Westeros' Most Notorious Nurturers: The Worst Parents of Game of Thrones

In a world as brutal and unforgiving as Westeros, where political intrigue, epic battles, and mythical creatures dominate, it's easy to overlook the intimate horrors that unfold within the very fabric of families. Yet, Game of Thrones masterfully showcased that even in a realm plagued by dragons and White Walkers, the most chilling monsters often resided within the household.

We're talking about parents whose legacies are less about noble deeds and more about emotional abuse, neglect, and outright monstrous acts against their own progeny. Prepare to delve into the dark depths of Westerosi parenting as we unveil the most deplorable parental figures to ever grace the Iron Throne — or desperately try to claim it.

First on our list, a name synonymous with ruthless ambition and a twisted form of love: Cersei Lannister.

While her fierce protectiveness over her children – Joffrey, Myrcella, and Tommen – might seem like a redeeming quality, her love was suffocating, possessive, and utterly destructive. She groomed Joffrey into a sadistic tyrant, shielded him from consequences, and encouraged his worst impulses. Her emotional manipulation of Myrcella and Tommen, using them as pawns in her power games, ultimately led to their tragic ends.

Cersei’s love was less a comforting embrace and more a gilded cage, ensuring her children's demise rather than their true flourishing.

Next, a man whose rigid adherence to duty and destiny overshadowed all familial bonds: Stannis Baratheon. The Lord of Dragonstone was a man of logic and unwavering belief in his own rightful claim, but these traits curdled into a chilling indifference toward his beloved daughter, Shireen.

In a desperate bid for victory, Stannis allowed Melisandre to burn Shireen alive as a sacrifice to the Lord of Light. This act, perhaps the most horrifying parental betrayal in the entire series, sealed his fate and cemented his place as a parent who prioritized a perceived destiny over the innocent life of his child, transforming a father's love into a sacrificial pyre.

Then there is the truly depraved, beyond-the-Wall horror that was Craster.

A wildling who lived with his many 'wives' (his daughters from incestuous relationships) and sacrificed his newborn sons to the White Walkers, Craster embodied the very definition of monstrous parenthood. His compound was a living nightmare, a testament to unchecked depravity and a complete absence of morality or compassion.

His acts weren't born of political ambition or misguided duty, but pure, unadulterated evil, making him a unique and utterly revolting entry on this list.

No discussion of terrible Game of Thrones parents is complete without mentioning the patriarch of the wealthiest house, Tywin Lannister.

Cold, calculating, and utterly devoid of warmth, Tywin viewed his children as mere extensions of House Lannister’s power and legacy. He openly scorned and humiliated Tyrion for his dwarfism, denying him any respect or love despite Tyrion's clear intellect. To Cersei, he denied power and agency, trying to control her every move.

To Jaime, he attempted to force a path of succession he didn’t desire. Tywin’s brand of parenting was an emotional wasteland, valuing reputation and power above his children’s happiness or humanity, breeding deep-seated resentment and dysfunctional relationships.

Lest we forget the unsettlingly clingy and unstable Lysa Arryn.

The Lady of the Eyrie was a prime example of an over-indulgent, emotionally stunted parent whose 'love' for her son, Robin, bordered on the disturbing. She continued to breastfeed him well into his childhood, spoiling him beyond measure and fostering a weak, petulant, and socially inept boy. Her paranoia and volatile nature, combined with her unhealthy attachment, prevented Robin from developing into a functional adult, creating a boy king who was more a liability than a leader.

Rounding out our gallery of shame are two additional contenders: Randyll Tarly and Walder Frey.

Randyll Tarly, Samwell’s father, was a cruel, verbally abusive taskmaster who shamed his son for not being a warrior, ultimately coercing him into taking the black. His relentless disparagement and dismissal of Samwell's intellectual pursuits reveal a parent who valued traditional masculinity above all else, crushing his son's spirit in the process.

Walder Frey, on the other hand, treated his numerous children and grandchildren as mere bargaining chips, breeding them for strategic marriages and alliances. His contempt for familial bonds and human life, exemplified by the Red Wedding, demonstrated that his offspring were commodities, not beloved individuals, making him a patriarch of immense cruelty and cynical manipulation.

From the chilling sacrifices to the emotional atrophy and outright depravity, Game of Thrones showcased a grim reality: even the most powerful lords and ladies of Westeros could be utterly catastrophic parents.

Their choices shaped not only their children's tragic fates but also the very course of the Seven Kingdoms, leaving a lasting legacy of pain and dysfunction in their wake.