7 Most Supportive Parent-Child Relationships on TV (PHOTOS)
The Pearson Family (This Is Us)
Complicated, cry-inducing and comforting in equal measure, the Pearson family’s interconnected relationships portray the ups and downs of everyday life — well, maybe dramatized a little.
Though they don’t always get along, the Pearsons are always there for each other when it counts, to forgive each other, to help each other through the tough times, and to remind each other what it really means to be a family. It’s no wonder they have audiences reaching for their Kleenex boxes every week.
Joyce, Will and Jonathan Byers (Stranger Things)
Is there a fictional mom more ferociously dedicated to her family than Joyce Byers? Joyce risks her life time and time again to figure out what’s happening to her son and how to save him from the frightening, mysterious clutches of the Demogorgon and the Mind Flayer.
But she isn’t only concerned about Will; she makes sure Jonathan knows how much he’s loved, too, and always keeps his hopes and aspirations in mind (she wants him to go to NYU).
Ned and the Stark Family (Game of Thrones)
Whether or not Ned did the right thing in keeping Jon’s true parentage from him, there can be little doubt that he loved his kids. From accepting Jon into his family even though he was a “bastard” to encouraging Arya to keep improving in her fighting skills, Ned had a knack for knowing how to help his children grow and learn in a world that could often be unforgiving and harsh. It’s no wonder Arya misses him so much.
Fred and Archie Andrews (Riverdale)
Riverdale isn’t always a great example of grade-A parenting — looking at you, the Blossom and Lodge families. But there’s at least one wholesome parent-child relationship on the show.
Archie would do anything to keep his dad safe from whatever strange thing is terrorizing the residents of Riverdale , and with how fervently Fred worked to keep his son out of prison, it’s clear that sentiment goes both ways.
Abby and Clarke Griffin (The 100)
It would be an understatement to say Clarke and Abby have been through a lot. They’ve been separated with Clarke on the ground and Abby in space, and they’ve been separated with Clarke on the ground and Abby in an underground bunker. But no matter the distance separating them, the Griffin women always remain emotionally close.
Michonne, Rick, and Judith Grimes (The Walking Dead)
There may be only one Grimes child left, but she has great parents. Rick and Michonne have adopted Judith as if she were their own and not the result of Shane and Lori’s affair. The proud parents spend lots of time reading to her and playing with her, and making sure Judith’s able to have a good childhood in the midst of the zombie apocalypse.
The Pierce Family (Black Lightning)
You know what they say: the family that fights crime together… The Pierces are far from the typical American family — they all have powers and different ideas on how to use them — but at the end of the day, they’re determined to fight together and make their hometown of Freeland a better place.
Whether enjoying smooth sailing or enduring choppy waters, the relationships between characters and their parents — or characters and their children — can often be one of the most compelling dynamics on a TV show.
A good parent or an obedient child can be a support system in a time of need, while less supportive relationships can often make bad situations worse. Thankfully, these parents and kids get along well, and their shows are all the better for it!
Here are seven parent-child relationships we’ve loved seeing on our screens, from Stranger Things to This Is Us to The 100.
