Monday night’s fathers and daughters

I’m a sucker for a good father/daughter relationship. That dynamic was a part of some of my all time favorite shows: It was a critical piece of Veronica Mars, was a interesting part of Battlestar Galactica (Adama and Starbuck), and even The West Wing (Bartlett and Zoey/Elizabeth/Ellie). I’ve been struck most of this season, by how good — and how very different — three fathers and three daughters are as a part of my Monday night viewing experience.

Cal and Emily Lightman: Lie to Me

Emily Lightman was a part of last year’s first thirteen episodes, but only as a recurring character. One of the adjustments that new showrunner Shawn Ryan made when he joined the show this season was to bring actress Haley McFarland on board as a regular character. Where the other daughters on this list are concerned with trying to be more mature, or are more mature, Emily is who she is. She knows that she can exert a certain amount of influence on her father, but has really only done so to get him to help more people. No teenage girl is perfect, but in a lot of ways, Emily Lightman is my favorite daughter on this list.

Noah and Claire Bennett: Heroes

These two have been the quintessential father/daughter relationship since Keith and Veronica Mars left the airwaves. HRG is a man who would let nothing get in the way of Claire’s happiness. The first season episode “Company Man” really explored the depth of feeling between the two, and the sacrifices that they’ve made, and will continue to make, to protect each other. While the rest of Heroes took a bit of a nose dive after the first season, the dynamic between these characters has always been one that fans could rely on. Heroes wouldn’t be the same without these two, despite how annoying Claire can get in her “I want to be my own person” three episode arc each season.

Rick and Alexis Castle: Castle

Rick Castle is more than just a kid at heart, he’s pretty much a kid all of the time. Story lines where the child is more mature than the parent are rampant on television, but are normally done in a negative light on lawyer, cop, or medical dramas. It’s played much differently on Castle. While father has the emotional maturity of a Twinkie, and Alexis is the “good kid,” it takes nothing away from the steps that Castle goes to protect his daughter. While he wants her to experience life like he did (and continues to do), Alexis likes being the smart, responsible young woman that she’s become. Considering her mother, father, and grandmother, one really has to wonder how in the world she turned out so … normal?

I’m glad that writers have chosen to highlight these relationships this year. Sure, Alexis was a big part of Castle last year and HRG/Claire have been around since 2006, but Emily’s increased role is noteworthy, and it’s ironic that each of these shows air on Mondays. I’ll take these six over Rufus/Jenny (Gossip Girl) or even the Lily/Mickey Aldrin that experienced this week any day of the week.

Clacked by Ivey West
on Nov 28, 2009 @ 13:17 EST5EDT