ZD Top 5 – Mother/Father Figures
Posted on May 12 2016 by Jon Lett
Mothers day was just last week, and who knows? Perhaps Hyrule also celebrates days of the year in honor of the mothers and fathers across the kingdom. Link certainly could, as well as a number of other characters, have a fair few parental figures (actual parents or otherwise) that work hard everyday for the benefit of their kids. This week, the ZD staff takes a look at their favorite parents, guardians, mentors and other parental figures across the series. Don’t forget! We always love hearing from you, so leave your own lists in the comments!
Jon Lett – View Profile
5. Oshus (Phantom Hourglass)
4. Deku Tree (Ocarina of Time)
3. Impa (Ocarina of Time)
2. Rusl (Twilight Princess)
1. Grandma (The Wind Waker)
No one can warm the heart of a The Wind Waker player like Link and Aryll’s dear old Grandma. Not only does she stay strong through Aryll’s kidnapping and Link leaving the island must have been torture on her little heart, leaving her in a sickly state by the time Link returns later on. Once you heal her, she is even kind enough to offer as many servings of her magical soup as you like! And that’s some hearty soup. She is always worrying about her grandkids, as if they are her own children, and seeing her face as Link leaves Outset, BOTH times, is truly sad.
Alexis Anderson – View Profile
5. The Hero’s Shade (Twilight Princess)
4. Grandma (The Wind Waker)
3. Rusl (Twilight Princess)
2. Mallara (Skyward Sword)
1. Great Deku Tree (Ocarina of Time)
Pipit’s mom Mallara is such a delight. While she may seem like an irresponsible prima donna, there’s more to her. Mallara had to raise Pipit on her own, and for her alone to put him through the Knight Academy for as long as she did it’s clear she had to make sacrifices. Now that he’s older, he can help her pay off those expenses with his patrols– it’s the least he can do. Despite the fact that Mallara devoted her life to the betterment of Pipit’s, he’s ungrateful. He scolds her for paying someone to do household chores he thinks she should do herself, as if she doesn’t do enough maintaining the house in other ways and taking care of Pipit. He accuses her of jeopardizing his chances of staying in the Knight Academy, but she loves her son more than anything and she would never deliberately harm his future. With his extra income, she’s finally allowing herself a break from some of the hard work she’s always had to do herself, and is surely watching her spending. Too many people write her off and blame her for the abuse she’s receiving from a son who doesn’t appreciate his mother. I for one respect stay at home mothers, and single mothers at that.
Thomas Jacobs – View Profile
5. King Harkinian (The Animated Series)
4. Telma (Twilight Princess)
3. Luv (Skyward Sword)
2. Rusl (Twilight Princess)
1. Grandma (The Wind Waker)
While I admit that King Harkinian is a bit of an oddball, he did manage to raise Zelda to be a capable and assertive young woman, so he must’ve done something right. Plus, he gives Link advice on how to be more successful with Zelda, which is always a plus in my book. While Telma is not a parent like the others on the list are, she immediately picks up on protecting Ilia and Ralis when they need someone to help them. On top of that she’s the matron of the tavern where the Resistance meets. Luv runs the potion shop in Skyloft’s Bazaar, making her a very valuable NPC. On top of that she sells the white (or pastel pink) Guardian Potion which can make you invincible for three minutes, which is both unique to the series and several kinds of awesome. Sure, you don’t really need the invulnerability in Skyward Sword, but it’s the thought that counts. Rusl is something of a father/older brother to Link, helping him in the beginning of the game and giving him his first swords and shield. But the #1 is of course Grandma. She loves her grandchildren, raised them into fine children all by herself despite her advanced age, can make an awesome soup and will support Link throughout his journey. Watching her fall ill through sorrow because Aryll was taken is heartbreaking, and restoring her health is always a top priority for players with a heart (and a hunger for soup).
