Happy Father’s Day. Today I want to skip the usual classic-TV-dad debates (you know, the ones that pit Bill Cosby vs. Mike Brady vs. Homer Simpson) and narrow the focus to more recent, current TV fathers. Specifically, who do you think does a better job of fathering, Castle‘s Rick Castle, or Modern Family‘s Phil Dunphy?
Here’s my thinking on these two:
• Rick Castle is pretty much the ideal single dad. He enjoys spending time with teen daughter Alexis. He’s a novelist, which means he spends a lot of time at home trying to look as though he’s working when he’s actually just daydreaming, which leads to many good long conversations with Alexis. He treats her as the mature child she is, asking her for ideas and theories about the real-life cases and fictional plots in which he’s engaged. Yet he also sets limits for the kid, in a firm, bracingly old-fashioned way.
• Phil Dunphy may act like a doofus and be one of those dads who’s always trying to be cool and keep up with what kids today are doing. (Even though his idea of being cutting edge includes memorizing songs from High School Musical.) He refers to his style as “peerenting,” which means he acts as though his three kids are his peers, and adjusts his parenting accordingly. Yes, it may be easy to pull a fast one on Phil (as daughters Haley and Alex do all the time), but he’s absolutely devoted to his kids, even when it comes to trying to get his awkward, layabout son, Luke, to become a better athlete. Even if it means taking a few in the groin. Or embarrassing your daughter when her boyfriend visits. Bottom line: Phil cares.
What do you think? Rick or Phil? Someone else?
For more: Who’s the better TV dad, round 2: Glee’s Burt Hummel, or Friday Night Lights’ Eric Taylor?
Phil FTW!
I’m fine with both these guys, but for me it is now and will always be Coach Taylor on Friday Night Lights. Not only is he an AMAZING father for his biological daughters, but he is a true father for all the boys on his team.
Yes, he and Tami are the best parents/married couple on TV.
Eric Taylor is the first thing that came to my mind as well!
Eric Taylor.
hands down castle/fillion… his attitude, humor, and the fact he was captain malcom reynolds would make him the dream dad. I have a feeling in real life he’s the exact same way.
way to answer the question!!! Not. He asked you to pick between two.
@ Jane: He also asked at the end of the post whether we thought “someone else” deserved the title.
FTW? “Face the Why?”
Ha!
For the win.
llevinso-
At least one person got that I was joking…that’s all that matters.
Josie, it’s a joke from the show and one my friends and I quote all the time. Why the face?
Why The Face!?!?!?!?! Indeed.
That’s a wonderful pic! I love the ctalse in the background and all their beautiful smiling faces. It’s so great that Ashley got to make magical memories with friends!!Debs@
love both shows. not sure who’s better…phil is funnnier and castle is smarter…phil
Gotta go with Phil on this one.
I choose C. Cal Lightman. Any time anything happens in his area, his first thought is for his daughter.
Granted, the business he’s in contributes regularly to her being in danger, but he’s really kind of a doting papa.
Definitely Castle, he is pretty much the perfect dad.
Castle.
Rick Castle. Castle. Castle.
Castle baby all the way. No contest!
Castle seems like the cool dad.
Castle. He is an awesome dad and that is why Alexis is one of the most enjoyable and non-irritating teenagers on tv.
I want Rick Castle for my dad!
Me too!
Yes! Rick Castle is an extraordinary father, and it´s one of the most endearing aspects of his character that in that one part of his life, where his daughter is concerned, he drops the ¨irresponsible playboy¨ facade utterly, and becomes the perfect loving, devoted, playful, responsible, and even wise father his little girl needs. Castle for best TV dad, absolutely.
Totally agree with your comments. Castle is an amazing father. He can be fun and playful but he knows when to be serious. He has a great relationship with Alexis.
He’s pretty much the perfect EVERYTHING!
Kurt’s dad from Glee.
I could not agree with you more! I love this storyline and the grace, confusion and compassion Burt shows to his kid. He may not fully understand his son but he loves him and supports him (and his surprise murder mystery dinners)
Burt for the win!
I totally agree! he is so great with Kurt, I cry every time he’s on, love him.
One more for Burt!
Agree also!!!
yay for kurt’s dad too! every gay kid in the world deserves a parent like Burt!!!
Every kid, period. Not just homosexual ones. His character is so well written. He’s a loving father struggling to understand his son. His love and support for Kurt is simply beautiful. I find myself often crying when Kurt and Burt are in a scene together. They are the emotional heart of the show.
Jimmy from Yes, Dear
ditto to Burt.
motto!
Yup. I love Rick Castle and Phil Dunphy, but the overall best dad on TV now is Burt Hummel.
(In the running in the all-time category: Keith Mars.)
Omg I almost forgot about Keith! He is hands down my fave!
Absolutely!
My first thought as well!
Has to be Castle — all the way! He’s a devoted Dad who has a balanced relationship with his daughter.
Depends which Phil we are talking, the one from early season or the one from the second half of the season.
If the former, this contest is just plain ridiculous, Castle wins it with hand and feet tied behind his back on account of not being a complete moron like early Phil (remember the basketbal scene?).
If the latter, it’s not as ridiculous, but Castle still wins hands down: they are both devoted fathers, so that’s not an argument for Phil and Castle wins on everything else.
And stealing the wrong kid’s bike to prove a point to Luke?
agreed!! phil is a doofus and a father should be mature…and smart
Out of these two I would most definitely pick Phil. Sure, he might scar me for life but he would be fun. However, The ultimate dad should obviously be Kyle Chandler as Coach Eric Taylor in Friday Night Lights.
Castle without question is the best dad – fun, involved and let’s his kid do her thing
Castle as Alexis’ father is what grounds the show. I can’t get enough of those scenes.
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Castle totally I love his relationship with Alexis
Castle!!!
I really like the relationship between Castle and Alexis; I think it’s a huge asset to the show. It could get very formulaic but its saved by humor and this awesome father/daughter dynamic. Plus Alexis is a levelheaded kid who is mature and in no way the stereotype of teenage whiny-ness. I love that!
(But I’m still voting for Phil. WTF: Why the face has now been part of my lexicon for a whole year…)
It’s Phil Dunphy yo!
Yea!
Do I haaaave to choose?
PHIL!!!! Although after that scene in the LOST finale, I’m kindof tempted to say Christian Shepard. Even though he was actually quite a sh*tty dad, he really did care about his two kids and his lifelong advice to Jack–let go–was finally rendered so poignant and relevant…when the two of them finally said they loved eachother, I had tears in my eyes.
Rick Castle is the better dad, hands down:)
Castle, but if you want the best tv dad and husband for that matter I would say Joe Dubois from Medium.
OOOH, good call on Joe! Not perfect, but definitely the most real father on TV today. Plus, he wins for best husband, hands down.