Created by comedian Bill Burr for Netflix, the animated sitcom F is for Family has never been a show to pull punches in its look at parenthood in the 1970s. Burr portrays family patriarch and Korean war veteran Frank Murphy, more or less a representation of his own father. Along for the ride are Frank's wife, Sue, daughter Maureen, and sons Kevin and Bill. Burr, along with the cast and crew, elevates this family from a series of stock characters to genuine, flesh-and-blood individuals.
Frank and the rest of the Murphys face real-world situations, almost in spite of F is for Family being animated. With Bill Burr's controversial, effective, hard-hitting humor, the show deftly balances unique humor and topics seldom covered in this form of storytelling. This wouldn't work were the family itself uninteresting, and, fortunately, every member of the family has, to varying levels, endearing qualities.
6 Kevin Murphy
Kevin, while receiving the most screentime of the Murphy children, is almost certainly the closest a family member comes to being cliché. While Justin Long's often-hilarious portrayal bolsters the character, he's still more or less just a pot-smoking wannabe musician.
The oldest of the Murphy kids, Kevin was dropped to the bottom of a hotel swimming pool for two minutes, effectively deoxygenating his brain. This comes across in his extreme academic difficulties, as well as his constant sparring with his parents over simple things he just simply doesn't understand. But, his relationship with Frank, while combative, reveals Kevin's true heart. For instance, when a customer berates Frank while working, Kevin forcefully steps in to save his father from further verbal abuse.
5 Vic Reynolds
Voiced by the great Sam Rockwell, Vic Reynolds is one of F is for Family's most unique characters. A man terrified to enter his 30s, Vic is a radio disc jockey who is starting to come to realize that he has no idea about what's cool in the modern—well, modern for the era—music industry.
While he lives this lavish lifestyle, inside, he's afraid of the future, both in terms of aging and aging out of his own career. But, Vic isn't all depressing; he frequently proves himself quite sweet, and the way he envies Frank's normal 9-5 lifestyle is endearing. Vic isn't a Murphy, but one gets the feeling he'd like to be.
4 Bill Murphy
The middle Murphy child, Bill, is a read-headed, foul-mouthed 12-year-old constantly on the run from his bully Jimmy Fitzsimmons. Bill is more or less the forgotten Murphy child, constantly receiving beatings and taunts. Fortunately, his older brother will step in sometimes, but Bill is most interesting when left to his own devices.
The best aspect of Bill's personality is his tendency for self-reflection. Bill has empathy in spades, and, if he feels he's wronged someone, he will do what is required to make it right. This makes him hyper-sensitive, and a running joke in the series is his tendency to become traumatized after seeing something cartoonishly horrible.
3 Maureen Murphy
Maureen is a very well-written character. She's the type of girl who was essentially silenced throughout the 70s—or, at best, frequently called a tomboy. Maureen is compassionate, even sweet, but she is also somewhat of an instigator.
The youngest of the three children—four including the baby born at the end of season four—Frank sees her as a princess. However, she sees herself as more of an academic and consistently battles with both her father and school to receive the respect she deserves.
2 Francis "Frank" Murphy
A baggage handler at the town's local airport, Frank consistently feels tread upon by the world around him. Frank can be unlikable, particularly when he tries to restrict his wife from taking on a career she feels would improve her life and self-confidence.
Fortunately, Burr also instills Frank with his trademark hard-headed heart. Frank is a man who, while fairly unsatisfied with his life's circumstances, loves his family and loves his wife. He doesn't stray, and he's even been known to come around to his wife Sue's way of thinking on occasion. Like Burr himself, Frank is averse to change, but, if one were to be in his corner, he'd fight for them until his dying breath.
1 Sue Murphy
Laura Dern gives audiences yet another reason to love her as the multilayered Sue Murphy. An entrepreneur with serious drive, Sue finds herself constricted by the sexist culture of the 1970s. What makes Sue enduring is that, for one, she feels absolutely real. There's no reason Sue Murphy couldn't exist in the real world.
Number two is that she's found to be relatable and empathetic by the majority of F is for Family. Sue's struggles balancing her family and her desires for her own life are conveyed in a pitch-perfect tone by Laura Dern. Her inclusion alone puts F is for Family towards the top of the adult humor cartoon heap.
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