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Sunday, June 17, 2018

Fictional Fathers

In honor of Father's Day throughout the US, here are some of our contributors' favorite fictional dads from TV, film, and literature.
  • Pa Ingalls (Little House on the Prairie)
  • Rory Williams (Doctor Who)
  • Dre Johnson (Black-ish)
  • Dr Murray (A Wrinkle in Time)
  • Atticus Finch (To Kill a Mockingbird)
  • Cam and Mitch (Modern Family)
  • Hikaru Sulu (Star Trek)
  • T'Chaka (Black Panther)
  • Mo (Inkheart)
  • Arthur Weasley (Harry Potter)
  • Henry Jones (Indiana Jones and the Last Crusade)
  • Mr. Han (Jackie Chan in the Karate Kid remake)
  • John McClane and Sgt Al Powell (Die Hard


Honorable Mention
One librarian asked us to note that Pride and Prejudice covertly hinges on father figures. We meet Darcy not long after the passing of his father, putting Fitzgerald into a role of authority, and Eliza's dad is at least partly responsible for her viewing people as a source of amusement, hence her tendency toward prejudice. Also, Wickham seems to go bad not long after his “excellent father” passes away, causing him to be raised by the elder Darcy.

Another librarian holds that Speed Racer is all about fatherhood. He suggested a viewing of the movie while noting all the things Pops Racer says. The movie was not popular, but we can't say he's wrong.


Lastly, a bunch of us here just love the words of Pa Tuck in Tuck Everlasting about what life is.