It’s no secret that in teen TV dramas, the parents don’t always play a large role in the storytelling.
Some shows, though, are completely lacking in parental supervision, while others have parents that are virtually absent altogether.
From Pretty Little Liars to Skins, let’s take a look at some of the TV shows that had the worst parents ever.
The Vampire Diaries
The CW’s The Vampire Diaries may have some of the worst parents on TV. Sure, Caroline’s mom was wonderful, but let’s face it, Caroline was allowed to do whatever she wanted. Matt’s mother hooked up with his best friend and left him to live alone most of the time. Tyler’s parents have major issues, and don’t even get us started on Elena’s birth parents. Did these kids ever go to school unless it was a decade dance? Where was the parental supervision, the school staff, Child Protective Services, and the police for that matter?
Pretty Little Liars
The lack of parenting in Pretty Little Liars is astounding. The parents actually do play a central role in the show, but the girls are constantly running off into the woods at night, leaving the house to meet up at the drop of a dime, and landing themselves in life or death situations. This wouldn’t be possible if the parents layed down the law. And let’s not forget that some moms think it’s cool to run off to Austria with their new boyfriend to live their dreams when their son shows psychotic tendencies. Looking at you, Ella.
Teen Mom
I’m just going to let this one speak for itself.
Teen Wolf
The parents in this show freaking rock. It’s one of the few teen dramas that actually have parents that are integral to the story and you root for. That being said, they still let their supernatural creature teenagers do whatever they want. How do all of their parents just let them go running off in the middle of the night like that? I will excuse all of the parents in this show because I like them just as much as the teenagers the series is about.
90210
The family drama on this show is insane. From partying to doing drugs, what didn’t these high schoolers get away with? They probably could have even gotten away with murder. Oh, wait …
Gossip Girl
When Serena, Blair and the rest of the gang weren’t drinking underage in public, they were either living alone while their mom was out of the country, running hotels on their own or trying to scheme against their own loved ones. Basically, they behaved like 30-year-olds with the mentality of high schoolers.
The Secret Circle
Where exactly did their parents (who were also witches and should have known better) think that these kids were at all of the time? They were doing magic in their secret clubhouse or somewhere in the middle of the night pretty much 24/7. Maybe I’m just bitter because I’m not over the fact this show was canceled.
Friday Night Lights
The Taylor’s and Grandma Saracen are the exception here. What were the parents of the other kids doing the whole time, though? How exactly did Lyla cross the border and hang out with the guys in Mexico for a few days without her parents knowing or stopping it? Don’t even get me started on Tyra’s mother.
Skins (US and UK)
This goes for the original U.K. version and the American remake. This show might take the cake. From doing drugs, drinking, and running away, to getting murdered by a creepy psychiatrist, did these parents ever know what the heck their kids were doing?
Supernatural
John Winchester wasn’t the absolute worst dad in the world, but he certainly made some awful parenting choices … like leaving Sam and Dean behind for long periods of time when they were young. Dean was often forced to take care of little Sammy on his own. We forgive John for his parental shortcomings, though, because the boys turned out to be total badasses who saved the world several times over.
Finding Carter
The parents on this show were a hot mess. From kids doing drugs and running around behind their parents’ back, to parents literally tracking their kids through their phones, the family drama on Finding Carter was never-ending.
The 100
I get that the rules may not apply here because it’s an apocalyptic situation, but Abby’s ease in dealing with Clarke’s role as a leader on Earth is crazy. Even after some of the things that happened, Clarke’s mom doesn’t try to stop her anymore from putting herself in horribly dangerous situations. Also, who is that calm about their kids getting shot down to a possibly unihabitable Earth?
One Tree Hill
Two words: Dan Scott. He is in the running for worst parent in the history of TV. Nathan’s mother wasn’t a shining example of a parent either, but not nearly as bad. Peyton’s parents were pretty much non-existant and Brooke’s parents were never around to discipline her. I think half of these teens must have lived alone. Karen was great … until she just up and left town that is.