Who’s the Ultimate Parent in Spy x Family: Loid or Yor?

Summary

Loid prioritizes protecting Anya and provides discipline while being controlling about schoolwork.
Yor is nurturing, expressive, and supportive creating a loving environment for Anya.
Yor slightly edges out Loid as the better parent focusing on Anya’s comfort and happiness.

In “Spy x Family,” Loid and Yor find themselves novice parents after adopting Anya. Despite having diverse methods when it comes to nurturing her, they work in unison. Although they maintain clandestine roles as a spy and an assassin respectively, their responsibilities as parents hold equal significance for them compared to their professional duties.

In the captivating world of Spy x Family, I can’t help but marvel at the unique dynamics between Loid and Yor, two parents with contrasting approaches yet a shared goal: giving our little Anya a life filled with opportunities she’s never known before. Each has their own set of strengths and weaknesses in their relationship with her, making me ponder who among them is the superior parent. However, the beauty of this series lies not just in the answer to that question, but in the journey of understanding these two extraordinary individuals as they navigate parenthood together.

What Are Loid’s Strengths and Weaknesses?

What Does Loid Do Right?

Prioritizes protecting Anya
Provides Anya with discipline and structure
Can be controlling when it comes to Anya’s school work

Given that Loid was the first parent to Anya prior to his encounter with Yor, it’s reasonable to assume that he feels deeply connected to Anya and her wellbeing. This close bond, however, can create complications because at times, his focus might lean towards the mission rather than providing a fulfilling life for Anya.

Loid’s main flaws stem from his controlling tendencies, which are rooted in his spy background that demands intense focus on missions. He prioritizes Anya’s success at Eden Academy to prevent global war, which sometimes leads him to push her too hard with complex schoolwork, even when she’s struggling to grasp the concepts and appears stressed. This pressure can put a strain on their relationship. Additionally, Loid can be emotionally detached from Anya due to his past traumas and years spent as a spy without much emotional expression. He often finds it challenging to comprehend Anya’s feelings, making it difficult for him to interpret her actions accurately. With minimal experience in dealing with children and having lost his own childhood, he lacks references for understanding her emotions better.

Regardless of certain drawbacks, Loid demonstrates numerous strengths as Anya’s parent. His exceptional skills as a spy enable him to take almost any action needed for Anya’s security. Furthermore, Loid’s resourcefulness allows him to navigate even the most critical situations swiftly, even under pressure. Given that Anya frequently encounters unforeseen circumstances, Loid is always on guard to ensure her safety while fulfilling his own duties. Beyond ensuring her safety, Loid also establishes a structured environment for Anya, which benefits her significantly due to her psychic powers often causing distractions. With Loid’s support, Anya thrives in school and manages to comply with his guidelines. This stable environment offers Anya a sense of belonging and makes her feel like she finally has a genuine family home.

What Are Yor’s Strengths and Weaknesses?

What Does Yor Do Right?

Has a natural ability to care for children
Easily expresses emotions and allows Anya to do the same
Can have visible insecurities

Yor enters Anya’s world shortly following Loid, and they establish a sham marriage for mutual secrecy protection. Despite being a novice in parenthood, Yor appears to adapt swiftly.

It turns out that Yor demonstrates numerous caring qualities towards Anya, surprising even herself. She’s exceptionally nurturing, always figuring out ways to show affection and care for Anya, even during challenging times at Eden Academy. Anya seems incredibly relaxed in Yor’s presence and enjoys their time together.

Yor is an open-hearted individual who expresses her feelings openly, which helps Anya feel more comfortable with expressing her own emotions as well. Yor validates Anya’s feelings by acknowledging that being upset or worried are normal human experiences.

Moreover, Yor appears to have a natural knack for caring for children and forms a quick bond with Anya. It seems effortless for her to connect with and spend time with Anya.

Yor, like Loid, has some shortcomings too. Being a new mother, she lacks extensive experience, with only caring for her younger brother in the past. This inexperience means she’s unaware of many parenting standards and is still figuring things out as they come. Additionally, Yor grapples with insecurities about her role as an assassin, her friendships, her relationship with Loid, and her parenting responsibilities. These insecurities cause her to sometimes withdraw as a parent, which might make Anya feel worried that Yor may abandon her. However, it’s important to note that Yor doesn’t intend to make Anya feel this way; she can easily become absorbed by her own emotions and overlook how Anya feels in the process.

Who Is The Better Parent?

Who Supports Anya Better?

In contrast, although Yor and Loid both play crucial roles in Anya’s life, they approach their parenting styles differently. Loid often appears more distant and disciplinary, yet he consistently demonstrates his affection for Anya. Meanwhile, Yor focuses on creating a nurturing and empathetic environment for Anya, striving to make her feel secure and at ease.

It’s clear that this family is more about image than reality, but… despite that, there’s a part of me that yearns to be a better parent for that child… I may never measure up to a typical mother, but I’ll certainly strive to do my best with the resources at hand!

Despite both Loid and Yor being excellent parents to Anya, Yor has a slight advantage because she prioritizes ensuring Anya’s life is comfortable and joyful over the mission she’s involved in. Although Loid has grown better with time, he must continue to focus on Operation Strix, which can cause him to momentarily neglect Anya’s wellbeing for the sake of his duties. Nevertheless, both Loid and Yor provide Anya with a nurturing environment and make her feel like they are an authentic family.

Spy x Family is available to stream on Crunchyroll, Hulu, and Netflix.

2025-05-31 16:05