Girls chronicles the lives of a group of twentysomething Millennials as they deal with the harsh realities of post-college life. This includes exploring the complexities of romantic relationships, the ups and downs of friendships, and how family dynamics are continually in flux.
At the start of the series, Hannah Horvath's father, Tad, is a doting dad and devoted husband, but he also lacks the backbone, putting his emotions aside, deferring to the women in his life. As the series progresses, Tad evolves from a bland background trope into a complex character. At the core, he's still a man doing his best, but he's also at times selfish, angry, unhappy, and unlikable.
10 Feel Bad: He Suffers A Sex-Related Injury
During season 1, Hannah heads back to Michigan on "The Return" to celebrate her parents' 30th wedding anniversary. In usual Hannah fashion, she ditches them, putting her needs before anything else.
Tad and Loreen rally, finding a special way to commemorate their big day by having sex in the shower. Their attempt to infuse some spice into their marriage takes a disastrous turn when Ted falls, leaving him naked and injured on the bathroom floor. Loreen's hysterics escalate the severity of the situation, and it's Hannah who comes to the rescue. Tad vocalizes his embarrassment, and Hannah doesn't offer much comfort by pointing out that Tad should feel some shame given how uncomfortable the situation is for everyone involved. Tad recovers physically, but the realization of his impending mortality leaves an indelible mark.
9 Hate: He Rejects Hannah's Plea For Help
By the season 2 finale, Hannah's life is overtaken by her OCD. She's at her lowest point mentally, professionally, and emotionally. She reaches out to her father, fearing if she doesn't return her book advance, she faces legal action. Tad knows Hannah has started spiraling, but he accuses her of being manipulative.
Tad is more concerned that his constant defense of Hannah's behavior is going to blow up in his face, making him look foolish to Loreen. The concerns he has about Hannah's relapse just a few episodes earlier are gone, replaced by irritation and doubt. Tad assumes this cry for help is just an overblown excuse to slack off. Tad picks the worst possible time to play bad cop.
8 Feel Bad: He Doesn't Know How To Help His Daughter
With Hannah's e-book deadline dooming as season 2 draws to a close, symptoms of her OCD resurface. This storyline delves not just into how mental illness affects Hannah but how it affects the Horvath family. Tad is especially triggered by Hannah's behavior. His response is to coddle her, offering to take her for ice cream which only infuriates Hannah more.
Hannah's incapable of recognizing how much she needs help, so she becomes antagonistic. Tad can't even look at his daughter without being rebuffed for showing concern. Tad is always caught between placating his daughter, fearing he'll lose her affection otherwise, and stepping up when it comes to the more unpleasant tasks associated with parenting.
7 Hate: He Comes Out On Loreen's Big Day
On season 4's "Tad & Loreen & Aviv & Shanaz," Tad admits to Loreen that he's gay. He chooses to do it after their therapy session and before attending a party to celebrate Loreen's tenure. Tad drops this life-altering bombshell before he and Loreen have to face their friends. Yay Tad for finding the courage come out, but boo for picking an inopportune time.
It does make viewers question whether or not he's jealous of his wife's career success, and this is a passive-aggressive move. Loreen's reaction does generate some sympathy for Tad, but her anger is justified, and all of his behavior in the immediate aftermath feels disingenuous.
6 Feel Bad: His Conversation With Hannah In Iowa
The more time Hannah spends at grad school in Iowa during season 4, the more she grows to question her decision to leave NYC. Tad arrives to visit, and they have a candid conversation about Hannah's doubts. It becomes obvious that Tad is questioning things in his life as he urges his daughter to do what's best for her no matter what happens to anyone else.
Viewers see him as a person outside his role as a father and as someone who has regrets and doubts about his life choices. Tad is someone very conflicted at this point, and while it's normal to see someone in their twenties struggle with self-introspection, there's a sadness in discovering this is a life long process.
5 Hate: When He Overshares
Season 4's "Daddy Issues," says it all. Tad comes to New York to connect with Hannah, but he winds up turning to Elijah to guide him through the beginning of this new phase of his life. The Tad-Elijah dynamic is a fun one, and it's great to see Hannah's dad start to feel better about himself and excited about the future. Nobody hates Tad for being gay, but it's cringe-worthy how much he overshares.
The more Hannah says she's okay with it, the more Tad leans in, resulting in Hannah revealing maybe she's not as accepting as she thinks. She's right, no child wants to know any details about their parents' sex lives gay or straight, especially hearing the word daddy used in a sexual connotation. Tad's just trying to figure it all out, but it's something he needs to do in a way that respects Hannah's boundaries even if she's constantly redefining them.
4 Feel Bad: When Loreen Constant Emasculates And Humiliates Him
There's no question that Tad defers to Loreen on everything during their marriage. She's dismissive and treats him like a simpleton, referring to him as "odd." When Tad comes out, she becomes vicious.
Consumed by anger, she's relentless in her efforts to humiliate, emasculate and verbally abuse him. She tells Hannah Tad's gay to be spiteful, not because it's the best way to break the news. Tad sits and takes it for quite some time because he feels scared, guilty, and ashamed.
3 Hate: For Not Practicing Safe Sex
Tad hasn't dated or hooked up in 30 years, and he wasn't exactly a Lothario before meeting Loreen. In the wake of his life falling apart, he gets a pass for messing up when it comes to sex and dating.
But Tad is also a grown man who should educate himself about something as basic as safe sex. His first sexual encounter with a man, he doesn't wear a condom which is just basic common sense.
2 Feel Bad: He's Traumatized After A Blind Date
When Tad finally starts to fully explore his sexuality, his first foray into the world of online dating ends badly. Tad is a babe in the woods when it comes to being openly gay and single, and he's traumatized after a blind date.
He calls Hannah sobbing because he left his wallet at the guy's place. Tad's version of events turns out to be drastically different than what occurred, but he's in some seriously uncharted territory, and, frankly, it's freaking him out.
1 Hate: When He Learns Loreen Wants A Divorce
Coming out so late in life, Tad has a hard time letting go of the past. He wants to be true to who he is but keep Loreen around as a security blanket. He sneaks around pursuing other possible relationships and expects that this type of arrangement will work for both of them.
Tad takes a huge leap and then regresses to being someone with no courage of conviction. It's selfish to stay married because it's easier, or because he's scared. Loreen isn't in a place emotionally to make good choices either, and it's a relief when she takes a stand (even though it doesn't last) and annoying that Tad is shocked by her decision.
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