10 Worst Game of Thrones Parents, Ranked

Game of Thrones introduces many great characters over its eight-season run, but not all of them make great parents. In fact, Game of Thrones features some of the worst parents in television history, as Westeros is full of players willing to sacrifice their kids' happiness and well-being for a shot at power. The scheming runs deep among the great Houses of Westeros, and it often leads the lords and ladies to neglect their parenting duties.

In some instances, this goes as far as parents having a direct hand in their children's deaths. Game of Thrones doesn't show mercy when it comes to killing off characters, and they occasionally perish at the hands of their own loved ones. In other scenarios, Game of Thrones parents fail to give their children a healthy upbringing, whether it's by neglecting them or providing a poor example. There is no shortage of Game of Thrones characters grappling with trauma inflicted by a parent, and some of the show's guardians are truly heinous.

10 Cersei Lannister

Puts Her Quest For The Iron Throne Above Her Kids' Well-Being

Cersei Lannister cares deeply for her children in Game of Thrones, but that doesn't equate to her being a good mother. Although it seems like Cersei will do anything for her kids, she doesn't put their well-being before her quest for power. Cersei's political maneuvering indirectly causes all her children's deaths, yet she continues to pursue the Iron Throne. This is telling about who she is as a mother, and it suggests she isn't as invested in her kids as she lets on.

Cersei also fails to teach her children to be decent people, something that's most obvious when it comes to Joffrey. It's questionable whether Cersei could change Joffrey's behavior with more discipline, but she rarely even tries. She also tells Joffrey, Tommen, and Myrcella that they should approach the world from a self-interested standpoint. She may think she's helping them with this advice, but really, she's hurting their ability to experience genuine love and compassion.

9 Lysa Arryn

She Babies Robert Arryn To An Unhealthy Extent

Apart from Cersei, Lysa Arryn is one of the few parents on this list who actually seems to care for her child. However, she's still one of the worst guardians in Game of Thrones. While many children in Westeros face abuse and neglect at the hands of their parents, Robert Arryn has the opposite problem. Lysa babies him to a ridiculous extent, and it makes him spoiled and ill-prepared to face the realities of the world he lives in.

Game of Thrones fans often mock the fact that Lysa is still breast-feeding Robert well past his baby years, but this is precisely what makes her so terrible at parenting. She seems to draw her own worth from her child, giving little thought to what he needs to flourish in Westeros. She's not as bad as the characters physically harming and outright neglecting their children. However, Lysa's actions are still detrimental to her son's upbringing.

8 Mace Tyrell

He's Hardly Seen Interacting With Margaery & Loras

Mace Tyrell isn't often seen interacting with his children in Game of Thrones, and he certainly seems to be among the series' most neglectful parents. Of course, his lack of scenes with his kids may be the result of Game of Thrones' limited runtime. After all, we never even see Margaery and Loras' mother on-screen. Either way, Mace doesn't seem nearly as invested in his kids' lives as his own mother. He's willing to marry Margaery off to Joffrey, which is a major red flag when it comes to his parenting.

To be fair, fathers aren't expected to be involved in their children's lives in a place like Westeros — and there are several neglectful fathers in Game of Thrones. Mace is probably the best of them, as he's at least willing to intervene when the High Sparrow targets Magaery and Loras. These two characters also don't have nearly as many issues as others with poor guardians. This suggests Mace might be doing some parenting off-screen.

7 Robert Baratheon

Robert Should Have Given His Kids More Guidance & Affection

Robert Baratheon doesn't seem to care for his children the way that Cersei and Lysa Arryn do, but he also isn't actively terrible to them. Robert is a neglectful parent, and he's hardly seen interacting with his kids at all in Game of Thrones. This has an obvious impact on Joffrey, who craves his father's love and attention but never receives it. And one could even blame Robert for what Joffrey becomes, as a bit more affection and discipline might have saved Westeros from having such a terrible king.

While Robert's parenting is questionable throughout Game of Thrones season 1, there is a scene or two that suggests he's willing to do right by his children when asked. At Cersei's prompting, he attempts to resolve the feud between Sansa, Arya, and Joffrey at the beginning of the show. This is the bare minimum, but it makes him a better parent than someone like Walder Frey. At least Robert knows his supposed children's names and is somewhat involved in their lives — however reluctantly.

6 Walder Frey

He Doesn't Care About His Family In Game Of Thrones

Walder Frey is one of the worst characters in Game of Thrones overall, as he repeatedly proves himself untrustworthy and cruel. This applies to his own family as much as it does to his political allies and rivals. He proves he doesn't care about his wives or children repeatedly during Game of Thrones' eight-season run. When Catelyn Stark threatens his wife's life at the Red Wedding, he tells her that he'll "find another." And he seems to use his children just as carelessly, forgetting their names and paying little attention to them beyond their political value.

It's telling that Walder's family is surprised to receive gratitude when Arya Stark poses as him during Game of Thrones season 7. Walder doesn't appear to go out of his way to torment his own kids, but he doesn't care for their feelings either way. This makes him worse than the likes of Cersei Lannister and Lysa Arryn, but it prevents him from ranking higher among Game of Thrones' worst parents.

5 Tywin Lannister

Uses All His Children As Pawns

Tywin Lannister is the definition of a manipulative parent, and it's clear that he sees all three of his children as a means to an end. While Tywin isn't outright hostile towards Jaime and Cersei, he doesn't exactly provide a warm and loving parent they can rely on. Even into Cersei's adult years, he's willing to trade her off for political alliances. He refuses to respect her because she's a woman, and he treats Jaime as a pawn as well. Tywin also fails to acknowledge their incestual relationship, suggesting he was neglectful during their childhood years.

Tywin's poor parenting is most noticeable when it comes to Tyrion, however, as he refuses to treat his youngest child as well as his siblings. He openly blames Tyrion for his wife's death, and he treats Tyrion as less than because he's a dwarf. Tywin doesn't seem to care when Tyrion is injured or put on trial, though he claims he wouldn't have let him die. The fact that he occasionally grants Tyrion some leeway for being his son makes Tywin a step above the four worst Game of Thrones parents — but just barely.

4 Randyll Tarly

Endangers Sam's Life Because He Doesn't Live Up To Expecations

Randyll Tarly seems like a decent father to Dickon, but he's a terrible parent to Sam. Sam's father refuses to accept that he's not a natural-born warrior, and he sends him to the Night's Watch for this indiscretion. That's a pretty cruel response to your child failing to live up to your expectations, and it very well could have been a death sentence for Sam. This pushes Randyll past simply being neglectful; he actively endangers his child's life, as he doesn't find him suitable as an heir.

Even when Sam returns home a hero, he's met with cruelty from his father. Randyll Tarly seems committed to hating his own son, and that makes him worse than the generally neglectful fathers of Game of Thrones. The way he treats Dickon prevents him from breaking into the top three worst parents, but it's close.

3 Balon Greyjoy

Doesn't Care About Theon

Balon Greyjoy is among the top-three worst parents in Game of Thrones, and he has a lot in common with Randyll Tarly. Balon appears to get along just fine with Yara — and it's nice to see a parent letting their daughter choose her own path in Westeros — but he's horrible to Theon.

What makes him even worse than Randyll is that he doesn't acknowledge Theon's attempts to impress him. While Sam isn't capable of doing what Randyll wants, Theon is prepared to go above and beyond for his father. Despite this, he's met with nothing but contempt. This makes Balon worse than Randyll, as does the fact that he hardly seems to care that Theon is a ward of the Starks. Balon isn't as despicable as Game of Thrones' top two worst parents, but he's up there.

2 Stannis Baratheon

Burned His Own Daughter Alive

Stannis Baratheon is the second-worst parent in Game of Thrones, and anyone who has watched the entire series will know why. Although Stannis seems like a decent father during the early seasons of the HBO show, he takes a dark turn in season 5. When Melisandre tells him burning his daughter alive will help him fulfill his destiny, he actually listens. It's one of the most heart-wrenching moments of the entire series, and it pushes Stannis into full-on villain territory.

Other bad Game of Thrones parents traumatize their children through their actions — or lack of them — but Stannis is one of the few parents we see kill their own kid. The fact that he's able to stand by and watch Shireen burn for his own ends makes him a pretty despicable character. Surprisingly, there is one Game of Thrones character who's even worse.

1 Craster

Unapologetically Abuses His Own Daughters

Stannis is almost the worst parent in Game of Thrones, but Craster manages to surpass him. Stannis at least feels guilt for what he does to Shireen, especially when it accomplishes nothing. He is also a good father for most of the show, only turning into a monster when he's desperate and receiving bad advice. By contrast, Craster unapologetically abuses his daughters — and even though he's a minor character, it leaves a disturbing impression. Craster marries and impregnates his own children, then forces them to give up their sons to the White Walkers.

This makes Craster one of the vilest characters in Game of Thrones, and it certainly makes him the worst parent. While other guardians in Westeros are negligent or have poor priorities, Craster seems to enjoy causing fear and pain, even when it comes to his own children. It makes Game of Thrones' scenes at Craster's Keep so much harder to watch, though it is a relief when Craster is finally killed.