The Walking Dead: 5 best fathers ranked and one that is the worst

The Walking Dead series is full of men who are fathers or serve as father figures among the children of the apocalypse. Many of these men came into the outbreak as fathers, and others were made so because of the environment they found themselves in. Biological or not, it didn’t matter to these men; they stepped up and provided support, protection, and love for the children who grew up in the world of the undead.

Below are our rankings of some of the best fathers or father figures who did what needed to be done to ensure that these children had the support they needed in a world nothing like they grew up in.

The Walking Dead’s best fathers

5. Daryl Dixon (Norman Reedus) – Daryl is one of the most unlikely men to become a father figure to anyone, especially with his introduction in season one of the series. But like many people who grew up with terrible childhoods, they can become some of the best father figures as they want to ensure the children they come in contact with have a better life than they ever did. Daryl did what he thought was best for Judith and RJ when Rick and Michonne couldn’t be there for their children.

4. Father Gabriel (Seth Gilliam) – Rosita had a fling with Siddiq and became involved with Gabriel before she knew she was pregnant. Gabriel, a man who had undergone a drastic transformation since his introduction, took the situation in stride and made the best of it. When Siddiq was killed, he stepped in and became Coco’s father. In the series finale, Coco also lost her mother, but Gabriel’s bond with her only grew stronger.

3. Aaron (Ross Marquand) – When Aaron’s husband Eric dies, he feels the loss greatly. Then Gracie, an orphaned infant, comes to Hilltop he adopts her as his own. He is a wonderful father, and their bond is extraordinary. He lost Eric in the same war that brought Gracie into his life. Over the years, their relationship grows, and his decisions are made based on what is best for his daughter’s future.

2. Rick (Andrew Lincoln) – Rick, like all fathers, have their faults, but overall he was a good father. He loved Carl and Judith and wanted to improve their world. The burden of being the leader of a group of survivors weighed on him, but each decision he made, good or bad, was for the sake of his family.

1. Hershel (Scot Wilson) – Hershel was a wise man who had been through much more than any other father in the series. He imparted his wisdom to others and was always there to help when needed.

Honorable mention – Negan (Jeffrey Dean Morgan) – although he never had a child in the main series, Negan was a man who, despite his faults, wouldn’t harm children. He bonded with Carl and Judith and comforted Lydia when she was battling her issues with her mother and then dealing with her death. Perhaps we will see him with a child in Dead City as his wife Annie was pregnant at the end of The Walking Dead. 

The worst father on The Walking Dead

The Governor (David Morrisey) – The Governor kept the reanimated body of his daughter chained in a dark room so he could brush her hair, talk to her and feed her flesh. Some may say that he’s a caring father, others a creepy, insane father.

Happy Father’s Day to all of TWD Family fathers and father figures! 

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