History Main / LikeASonToMe

* ''LightNovel/SwordArtOnline'': In the ''Alicization'' arc, Bercoulli muses to himself that he viewed Alice not only as a disciple but as his daughter [[spoiler:right when he dies after defeating Vector]].

* ''LightNovel/TrappedInADatingSimTheWorldOfOtomeGamesIsToughForMobs'':

** Vlad III from ''LightNovel/FateApocrypha'' becomes sort of an uncle-figure to the young Elisabeth Báthory.

* Kalinin views Sousuke in this light in ''LightNovel/FullMetalPanic''. He even had plans to formally adopt him before he was driven to defect from the USSR. [[spoiler:Even his betrayal of Mithril and Sousuke turns out to be rooted in parental love -- Leonard's plan would have allowed Kalinin to GiveHimANormalLife.]]

* In ''LightNovel/{{Overlord}}'', [[VillainProtagonist Ainz]] eventually admits to thinking of Pandora's Actor as his own son, even giving him permission to call him "father" (albeit in private, so as not publicly give him special treatment).

* ''Literature/{{Twilight}}'': Carlisle feels this way about the members of his coven (with the obvious exception of his wife Esme), especially towards Edward.

* ''Fanfic/TheNightUnfurls'': Chapter 30 of the original has Olga confide to Kyril and Celestine that Chloe is the daughter she never asked for, yet she always wished to have. Given how the remastered version adds that Olga had raised her as her own when she is just a child, it's understandable.

A character would absolutely ''kill'' to hear this from their WellDoneSonGuy[=/=]WellDoneDaughterGirl, if they've got one.

!!Examples:

[[folder:Film]]

[[folder:Live-Action TV]]
* In ''Series/AmericanHorrorStoryCoven'', [[CloudCuckoolander Myrtle Snow]], head of the Witches' Council, views Cordelia Goode as a daughter. Cordelia has similar feelings toward her, especially since her birth mother is Fiona, a RichBitch who [[ItsAllAboutMe only cares about herself]]--to the point where Cordelia's personal version of Hell is her begging for Fiona's approval and being cruelly abused by her. [[spoiler: Myrtle and Cordelia's relationship makes Myrtle's death all the sadder: Myrtle arranges for her own [[KillItWithFire burning at the stake]] to allow Cordelia's reign as the Coven's new Supreme to go as smoothly as possible. Among Myrtle's last words: "Delia...my sweet daughter...[[SoProudOfYou I've never been more proud...]]]]
* Parodied in ''Series/ArrestedDevelopment'' when GOB refers to ''his son'' as "the father I never had".
* ''Series/{{Arrow}}''. At the end of Season 3, Malcolm Merlyn says this to Oliver Queen only to be coldly rejected, given that Malcolm arranged the murder of Oliver's real father, and brainwashed his sister Thea (who is also Malcolm's daughter) into killing his ex-girlfriend Sara Lance. Malcolm takes back the statement in Season 4 after Oliver cuts off his hand to depose him as leader of the League of Assassins, and they become enemies instead.
* ''Series/TheATeam''. In "[[Recap/TheATeamS4E4LeaseWithAnOptionToDie Lease With an Option to Die]]", the team meets B.A.'s mother. She loves Murdock and announces she wants to adopt him, to Murdock's utter delight and her son's (apparent) horror.
* ''Series/TheBarrier'': Álvaro, whose marriage has never produced any children, views Luis' children as being like his own. [[spoiler:In turn, Luis has the same sentiment towards the child Álvaro turns out to have produced with his mistress.]]
* In the re-imagined ''Series/{{Battlestar Galactica|2003}}'', Admiral Adama has repeatedly told Kara "Starbuck" Thrace that she is like a daughter to him.
* Subverted in the last episode of ''[[Series/{{Blackadder}} Blackadder Goes Forth]]'', where General Melchett tells Kevin Darling that he's "like a son to him" -- not a favorite son, though.
--> "Lord no, more a sort of illegitimate back-stair sort of sprog. Y'know, the sort of spotty squid that nobody really likes."
* In ''Series/BrooklynNineNine,'' as the two grow closer, Captain Holt begins to view Jake as a surrogate son much as Jake views him as a ParentalSubstitute. On occasion, they've even slipped up and referred to one another as "Son" and "Dad." Amy also seems to develop this attitude, although her father is somewhat nicer to her than Jake's was to him.
* ''Series/BuffyTheVampireSlayer'' episode "Restless"
-->'''Giles:''' Spike's like a son to me.
** To clarify, that was a zany dream. Spike is not like a son to Giles. Xander, however, is, and Willow and Buffy are like daughters.
*** When everyone lost their memories in ''Tabula Rasa'' and started trying to reconstruct their relationships, Spike decided he was Giles' son while Giles seemed to think Spike must be [[BigBrotherInstinct his younger brother]]. It's only because they both speak with English accents, Giles looks a bit older (Spike is actually a century older than him!) and they feel an instinctive resentment toward each other.
** Dickish Head of the Watchers Council Quentin Travers is the first person to say what Giles has been too shy to tell Buffy himself: "[Giles has] a father's love for the child". Quentin means it in a dismissive way, but it clearly means the world to Buffy to hear this when she's been dropping hints to Giles about wanting him to hang out with her socially now that she's realizing her real dad is no longer making an effort to see her, even on her birthday. Throughout the series, Buffy is more comfortable with telling Giles how she feels ("Giles, [[PlatonicDeclarationOfLove I love you]]]]", "I want you to give me away [at her spell-induced wedding...but the sentiment about Giles is genuine]") while Giles -- in his British repressed way -- is more likely to take a roundabout way ("You're everything a Watcher-everything ''I'' could have hoped for", "Wish I could play the father/And take you by the hand") or express his love through gestures like helping out when her mother gets sick, paying her bills, verbally and physically defending her from men she can't slay, culminating in his attempt to help her fly out of the nest by going back to England. It kind of works and it kind of doesn't, and they both have regrets about it, but reunite as a team and a family in time for the series finale.
** While never explicitly said, the relationship between [[FamilyValuesVillain the Mayor]] and his [[TheDragon Dragon]] [[SixthRangerTraitor Faith]] definitely has the same father/daughter connotations, including a VillainousBreakdown of PapaWolf proportions after [[spoiler:Buffy put her in a coma]].
* [[PsychoForHire Larry Sizemore]] calls [[GuileHero Michael Westen]] this in ''Series/BurnNotice''. Subverting the usual associations of this trope, it is ''not'' a heartwarming moment- Larry is a former EvilMentor and Michael has [[AbusiveParents daddy issues]].
* ''Series/{{Cheers}}:'' Done darkly in one episode, when Esther Clavin tells Woody she's like the son she never had, right in front of Cliff, who she's on the outs with for standing up to her. When he objects, she retorts he's the son she ''did'' have.
* ''Series/CobraKai'':
** History repeats itself, as the relationship between Miguel Diaz and Johnny Lawrence mirrors Daniel's relationship with Mr. Miyagi from ''Film/TheKarateKid'' trilogy, as Daniel comes to realize once he finally gets a chance to know Miguel. For Johnny, it's a second chance at being a father figure after screwing up with his biological son Robby Keene, while Miguel gets a father figure he never had (his mother fled her abusive husband in Ecuador with her mother as [[TeenPregnancy a pregnant 18-year-old]] and subsequently raised Miguel on her own).
** Daniel actually does attempt this with Robby, being a better father figure to him than Johnny ever was. Unfortunately, this later transitions to Kreese and Robby after Robby sees Daniel as the enemy for "betraying him" by turning him in to the police.
** Kreese views Johnny as a surrogate son in a very twisted way. It becomes even more twisted in Season 3 when he extends those feelings down to Robby and gets him to join Cobra Kai, in the hopes it will bring Johnny back into the fold and they can rule as "three generations" of Cobra Kai.
* ''Series/Daredevil2015''
** Karen Page feels guilty after [[IntrepidReporter Ben Urich]] is murdered by Wilson Fisk (due to Karen having tricked Ben into speaking to Fisk's mother), and tries to apologize to his widow at the funeral. Ben's wife isn't having it, saying that no one ever forced Ben to write a story, and he regarded Karen as the daughter they never had specifically because she never gave up.
** Though never said out loud, it's pretty clear that Mitchell Ellison views Karen Page as one after he hires her to take Ben Urich's job at the ''Bulletin''.
** Despite trying to kill her on a few occasions when she goes rogue, Stick still has a soft spot for Elektra, more or less seeing her as his daughter. This ends up being his undoing in ''Series/TheDefenders2017'' as he hesitates when Elektra shows up to capture Danny Rand, giving her the opening to stab him to death.
** Wilson Fisk views James Wesley as "like a son" to him, saying as much word-for-word when tasking Dex with killing Karen as revenge for Wesley's death. However, while Wesley was indeed Fisk's close friend, it's implied Fisk is just using this trope to manipulate Dex (whose father abandoned him at a young age) by implying that Fisk will be a ParentalSubstitute for Dex if he takes on Wesley's role as TheDragon.
* ''Series/DoctorWho'':
** "The End of Time Part 2" has a variation.
---> '''The Master:''' (to the Doctor) Oh, your dad's still kicking up a fuss.\\
'''Wilfred Mott:''' No, but I'd be proud if I was.
** The Doctor, despite being Wilf's senior [[ReallySevenHundredYearsOld by several centuries]], returns the sentiment.
---> "I'd be proud...if you were my dad."
** In [[Recap/DoctorWhoTVMTheTVMovie The TV Movie]], the Master claims Chang Lee is "the son I've always yearned for." The Doctor is not convinced ("Oh, ''please''.") -- and moments later, the Master snaps Lee's neck.
* In ''Series/DrakeAndJosh'', Josh's boss, Helen, is really affectionate towards Drake. She at one point says she feels this way towards him.
--> '''Helen:''' Drake Parker, I love you like the son I never wanted.
* On ''Series/EverybodyLovesRaymond'', Frank feels this way about Debra. In one episode, he tells her that he's always viewed his battles with Marie, Ray, and Robert as "me and you versus them." In another, upon discovering that his lodge brothers are treating Debra, who's been volunteering with them, as a [[DirtyOldMan piece of eye candy]], he [[TheReasonYouSuckSpeech lets them have it]]: "This is Debra! She's not just some cheap floozy--she's like my own daughter!"
** Marie and Debra largely avert this trope, especially because the former is [[MyBelovedSmother extremely doting and controlling toward Ray]]. However, it's occasionally hinted that Marie sees Debra fondly; for instance, she's arranged to leave all of her recipes to Debra in her will. As Marie is a SupremeChef, that's quite a compliment.
* Several in ''Series/TheFlash2014'', all by Dr Wells.
** He tells Cisco that, although he doesn't have children of his own, Cisco has shown him what it's like to have a son. Partly due to [[TheUnFavourite not being on the best of terms with his own family]], Cisco [[ParentalSubstitute shares the sentiment]]. [[spoiler:Then Wells kills him, but ''does'' look genuinely distraught over it. [[CosmicRetcon Not like it sticks.]]]]
*** In the subsequent episode [[spoiler:following said CosmicRetcon]], we get a more lighthearted reprisal of the above scene when Wells consoles Cisco over how he had been forced to [[spoiler:reveal Barry's SecretIdentity to Captain Cold.]]
** He later tells Barry that he understands what Joe (Barry's foster dad) and Henry (Barry's actual dad) feel when they look at him with pride and love.
** In a somewhat tragic example, he refers to his former protege Hartley Rathaway as 'the Prodigal Son', suggesting that they also had this sort of relationship. Until, that is, [[spoiler: Wells fired him because he realised something was going to go wrong with the particle accelerator.]]
* In the Season 4 finale of ''Series/{{Flashpoint}}'', [[TeamDad Greg Parker]] says pretty much exactly this to Spike, albeit in Italian. It's even more poignant when you take into account that Spike's father had recently died and his mother had moved back to Italy, leaving him without a readily-available parental presence for the first time in his life...or so he thought.
* From a deleted scene from ''Series/FlightOfTheConchords'':
-->'''Eddie''': Bret, I like you. You're like a son to me. You remind me of my niece.
* Implied with Martin and Daphne on ''Series/{{Frasier}}'', especially when Martin becomes lonely when Daphne moves in with Niles and tries to get Daphne to promise to visit more often by using the fact that Eddie will miss her as a transparent excuse. Also given a SiblingRivalry-like turn when Daphne gets jealous of Frasier's new girlfriend Claire, because Claire and Martin dote on each other and Martin clearly wants Frasier to marry her and make her Martin's daughter-in-law.
-->'''Martin''': Her laugh's just like music, isn't it?
-->'''Daphne''' (wistfully): You used to think my laugh was musical... Remember, Marty?
--> '''Martin''': [[ComicallyMissingThePoint Yeah, but I'm used to it now.]]
* ''Series/TheFreshPrinceOfBelAir'': Uncle Phil sees Will this way. Phil is heartbroken and falls into a depression when Will pulls a YoureNotMyFather on him for trying to stop Will spending the summer with his deadbeat biological father, but still comforts Will when Lou (said deadbeat father) walks out on him again. In the series finale the family move out of the mansion and go their separate ways, Phil tells each of his kids to call him every Sunday and pointedly includes Will in that list.
-->'''Phil:''' You ''are'' my son, Will. End of story.
* ''Series/GameOfThrones'':
** Jon Snow to Jeor Mormont, whose own son Jorah disgraced their family.
** Jon Snow is actually [[spoiler:Ned Stark's nephew by his sister Lyanna, and Ned raised Jon as his own son]].
** Shireen Baratheon to Davos Seaworth, in the "like a daughter to me" version. [[spoiler:Davos outright says this when he finds out that Melisandre killed Shireen by burning her alive, promising that he will kill Melisandre himself if he ever sees her again]].
* ''Series/TheGoldenGirls'': When Rose is hospitalized for an esophageal spasm, Sophia cracks jokes as they wait for word. When Dorothy blasts her for this, Sophia admits that she's trying to hide her fear--"If something happened to Rose, it would be like losing one of my own children." She repeats the claim that she loves Rose like a daughter when Rose has a heart attack. Even though she doesn't say it, she clearly feels this way about Blanche too.
** It culminates in the final episode when Sophia, who's planning to move away with a newly-married Dorothy, looks at a picture she's taken of Rose and Blanche and whispers "Good-bye, my girls..."
* ''Series/{{Gotham}}'' has Alfred Pennyworth and Bruce Wayne, of course. In the penultimate episode of the series, Alfred even flat-out says Bruce is the only son he will ever have.
** Fish Mooney ''claims'' this about Oswald Cobblepot...and then beats him half to death for snitching on her to the police. Later episodes imply she wasn't entirely making things up though, as part of the reason she seems to have taken his betrayal so bitterly personal is that she really did believe this. As he becomes more and more powerful, she's genuinely impressed by how much he's accomplished, which leads to a villainous SoProudOfYou moment where she confesses she could never kill him because she had a hand in creating him. He's so genuinely moved by this he spares her life in turn, and even after [[spoiler:her death]], he's pretty obviously [[VillainousLegacy taking cues from her]] in his dress and quotations.
* In the ''Series/{{Haven}}'' episode "Speak No Evil", Vince Teagues tried to claim Dwight Hendrickson was the son he never had, but Dwight was not impressed, and was annoyed by Vince keeping him LockedOutOfTheLoop on several of the town's secrets.
* In ''Series/HoratioHornblower,'' the title character arrives on Captain Pellew's ship with a bad reputation, but Pellew is satisfied with the result after testing his actions. From there he treats Hornblower as his protege, and his regard for the young officer grows to barely-concealed affection. The final telefilm has Pellew spelling it out in nearly explicit terms by saying to the newly-promoted ''Captain'' Hornblower "You know, Hornblower, it is very hard for a father to see his children grow up." (Hornblower, however, is a little oblivious in personal matters and it [[{{Pun}} sails]] right over his head.)
* From ''Series/InPlainSight'' as Rafael is moving in with the Shannons [[spoiler: before marrying Mary]]
--> '''Brandi''': So I guess I'm like the little sister you never had, huh?
--> '''Rafael''': I have three sisters. All little.
** Later deconstructed, impressively. One of the witnesses flips on his criminal buddies after they kill the "son he never had" . . . except the witness had a son, who he couldn't connect with or accept, and who was rightfully jealous of the son substitute. Their relationship is . . . messy.
* ''Series/IronFist2017'': Harold Meachum acts at first like Danny is a better son to him than his ''actual'' son Ward, but it soon becomes clear that this is just an act.
* ''Series/{{JAG}}'':
** Harm's stepfather Frank Burnett tells him this when he visits his mother in "To Russia with Love":
--->'''Frank Burnett''': I figured out early on that I could never live up to your father in your eyes. I wasn't a Blue Angel. Hell, I never even wore a uniform.\\
'''Harmon Rabb, Jr.''': Frank.\\
'''Frank Burnett''': But although you never thought about me as your father, you're the only son I ever had.
** From "Desert Son": General Williams to Lt. Boone, the only friend of the careless Lt. Williams that he approves of.
* In ''Series/LawAndOrderUK,'' this is clearly how DS Ronnie Brooks feels about his partner Matt Devlin (no wonder, given that he royally screwed up raising his actual daughters, thanks to being a drunk). He outright says this while talking with the mother of [[spoiler:the man who killed him. "The police officer who died? His name was Matthew Devlin and he was like MY son."]]
* During the intro to the 1991 UsefulNotes/MacysThanksgivingDayParade, when Katie Couric entered the scene aided by a magician's box, her cohost Willard Scott jokingly referred to her as "the son [he] always wanted." [[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8SVFTaYzWCI See it here.]]
* Gaius and ''Series/{{Merlin 2008}}'':
-->'''Gaius''': Merlin, you're like a son to me. I never expected such a blessing so late in life.
-->'''Merlin''': And you are more than a father to me.
* ''Series/MarriedWithChildren'': On several occasions, Al Bundy spoke to/of someone as "the son [he] never had" -at least once in front of Bud.
* In Colonel Blake's farewell episode of ''Series/{{Mash}}'', he exchanges gifts with Radar and tells him, "You're like a son to me." What makes this even more adorable is that at the exact same time, Radar says, "Sometimes I felt like you were my father." [[spoiler:It makes Radar's devastation in the final scene, where he informs the rest of the cast of Colonel Blake's death, that much more gut-wrenching.]]
* ''Series/MimpiMetropolitan'': To Mami Bibir, everyone who lives in her dorm are her children.
* Shows up ''very'' early in ''Series/TheNanny''. Fran is calling Maggie, Brighton, and Grace "her kids" by the fifth episode, and her love for them is clearly more maternal than professional.
** It's later inverted with Mr. Sheffield and Sylvia, Fran's mother, later in the series, after Fran has finally married Maxwell. When Fran is briefly hospitalized, Max and Sylvia rush to the hospital together, and he does his best to calm her down, calling her "Mom." Sylvia notes that he's never done that before, and he explains that she's been a better, dearer mother to him than his birth mother ever was. It's especially surprising because Sylvia's behavior borders on [[ObnoxiousInLaws invasive and annoying]] at times, particularly when she shows up to [[BigEater eat the Sheffields out of house and home]].
* ''Series/{{NCIS}}'' has two examples:
** [[CoolOldGuy Ducky]] doesn't say it outright, but is very fatherly towards his assistant Palmer.
** Gibbs seems to almost view Abby as a daughter: he's by far the nicest to her, and even gives her a kiss on the head a few times.
* Hook from ''Series/{{Neverland}}'' is a unique example. He starts the series displaying this trope towards Peter. He took him in after his mother died and he did everything he could to protect him. However, he subverts this in the end and ends up wanting to put an end to the boy he used to care about.
* ''Series/{{NUMB3RS}}'': When Larry leaves on his sabbatical in Season 6, he leaves a large amount of his work scribbled on a wall with a note that translates to "All to son". Everyone immediately knows he's referring to Charlie.
* ''Series/ThePunisher2017'': Frank Castle's friendship with Karen Page stems from the fact that she reminds him heavily of his late daughter Lisa. He thinks of Karen as what Lisa would've been like if she'd grown to see adulthood rather than be cut down by a hit squad in the midst of an attempt to assassinate Frank.
* When Series/RizzoliAndIsles have a seemingly-insurmountable split, Jane's mother Angela tells Maura "You're like a daughter to me too."
* Funnily enough ''inverted'' on ''Series/{{Roseanne}}.'' After a rather uncomfortable discussion involving sexual dreams, David finally comes out and admits that he sees Roseanne, who adopted him, as more of a mother than his biological one. It's been clear for a while the feeling's mutual, and she's very touched by the affection.
-->'''David:''' Do... do you want me to start calling you Mom?
-->'''Roseanne:''' No. ''(grins)'' I want me other kids to start calling me Mrs. Conner.
* Sarah and Maria in ''Series/TheSarahJaneAdventures''. At the end of "The Last Sontaran", Maria is [[spoiler:leaving. Sarah Jane tells her she's losing]] the daughter she had always wanted. *sob*
* ''Series/{{Shadowhunters}}'' Magnus has raised many downworlders in his long lifetime. He says this to Raphael, whom he has always taken care of, calling him son.
* In ''Series/StargateSG1'' Bra'tac has been a mentor and close friend to Teal'c for decades. In "Talion", Bra'tac explains to Teal'c that he is like a son to him and that he is [[SoProudOfYou so proud of him]].
* ''Series/{{Supernatural}}'': Even though he doesn't say it out loud, it's obvious that Bobby loves Dean and Sam like they were his sons. He even tells Dean in the season 3 finale that, "Family don't end with blood."
** In a seventh-season episode, [[spoiler:as he lies dying]], Bobby tells [[spoiler:the memory of his abusive father]] that he adopted two sons, referring to Sam and Dean.
---> '''Bobby:''' I adopted two boys, and they grew up great. They grew up ''heroes''.
** Bobby also seems to think of Castiel as a son as well as Sam and Dean, despite the fact that Cas is ''millennia'' older than he is.
** [[spoiler:Mary]] also apparently regards Cas as one of "her boys", along with Sam and Dean.
* ''Series/SpinCity'': Mike and the Mayor gradually develop a relationship like this. In this case, the Mayor sees Mike as the father figure.
* ''Series/TheSuiteLifeOfZackAndCody'': Mr. Moseby at first seems only to be playing ParentalSubstitute to London because her dad is his boss, but it quickly becomes clear that, having done this since she was a ''baby'', he does care very deeply for the girl. He doesn't have kids of his own, but he's the one who taught London to walk, he's the one to discipline her when she goes too far, and more than once, he risks his boss' wrath to do what would be best for her. Her [[LonelyRichKid actual parents are never around]], and she's gone through more nannies and stepmothers than she can recall, so Mr. Moseby is really the only consistently caring adult in her life.
* In ''Series/TeenWolf'', Melissa [=McCall=] is a [[ParentalSubstitute substitute mother]] to her son Scott's best friend Stiles, whose mother passed away when he was very young. This is especially exemplified in season three when Stiles [[spoiler: begins to show the same symptoms as his mother did just before her death]]. Melissa takes care of him, leading to the following:
-->'''Stiles''': Thanks, Mom.
** She seems to have become this to Isaac, as well. When Isaac ends up in the hospital [[spoiler: after being electrocuted]], Allison is not allowed in to see him, despite her telling the staff that he doesn't have any family.
--->'''Melissa''': He's got us.
* On ''Series/That70sShow,'' Kelso wants to buy a great car from Leo. As they're about to make the final deal, however, Leo recalls that he had originally planned to give that car to his long-lost son and said that he couldn't bear to sell it, which Kelso can understand. Leo then immediately ''gives'' the car to Hyde, calling him the son he never had (as opposed to that long-lost son that he ''did'' have). Needless to say, Kelso was annoyed.
* Neal and Peter on ''Series/WhiteCollar''. Oddly, [[ConspiracyTheorist Mozzie]] is the first person to point out the father-son relationship between Peter and Neal. In the third season episode ''Upper West Side Story'', Peter is posing as a man enrolling his son in a prep school as part of an undercover assignment. Someone at the school asks Peter about his son. Peter doesn't have a biological son, so he describes Neal instead.
--> "He's very intelligent but impulsive. His moves tend to land him in trouble... Well, I wanna give him the best shot at life. I know it's gonna cost me."
** Peter's wife even makes comments about Neal being their kid.
** Further emphasized in the series finale, where, [[spoiler:after Neal [[FakingTheDead apparently dies]], Peter and Elizabeth [[DeadGuyJunior name their newborn son "Neal" in his honor]]]].
* ''Series/{{Voyagers}}'': After a little while of time-traveling together, Phineas Bogg comes to see Jeff as being like his son (he actually says to another character during "[[Recap/VoyagersS1E3BullyAndBilly Bully and Billy]]" that Jeff isn't his son, but he wishes he could say he was). While they don't quite have an average father/son relationship, he does try to teach and protect him.
* All but actually said in ''Series/TheWestWing'' with President Bartlet and Charlie, [[spoiler: especially when President Bartlet passes on to Charlie his family knife that has been given from father to son.]]
** He also refers to Josh as his son in "Two Cathedrals".
** Josh tells CJ that Bartlet thinks of her as a daughter.
** Josh also has this kind of relationship with Leo, who is an old friend of his father's.
--->'''President Bartlet''': He loved you like a son. You know that, right?
* In one episode of ''Series/WizardsOfWaverlyPlace'' between Max's conscience and his mom.
--> '''Theresa:''' "You're like the son I don't regret having!"
--> '''Max:''' "Oh, she means Justin."
[[/folder]]

* ''VideoGame/AmateurSurgeon'': Inverted with Hubris d'Obscene, Dwayne Pipe's clone. While he's aware of how they're actually related and has clarified it once, Hubris commonly refers to Dwayne as his "father" for having his DNA, although how close they really were is never elaborated upon.

[[folder: Professional Wrestling]]

* In ''Series/BrooklynNineNine,'' as the two grow closer, Captain Holt begins to view Jake as a surrogate son much as Jake views him as a ParentalSubstitute. On occasion, they've even slipped up and referred to one another as "Son" and "Dad."

* Near the end of ''Film/MysticPizza'', Leona uses this as a rationale for why she gives Kat the money to go to Yale.
-->'''Leona:''' I always meant to give this to my kids. You, Daisy, Jojo; you're my kids.

* [[WesternAnimation/SleepingBeauty Maleficent]], of all people, says this to [[RivalTurnedEvil Riku]] in the first ''VideoGame/KingdomHeartsI''. He knows she's lying through her teeth, but is still convinced he can use her instead of the other way around.

* In the ''WesternAnimation/SpongeBobSquarePants'' episode "Frankendoodle", [=SpongeBob=] says this about his creation, [=DoodleBob=].

* ''LightNovel/AscendanceOfABookworm'': Between various business hardships and a PromotionToParent, Benno ended up losing the love of his life to disease before he could marry her. Fast forward to the present, he's still unmarried and becomes a mentor to both Lutz and Myne while being old enough to be their father. At some point, Mark reveals to Myne that while he wouldn't go as far as saying Benno sees her as his own daughter, he cares about her at least as much as he would care about a niece. There are few hints that Benno warms up to Lutz later in the story as well, the biggest being that Benno goes through a phase of seriously considering [[spoiler:adopting Lutz]].

* ''Literature/{{Brotherband}}'': Thorn serves as a mentor to the entire Brotherband, so on some level, he has eight sons and a daughter. However, his relationship to Hal leans closest to a father/son bond. This fits given that Thorn's best friend, who was also Hal's father, [[LastRequest asked him on his deathbed]] to look after his son. After his recovery from a years-long HeroicBSOD, Thorn takes up the role in earnest, helping shape Hal into a capable leader and warrior and ferociously protecting him on the occasions he gets in over his head. He even refers to Hal as "my boy" when attacking a pirate captain who had almost killed him out of spite.

* ''WesternAnimation/MyLittlePonyFriendshipIsMagic'': WordOfGod says that even though [[FunPersonified Pinkie Pie]] isn't their daughter, Mr. & Mrs. Cake treat her as such. In fact, their ''actual'' foals, Pound Cake & Pumpkin Cake, see her as their [[CoolBigSis funny older sister]].

[[folder:Machinima]]
* ''Machinima/RedVsBlue''
** Sarge uses this line in season two at one point.
-->'''Sarge:''' Grif, if you see Lopez, tell him I forgive him. Tell him, he was like a son to me.\\
'''Grif:''' I thought Simmons was like a son to you.\\
'''Sarge:''' No offense, Simmons. Lopez and I just understood each other better.\\
'''Simmons:''' Understood? He refused to speak English.\\
'''Grif:''' Yeah, and he ran away the first chance he got.\\
'''Simmons:''' And now he's trying to kill you with a remote control jeep.\\
'''Sarge:''' Ahhhh, what a little rascal.
** Later, in Season 14, Sarge and Boomstick start bonding and Sarge comments that Boomstick is like the son he never wanted. Boomstick feels Sarge is like the dad he never had since his real one ran away to join the military. Sarge puts two and two together and awkwardly leaves.
[[/folder]]

* ''VideoGame/GrandTheftAutoV'' has Michael de Santa and Franklin Clinton, two of the MainCharacters. Whilst Michael sees Franklin as "the son he never had" (clearly preferring Franklin over his actual son Jimmy), Franklin looks up to Michael as a father figure of sorts and a mentor in being a much better criminal.

* ''VideoGame/GrandTheftAutoV'' has Michael de Santa and Franklin Clinton, two of the MainCharacters. Whilst Michael sees Franklin as the son he never had, Franklin looks up to Michael as a father figure of sorts and a mentor in being a much better criminal.

This is common with [[MentorArchetype mentors]] who have a similar role to raise and educate their students as parents. A sufficently tight-knit MasterApprenticeChain can look like a multi-generational family.

** In the ''Anime/DragonBallZ'' anime, during the BeamOWar between Gohan and Cell, Piccolo says that Gohan is a like a son to him.

* ''Manga/FullmetalAlchemist'' has this between the Elric Brothers and their alchemy teacher in Izumi. Beyond learning alchemy on her, she served as a stern disciplinary figure to them and martial arts teacher. This becomes more poignant when we learn that in the same way the Elric Brothers' hubris in trying to bring back their mother cost them, Izumi made the same mistake trying to resurrect her stillborn child. In a roundabout way, they did get what they wanted in finding each other.
* Kalinin views Sousuke in this light in ''LightNovel/FullMetalPanic''. He even had plans to formally adopt him before he was driven to defect from the USSR. [[spoiler:Even his betrayal of Mithril and Sousuke turn out to be rooted in parental love--Leonard's plan would have allowed Kalinin to GiveHimANormalLife.]]

* PlayedForLaughs in ''Manga/KaguyaSamaLoveIsWar''. Since Fujiwara helps Shirogane with a variety of subjects such as sports, music, cooking and even folding balloons, she's called him her son when emotional; her stupid, hopelessly annoying son who can't do anything right, destroying her image of him. But despite even gaining a trauma when it comes to helping him, she just can't help but teach him when he's failing, even once getting jealous when Kaguya started teaching him.

** Tsunade is third and only mother figure to Naruto, though she didn't care much for him at first, Naruto reminded her of her little brother Nawaki and lover Dan Kato due to his WideEyedIdealist nature and dream of becoming Hokage. After assisting her and Jiraiya in fighting Orochimaru (where she saved his life) Tsunade gives him the first Hoakage's [[TragicKeepsake necklace]] and a kiss on the forehead for good measure. Though she finds his reckless behavior troublesome, saying he has inherited Jiraiya's antics. But when the fourth Raikage doubts Naruto, Tsuande gives him her undying support and how proud she is of him. She also motherly to Sakura and has passed down all her teachings to her
** Kakashi is of course one as well, but was separated from his sensei's son due to the instance of the Third Hokage (and Kakashi's own truama along with being in the ANBU Black Ops). Upon meeting Naruto when forming Team 7 he grew to like him, but found it easier to train Sasuke. After two arcs Kakashi, no longer held back in acting fatherly towards Naruto, often checking up on him in his apartment and making sure he was eating well. When Naruto learned his wind jutsu, Kakashi tried to give him a hug but Naruto only freaked out over his sensei being so weird. Towards the end of the series Kakashi tells how proud he is of Naruto especially in comparison to Sasuke.

** Shanks is the big one for Luffy, not only inspiring Luffy to become a pirate but sacrificed his arm to save Luffy from a sea king and gave him his strawhat and told Luffy to give it back to him once he had made as pirate. When asked by Whitebeard how he lost his arm, Shanks said simply he made a bet on the future, this connection caused Luffy's marine grandfather to bear a grudge against Shanks for "filling Luffy's head with poison". During the aftermath of Marineford, Shanks asks his old rival Buggy to give Luffy's hat back to him saying it isn't time to return it yet.

* A rather strange example in ''Manga/SkipBeat'' occurs when the main character, Kyouko, is given an "assignment" to improve her characterization technique by a famous actor that she's been tasked to help during his stay in Japan. She has to act the part of his son for a day or two, and by the end of the exercise they have bonded and he tells Kyoko that she can keep calling him "father."
* ''LightNovel/SwordArtOnline'': In the ''Alicization'' arc, Bercoulli muses to himself that he viewed Alice not only as a disciple, but as his daughter [[spoiler:right when he dies after defeating Vector]].

** The Golden Age Flash, Jay Garrick, had something like this for the rest of the Flash Family, particularly during Wally's era. He at one point formally adopted Bart Allen, has told Jesse Quick multiple times she's like a daughter to him (and she's remarked on how much of a second father he is to her), and he regularly treated Wally like his son. He was more like a much older brother figure to Barry however, as the two weren't nearly as close so he had less time to spend with him.

** The title character and ComicBook/{{Supergirl}} (at least the pre- and post-crisis Kara Zor El, and Linda Danvers...[[ContinuitySnarl it's confusing...]]) have this kind of relationship, which is fairly reasonable, since he's her much-older cousin.

* ''Fanfic/AFrozenFlower'': Grimes views of Till, Oz's former partner when they were working in Odd Squad, as a daughter to him. As such, he's distraught when Orchid ends up accidentally killing her via [[MindRape mental torture]] after arguing with her about Oz's death.

* In ''Fanfic/ForgivenessIsTheAttributeOfTheStrong'', a My Hero Academia fanfiction, All Might considers Izuku like a son, and vice versa. Izuku spiting his blood father All for One is a happy bonus.

* ''Fanfic/{{SAPR}}'': Sienna Khan thinks this of Blake, and is reluctant to kill her as a result.

* ''Fanfic/ThreeCanKeepASecret'': Stanford's extremely warm and supportive attitude towards Dipper, great pride in the boy's personal growth and desire for Dipper to inherit everything of his always heavily implied this attitude, but it was finally confirmed in the sequel fic: While on a magic induced MushroomSamba that is spawning frightening omens of the future, Stanford vows to protect Dipper, calls out [[Literature/GravityFallsJournal3 his real name]] and uses the phrase "my son" in reference to him. By all indications, Dipper seems to reciprocate.

* ''WesternAnimation/{{Up}}'': One WordOfGod interview says that Russell was designed to be the child Ellie and Carl were unable to have, in both a figurative and literal spirit. Figurative in that if they had had a child, that child would be very much like Russell (especially at the end when he has both a mother and father figure in his life), and that Russell fills the hole Ellie left behind when she died, much like Carl and Ellie's potential child would have. Literal in that if you look close enough, Russell has features very similar to that of both Ellie and Carl....

* General Sarov to Alex in the third book of ''Literature/{{Alex Rider}}.'' Alex is captured during a mission in Cuba, and is almost crushed to death by Sarov's assistant before being rescued by the general. Despite being a prisoner, Alex is treated very well by Sarov, and is not killed despite his escape attempt. Sarov reveals to Alex that he sees his dead son, Vladimir, in Alex; now, he wants Alex to join him in taking over Russia. Despite Alex's protests, Sarov is insistent that Alex will learn to see the world his way. General Sarov plans to adopt Alex, teach him Russian, and give Alex immense power in his new world order. Unfortunately, [[spoiler: Alex continuously refuses to join Sarov and foils his plot to detonate a nuclear bomb in Murmansk. Sarov kills himself when Alex says he'd [[WouldRatherSuffer rather die]] than [[YoureNotMyFather have a father like Sarov]]]].

* PlayedWith in ''Literature/{{Animorphs}}.'' [[ActionGirl Rachel]] recalls an incident when her then-pregnant mother expresses hope the baby would be a boy, since the family already had two daughters and she knows Rachel's dad wanted a son to do stuff like going to baseball games with. Rachel's father says he doesn't mind either way, since [[OneOfTheBoys Rachel is as tough as a boy and he has plenty of fun doing that stuff with her]]. She's touched by that.

* ''Literature/{{Brotherband}}'': Thorn serves as a mentor to the entire Brotherband, so on some level he has eight sons and a daughter. However, his relationship to Hal leans closest to a father/son bond. This fits given that Thorn's best friend, who was also Hal's father, [[LastRequest asked him on his deathbed]] to look after his son. After his recovery from a years-long HeroicBSOD, Thorn takes up the role in earnest, helping shape Hal into a capable leader and warrior and ferociously protecting him on the occasions he gets in over his head. He even refers to Hal as "my boy" when attacking a pirate captain who had almost killed him out of spite.

* In the ''Demonata'' series, all of the main trio views Dervish Grady as parental figure. His nephew Grubbs even thinks he felt closer to Dervish then his actual parents, since he took them for granted. The two constantly bicker and other people in the series even remark they see one another as a father and a son, respectfully.
* Virgil of ''Literature/TheDivineComedy'' begins to address the AuthorAvatar, Dante, as "my son" by the time they reach Inferno's fire-blood lake. The address fits, since Virgil has to hold Dante's hand like a possessive father while guiding him through lust-tornadoes, suicide-forests, and less mundane challenges. By ''Purgatorio'', Dante returns the sentiment as he begins to address Virgil as "father," right up until Virgil has to return to Hell while Dante goes to meet {{God}}.

** It's all but explicitly stated that Dumbledore sees Harry as a son / grandson. This causes a lot of angst on Dumbledore's part, given he knows [[spoiler: Harry is prophesied to fight Voldemort to the death.]] And that's without getting into Dumbledore's own family history. He spends most of [[Literature/HarryPotterAndTheOrderOfThePhoenix book five]] keeping Harry at arm's length as a result, with disastrous results.

* In ''Literature/MistbornTheOriginalTrilogy'', Though these exact words are never spoken, Vin and Kelsier build up this type of relationship. In the end of the first book [[spoiler: Kelsier's note implies that he thought of her as a daughter]]. It is stated more explicitly in ''Literature/MistbornSecretHistory'' in which [[spoiler: Kelsier not only wishes he'd been there for her when she had needed parents, but a few lines later refers to her as 'the daughter he never had'. He never says it in direct speech, but the story is narrated from his point of view]].
* Alk and Ilke are treated like they're his children by Sha-ra who'll protect no matter what in ''Literature/{{Phenomena}}''.

* In ''The Saga of Darren Shan'', Darren develops this with his mentor Larten Crepsley, in book 7 even thinking to himself that the two share a father-son type bond. It it very clear that Larten feels the same way. Once he learns that he has a nephew, Darren starts to act like a father figure to the boy.
** In the prequel series, Seba Nile thinks of his two assistants as his sons, and they view him as a father. Gavner Purl also views Larten as his father, but keeps it to himself.

* ''Literature/{{Twilight}}'': Carlisle feels this way about the members of his coven (with the obvious exception of his wife Esme), and especially towards Edward.

** Dickish Head of the Watchers Council Quentin Travers is the first person to say what Giles has been too shy to tell Buffy himself: "[Giles has] a father's love for the child". Quentin means it in a dismissive way, but it clearly means the world to Buffy to hear this when she's been dropping hints to Giles about wanting him to hang out with her socially now that she's realizing her real dad is no longer making an effort to see her, even on her birthday. Throughout the series Buffy is more comfortable with telling Giles how she feels ("Giles, [[PlatonicDeclarationOfLove I love you]]]]", "I want you to give me away [at her spell-induced wedding...but the sentiment about Giles is genuine]") while Giles -- in his British repressed way -- is more likely to take a roundabout way ("You're everything a Watcher-everything ''I'' could have hoped for", "Wish I could play the father/And take you by the hand") or express his love through gestures like helping out when her mother gets sick, paying her bills, verbally and physically defending her from men she can't slay, culminating in his attempt to help her fly out of the nest by going back to England. It kind of works and it kind of doesn't, and they both have regrets about it, but reunite as a team and a family in time for the series finale.

** Daniel actually does attempt this with Robby, being a better father-figure to him then Johnny ever was. Unfortunately, this later transitions to Kreese and Robby after Robby sees Daniel as the enemy for "betraying him" by turning him in to the police.

** Karen Page feels guilty after [[IntrepidReporter Ben Urich]] is murdered by Wilson Fisk (due to Karen having tricked Ben into speaking to Fisk's mother), and tries to apologize to his widow at the funeral. Ben's wife isn't having it, saying that no-one ever forced Ben to write a story, and he regarded Karen as the daughter they never had specifically because she never gave up.

** Wilson Fisk views James Wesley as "like a son" to him, saying as much word-for-word when tasking Dex with killing Karen as revenge for Wesley's death. However while Wesley was indeed Fisk's close friend, it's implied Fisk is just using this trope to manipulate Dex (whose father abandoned him at a young age) by implying that Fisk will be a ParentalSubstitute for Dex if he takes on Wesley's role as TheDragon.

** He later tells Barry that he understands what Joe (Barry's foster dad) and Henry (Barry's actual dad) feel when they look on him with pride and love.

** Jon Snow is actually [[spoiler:Ned Stark's nephew by his sister Lyanna and Ned raised Jon as his own son]].

** Fish Mooney ''claims'' this about Oswald Cobblepot...and then beats him half to death for snitching on her to the police. Later episodes imply she wasn't entirely making things up though, as part of the reason she seems to have taken his betrayal so bitterly personal is because she really did believe this. As he becomes more and more powerful, she's genuinely impressed by how much he's accomplished, which leads to a villainous SoProudOfYou moment where she confesses she could never kill him because she had a hand in creating him. He's so geuinely moved by this he spares her life in turn, and even after [[spoiler:her death]] he's pretty obviously [[VillainousLegacy taking cues from her]] in his dress and quotations.

* ''Series/MarriedWithChildren'': On several occasions Al Bundy spoke to/of someone as "the son [he] never had" -at least once in front of Bud.

* In ''Series/StargateSG1'' Bra'tac has been a mentor and close friend to Teal'c for deacdes. In "Talion", Bra'tac explains to Teal'c that he is like a son to him, and that he is [[SoProudOfYou so proud of him]].
* ''Series/{{Supernatural}}'': Even though he doesn't say it out loud, its obvious that Bobby loves Dean and Sam like they were his sons. He even tells Dean in the season 3 finale that, "Family don't end with blood."

--> "He's very intelligent, but impulsive. His moves tend to land him in trouble... Well, I wanna give him the best shot at life. I know it's gonna cost me."

* Before Wrestling/KrisStatlander's [[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=L-Pxzt3Pjz0 match]] with her trainer "The Buzzkiller" Pat Buck at ''LW Hooked On A Friedman'', he said that if he ever had a daughter, he'd want her to turn out like Kris. This was followed by an inversion of TurnedAgainstTheirMasters, since Buck told her to lie down for him. The match started with Kris on the mat and Buck went for the pin, but Kris countered with an inside cradle for two.

** When achieving her final Ascension and having her True Name unlocked, Tomoe Gozen comments that her husband would have get along with TheProtagonist as if they were parent and child.

** To some degree, Helena Blavatsky acts a bit like a grandmother towards the protagonist.

* The likes of Jane, Kenny and Lee see Clementine as such in ''VideoGame/TheWalkingDead''. For Lee, it's like the child he never had; for Kenny, she replaces his son Duck who died in Season 1; for Jane, she replaces her sister who she lost an unknown time before Season 2. However, by Season 2, Jane and Kenny's thoughts of her become [[ReplacementGoldfish unhealthy and almost threatening]].

** Eda comes to view her apprentice Luz as if she was her own daughter over the course of the first season, even referring to her as "my kid" on multiple occasions. While Luz actually does have a loving, if complex relationship with her biological mother, it's clear that the feeling is mutual.
** Similarly, Eda also treats her roomate King as a son [[spoiler:which makes sense when it's revealed that she's actually raised him since he was a baby. This eventually results in him deciding to legally take on her last name.]]

--->'''"Nicky"''': I've always treated you like a Father would!
--->'''"Rockhead"''': [[FlatWhat What]]? You t'row my stuff in the street... you yell at me in front of everyone... you make me feel like a stupid useless little kid!
--->'''"Nicky"''': See! I told you I treat you like a Father would!

-->'''Fat Man:''' Wilmer, you were like a son to me. [[SubvertedTrope But I can always get another son]]. There's only one [[TitleDrop Maltese Falcon]].

Contrast IHaveNoSon[=/=][[IHaveNoDaughter Daughter]].

A character tells another that they're like a son or daughter to them, possibly even "the son I never had."

A character would absolutely ''kill'' to hear this from their WellDoneSonGuy, if they've got one.

Compare ParentalSubstitute and HappilyAdopted for situations where this could occur and AFatherToHisMen for military examples. See also LikeBrotherAndSister. Also WhyAreYouNotMySon, where a character has actual offspring or relatives they dislike, and compare them with someone that's Like a Son to Them.

Contrast IHaveNoSon.

* ''Series/TheFreshPrinceOfBelAir'': Uncle Phil sees Will this way. Phil is heartbroken and falls into a depression when Will pulls a YouAreNotMyFather on him for trying to stop Will spending the summer with his deadbeat biological father, but still comforts Will when Lou (said deadbeat father) walks out on him again. In the series finale the family move out of the mansion and go their separate ways, Phil tells each of his kids to call him every Sunday and pointedly includes Will in that list.