Is Bowser a bad dad or is he simply a misunderstood family man? There are those who have encountered Bowser in the past that may see him as rude, selfish, and powerful monster that will stop at nothing to marry the princess. While this may be true for the most part, there is an argument to be made that he isn’t all that bad.
When you start to piece together his motivations, allegiances, and actions in the past, it might just be that Bowser isn’t as mean as he appears. Bowser might just be a simple family man trying to make his way through the Mushroom Kingdom.
10A Devoted Mentor To The Koopalings
Now Just An Evil Empire, But A Family
Bowser is a tough Koopa, but he might just have a bigger heart than you think. InSuper Mario Bros. 3, Bowser adopts seven Koopalings to act as bosses across the Mushroom Kingdom. While they are initially presented as his children, they aren’t.
Regardless of blood relation, Bowser treats them pretty well and gives them everything they need to conquer the Mushroom Kingdom on his behalf. This includes all the lessons they need to one day become the biggest and baddest Koopas in town.
9A Friendly Dynamic Between Bowser And His Son
Every Day Is Take Your Child To Work Day
Bowser has a deep connection with his son, Bowser Jr. This connection is much deeper than any other character he has interacted with. Not only does he give him lessons in being bad, but ever since his introduction, will become a frequent part of his plans.
Bowser is such a good dad to Bowser Jr. that the tiny Koopa strives to become just like his father. That’s a deep respect that comes with the care that Bowser puts into raising his son. They protect each other, scheme together, and in some cases, even play games together.
8Making Sure Bowser Jr. Has Good Gaming Habits
You might think that because he’s a villain, Bowser lets his son run rampant whenever he wants. However, Bowser can have some pretty fair regulations to make sure Bowser Jr. grows up alright. This means regulating how much game time his son gets per day.
Bowser isn’t an iPad dad who shoves Cocomelon into Bowser Jr’s face to keep him quiet. He pays close attention to his son’s gaming habits to make sure he’s playing appropriate games for the right amount of time. Though, don’t expect Bowser to pay $80 for a new game.
7Giving Each Koopaling Their Own Castles
The Greatest Gift Of All
Some would say love is the best gift a parent can give their child. However, others would argue that the best gift is a house. These Koopalings don’t need to start off small and work their way up or even room with each other. They get a full-on castle every time they threaten the Mushroom Kingdom.
The Koopalings have everything they need to live comfortably. Even if Mario defeats them and smashes their castle to bits, Bowser will just supply them with a new home. From castle to airship, it’s only the best for those who follow the path of chaos.
6Searching For Love
A Crime Or An Attempt At A Family?
Bowser constantly wants to kidnap Peach. This usually prompts the Mushroom Kingdom to call upon their favorite plumbers to come save the day. However, is Bowser doing this because he is evil, or does he simply have a weird way of expressing his feelings?
At the end of the day, Bowser seeks love in a way that he understands. His main goal isn’t just kidnapping Peach, but often having a wedding to celebrate the event. He’s a single dad looking for the perfect partner to raise his kids with. He just needs a few lessons in etiquette when putting the moves on thisfashionable princess.
5Pushing Bowser Jr. To Become Stronger
Growing Up To Be Just Like Dad
Bowser is constantly pushing Bowser Jr. to become just as bad as he is. He has done such a good job that Bowser Jr. is also shown to take matters into his own hands from time to time. This can mean gaining main antagonist status in Mario Sunshine and framing Mario.
Bowser Jr. is capable of his plots due to the amount of times he ends up aiding his dad. Moments like these show that Bowser is raising the future troublemaker of the Mushroom Kingdom.
4He Gives Bowser Jr. All The Coolest Toys
Toys For Fun And Protection
Bowser Jr. gets all the coolest toys. From Boomsday Machines to the Koopa Clown Car, there are many gadgets, gizmos, and vehicles that he gets access to simply for being part of Koopa royalty. Bowser even gives his son a Nintendo Switch.
Not only is this a good way to keep his son happy, but these toys also act as a way to protect him when Bowser isn’t around. This way, Bowser Jr. always has a way to move around despite having little legs. Bowser also makes sure that his son can be just as ferocious as him despite his age.
3Bowser Can Be Honest With Bowser Jr.
Talking Koopa To Koopa
While Bowser is known for his trickery and schemes, he can also be quite honest when the time calls for it. This can be seen when Bowser has a father-to-son talk with Bowser Jr. about Princess Peach not really being his mother.
Of course, Bowser Jr. already knows this, but Bowser gives him a chance to let out his feelings. This results in Koopa pride when Bowser Jr. expresses wanting to fight Mario again when he gets bigger. It’s moments like these that you don’t see from Bowser often, but they reveal his softer side.
2Bowser Sees His Minions As Family
Sending Bowser My Resume
Being the ruler of an evil kingdom doesn’t necessarily mean you’re a bad guy. Bowser tends to see his underlings as more than just minions to do his bidding. When the going gets tough, Bowser is willing to participate in battles alongside his troops.
When situations truly get out of hand, such as in the RPG titles, Bowser is shown to be protective of his minions. He is even willing to swallow his pride and seek out Mario’s help when an even stronger villain threatens both kingdoms.
1Bowser Balances Work Life And Recreation
Parties, Go Karts, And Sports
There is more to raising a family than plotting to conquer the kingdom together. Sometimes, you need to let kids be kids and give them a break. Bowser is shown to have a good work-life balance through his attendance of the Mario Parties and other kingdom-wide events.
Bowser can be seen go-karting with his family, acting as obstacles to the players, or even taking part in various sports. In many of these spinoff games, Bowser shows up with members of his family to have a good time while the next invasion is in the workshop.
