In recent years I have noticed a steady stream of both incredibly hot, and emotionally mature male characters in the sci-fi and fantasy shows I am streaming. Often times they are dads or adoptive father figures for other characters on the show. This is a wonderful relief as a middle aged woman who gets tired of watching so many teen angst series.
It is really sexy to see a man who knows there are things in the world that are more important than his ego and who has the confidence to nurture others without thinking this will make him look weak. In an effort to celebrate this (hopefully growing) phenomenon, here is a list of my favorite DILFs (both biological and adoptive) from the last five years of streaming episodic SF/F shows.
And in case you don’t know what a DILF is, it’s like a MILF, but with dads.
The Witcher on Netflix
Henry Cavill as Geralt of Rivia
Adoptive father to Freya Allan as Ciri
Gruff, understated, and oh so sensitive to the feelings of his new, young charge. Also, wounded by a broken heart which he hilariously describes to an old friend in season two with: “I fell in love. She died. A few days ago.” all without cracking a single expression. I love characters that don’t say a lot (can we take a moment to cheer adoptive MILF Ming-Na Wen as Melinda May on Agents of SHIELD?). The vast gulf between what they say and what they don’t say (but which we understand) creates dramatic and sometimes comic tension onscreen. And when they finally do speak, we lean in and listen. If there was a drinking game for this show, you would drink every time Geralt says “Hm.” Cavill has a full-on He-Man action figure physique (this is the guy who played Superman), which is usually a bit much for my personal taste but I’m giving him a pass because I love the way his stringy, silver hair always falls into his golden eyes.
Star Trek: Discovery on Paramount+
David Ajala as Cleveland Booker
Nuturing uncle to little Luca Doulgeris as Leto
Those eyes. Those EYES! Booker is independent and enterprising, keeping his fancy vessel supplied with expensive fuel by procuring and selling rare objects to those who can afford his services. He makes his own way and he doesn’t take orders. He’s also an empath who risks his life to save endangered animals. He even talks to PLANTS! What’s not to love? (You might also remember his hotness as Manchester Black on Supergirl.) And he’s a cat person. A big, Maine coon cat person. If you can get past his “Don’t get in my way” exterior, you’ve earned his loyalty and possibly a very emotionally attuned snuggle on his programmable-matter couch.
Cursed on Netflix
Gustaf Skarsgard as Merlin
Biological father to Katherine Langford as Nimue
Merlin is cool because he’s clever, irreverent, ancient with experience and keeps threatening to cast vengeful spells those who disrespect him. Like his role as Floki in Vikings, Skarsgard is once again playing a trickster character. He’s not always the nicest guy, in part due to the post-traumatic stress he suffers from witnessing so many violent murders in the last great war (many of which he committed himself). He does doggedly persist at his goal of saving the world, which is pretty redeeming. But he also struggles with his addiction to both alcohol and swords of power. If you like your men tall, this Merlin is for you. He’s got that same long, wiry bod he showed off in Vikings, and seems to have aged amazingly well for an ancient wizard.
The Shannara Chronicles on Netflix
Manu Bennett as Allanon
Father to Melise Jow as Mareth
Try to ignore the fact that his name sounds like the name of an alcoholics recovery group. Allanon has no time for the sauce. He’s too busy running from sacred temple to sacred temple, slaying demons with his sword AND with his hundreds of years of magical experience. He’s working the paladin look in his robe-with-partial-armor and half-shaved head, revealing the ancient runes that have been carved into his very flesh. Swords AND spells. Rustic and highly educated, he is the complete package. He can get to be a little much in his relentless pursuit to DO THE RIGHT THING ALL OF THE TIME. Once all the demons have been cast out of Shannara, I bet he’d be a blast on a secluded week-long camping trip where we could bathe in the crystal streams of Canada (where this show appears to have been shot) and he could summon up a delicious feast around a cozy campfire. See you on the other side, Allanon.
Wheel of Time on Amazon Prime
Daniel Henney as Lan
Father of…well, he’s playing “daddy” with Zoë Robins’ Nynaeve al’Meara
So I haven’t seen Lan adopt or reveal any kids but I’m going to count him, because it’s my blog and I want to. Lan, like Geralt, is a man of few words. Lan is a “warder,” bonded to sorceress Moiraine (Rosamund Pike) as her defender until death do they part. They share an emotionally telepathic bond “greater than marriage” that is also not sexual. (So he’s available, ladies!) He swings his kick-ass sword in circles around Moiraine, protecting her from physical harm as she casts spells. He gruesomely dispatches trolls without so much as twitching his upper lip. Overheard in my living room: “Shut up! Lan’s about to kill a bunch more monsters and then pout about it! I’m going to miss it!” He’s always perfectly coiffed, with his hair combed back and held in place with a thin head-band. That plus the peak-shouldered medieval tunic, Asian heritage, and relentless stoic expression give him a slightly samurai feel. He does eventually open up emotionally and get busy with a traveling companion. We had to wait through most of season one for him to take off his shirt, but it was worth it.
L.A. Kuemmel 