Scott Lang too has a daughter he cherishes more than anything in the world. Although his methods are questionable, his affection for Cassie is undeniable. These two sport a mutually beneficial relationship, where Scott empowers Cassie and she keeps him true to himself.

It is his love for her that diminishes any insecurity that springs up when one’s child is being raised by another parental figure post-divorce. Scott keeps the dynamics healthy and Cassie grows up surrounded by a village of love. It’s a win-win situation for all!

A human shield

A true girl-dad’s protective instincts don’t mitigate even if his daughter is a more enhanced human being than he is. A gut-wrenching example is Jim Hopper and his unexpected fondness for Eleven in Stranger Things. From fighting interdimensional monsters together to navigating difficult emotional boundaries, this duo reminds us that a father and a daughter need not be bound by blood to truly care for each other.

Considering that Eleven starts off not even grasping the concept of family, let alone having one, her budding bond with Hopper is one for the books. When he’s around, she knows that she doesn’t have to be fully on guard. Even when her powers give up on her, Hopper doesn’t and that’s what makes their devotion to each other so special.

But what about when the adopted daughter doesn’t come with special abilities? When it comes to Pete Wagner from Instant Family, the answer to raising a girl is quite simple: he protects her even when she hates him, even when she deems him lesser than family. It is difficult to raise a teenager, harder still to commit to a teenager who didn’t know you until you decided to take her in, much to the dismay of her learned reluctance.

But Pete reminds us that the trick is to never give up, come what may. From going to jail to teaching her fool-proof ways to eliminate her anger, Pete understands that your eldest girl is an unseasoned warrior looking for the right mentor.

An unbending mentor

Echoing the sentiment is Vander from Arcane, who adopted not one but two girls. The daughter who Vander influences the most grows up to be a literal fighter, unyielding even when she knows he’s not there to protect her. Vander can say something as simple as “That’s my girl” and we’d be bawling our eyes out. Because to raise a strong daughter isn’t to shelter her, but to show her how to forge her own sword.

There is a flipside to tough love, however. It may come from a well-meaning place inside the softness of a father’s heart, but it also has its rugged edges. Mahavir Singh Phogat from Dangal is guilty of this, and so is our beloved Wolverine. Oftentimes, when you’ve built a rock-hard exterior, it’s easy to project it onto your next of kin.