We’re Living in the Golden Age of Dad TV
17th-century Japan dad: ShōgunFX.
THE MAN Yoshii Toranaga (Hiroyuki Sanada), a feudal lord with enemies around every corner.
THE VIBE Grand and sweeping, even when heads are literally rolling.
MUSTACHE QUOTIENT Powerful yet dignified.
BECHDEL RATING Healthy! Anna Sawai’s Lady Mariko is a full-fledged main character.
FOR DADS WHO …think ordering a lite beer is a sign of weakness
Revolutionary War dad: FranklinAPPLE TV+.
THE MAN Michael Douglas as Benjamin Franklin in France.
THE VIBE What don’t you get? It’s Michael Douglas. As Benjamin Franklin. In France.
MUSTACHE QUOTIENT Minimal, though the powdered wig budget must be through the roof.
BECHDEL RATING Comme ci, comme ça.
FOR DADS WHO …vastly prefer Wawa to Sheetz and need everyone to know it.
World War II dad: Masters of the AirAPPLE TV+.
THE MEN Ncuti Gatwa, Austin Butler, Callum Turner, and more It boys as brave airmen.
THE VIBE Band of Brothers: The New Class.
MUSTACHE QUOTIENT Strangely weak. Do they carry Dopp kits on those planes?
BECHDEL RATING Generally, Rosies are doing their riveting offscreen.
FOR DADS WHO …happen to love this country, dammit!
Russian Revolution dad: A Gentleman in MoscowPARAMOUNT+.
THE MAN Alexander Rostov (Ewan McGregor), a count under Bolshevik house arrest.
THE VIBE Chilly and refined, with a dab of caviar on top.
MUSTACHE QUOTIENT Strong, like bull.
BECHDEL RATING Women pop up— including a film star played by Mary Elizabeth Winstead—
but it’s Rostov’s show.
FOR DADS WHO …wouldn’t be caught dead in athleisure.
Vietnam War dad: The SympathizerHBO.
THE MAN A double agent for North Vietnam known only as The Captain (Hoa Xuande).
THE VIBE Alternately darkly comic and just plain dark.
MUSTACHE QUOTIENT Present but understated, as befits a spy.
BECHDEL RATING Eh. Female characters tend to be martyrs or love interests.
FOR DADS WHO …have incredible secrets you’ll learn only many years from now, if ever.
Civil War dad: ManhuntAPPLE TV+.
THE MEN Edwin Stanton (Tobias Menzies), in hot pursuit of John Wilkes Booth (Anthony Boyle).
THE VIBE Lincoln minus Lincoln (and Steven Spielberg).
MUSTACHE QUOTIENT Absolutely off the charts.
BECHDEL RATING Well, it’s not called Womanhunt.
FOR DADS WHO …would risk it all for one meal with Doris Kearns Goodwin.
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