Riverdale is not known for its excellent parents. While there are a few exceptions, Hiram Lodge and Penelope Blossom are not on the list. Instead, they may be two of the worst parents in the series. Their actions are entirely selfish and seem to exist for only a small amount of motivation. Even though they portray their worst qualities in different ways, that does not make either of them a better parent or person.
While Hiram Lodge used his influence to manipulate everyone and slowly buy up everything in Riverdale, Penelope had a different approach. Penelope was more directly awful to Cheryl as a parent than she was a menace on the town. Yet, Penelope did take a swing at putting all the of Riverdale in jeopardy anyway.
Hiram: Competition With Veronica
Hiram and Veronica have been locked in a duel to the death since Hiram arrived to Riverdale. Ever since, Hiram has done all he could to gain control of the small town in any way he could.
Eventually, instead of trying to change her father, Veronica went up against him. They fought for control in every situation, never wanting the other to gain a leg up. Their rum competition showcases how far they are each willing to go. Their relationship has taken several hits along the way, making things for them always challenging and unforgivable.
Penelope: Favoring Jason
Given that Jason is already dead when Riverdale starts, it says something when Penelope could not find it in her to be kind to Cheryl, still treating her as a disappointment. In her mother's eyes, Cheryl could never be as good as Jason, and Penelope made sure to remind her of that continually.
Penelope was in a bad place after Jason's death, but she had made it clear that things had not been much different when Jason was alive. He was always the favorite in the house. A parent should never favor one child over another, but Penelope was not winning any parenting awards anyway.
Hiram: Everything With Archie
Hiram enjoys having Archie under his wing at first, and then their relationship transforms into a rivalry. When Archie finally decides to come out from under Hiram's thumb, Hiram does not make it easy for him. He hunts Archie down when he runs away and even gets him arrested for a murder Archie did not commit.
They have each tried to kill each other at different points in the series. Hiram quickly does this even knowing that Archie is Veronica's boyfriend. While they do make a truce, their relationship does not make much sense afterward.
Penelope: Gargoyle King
Penelope Blossom took advantage of Riverdale's death toll to add a few more names to the list. As the Black Hood had already killed several people, Penelope took the opportunity to follow up right behind him, bringing to life the Gargoyle King. The Gargoyle King was meant to be a figure from the game Gryphons and Gargoyles.
The character would tell the players of the game when it was time to ascend, encouraging them to kill themselves. Penelope had brought the game back to Riverdale years after she played it with FP, Alice, Hiram, and Hermione when they were teenagers.
Hiram: The Way He Treats People
Hiram Lodge tends to treat people as if they are a pawn in his game. He watches all the pieces scattered about trying to determine the endgame that he already has in motion. Hiram uses the technique as he buys various places in Riverdale, including South Side High. To get what he wants, Hiram discusses exposing Sierra McCoy's affair with Tom Keller. He shows up to Jughead's funeral even though Hiram had the Ghoulies nearly kill Jughead earlier in the show.
Hiram turns on Hermione as well, even though he has done bad things to her too. Yet, the person Hiram treats the worst may be Veronica.
Penelope: Attempting Murder On Teenagers
After Penelope revealed her place as being the mind behind the Gargoyle King, she had one more trick up her sleeve. Penelope sent Archie, Jughead, Betty, and Veronica into the woods to play a live-action version of Gryphons and Gargoyles. With actual life or death stakes, the teenagers are forced to participate.
Penelope's goal was for another member of the Midnight Club to understand the pain of losing a child, just as she had when Jason died. However, while Penelope was unable to kill any of the teenagers successfully, she did murder, Hal Cooper, in front of Betty.
Hiram: Never Mentioning Another Child
Veronica was more than surprised when Hiram introduced her to his other daughter, Hermosa. While Riverdale seems to be filled with secret siblings, Veronica was never aware of the possibility that she could have one.
Yet, Hiram had been interacting with Hermosa for her entire life. While Hermosa has been loyal to Hiram, Veronica has not been his biggest fan, and this did not do their relationship any good. Even if Hiram saw no need to introduce Veronica to Hermosa, he still could have let Veronica know she had a half-sister.
Penelope: Emotionally Abusive To Cheryl
Penelope Blossom never complimented Cheryl. Instead, she always went out of her way to do the opposite. Penelope considered Cheryl to be vile, cruel, vindictive, and troubled.
Yet, Penelope does not see those qualities to be a bad thing in herself. Penelope and Cheryl have a nasty relationship throughout the series, but Penelope tends to be the one to push it further in a negative direction. Penelope had mistreated Cheryl over the years that Cheryl decided to be emancipated to get away from her mother. In the agreement, Cheryl also took the house to share with Nana Rose.
Hiram: Everything He Does In Riverdale
As a businessman, Hiram is already shady. However, he allows his business ventures always to affect Veronica's life. Instead of wishing to leave her out of it, Hiram seems to get a kick out of their rivalry. He wanted Hermione to become Mayor so that Hiram would have someone on the inside to help him.
He hired his own Sheriff that would do whatever he wanted. Hiram did whatever he wanted to the small town, and everyone else had to sit by and live with it because as much as they fought him, Hiram still held all the power.
Penelope: Sending Cheryl Away
Fans were not happy with Penelope's decision to send Cheryl away to the Sisters of Quiet Mercy. They loathed Penelope, even more, when they realized they realized that Penelope had sent Cheryl to go through gay conversion therapy, a truly abhorrent fate. Penelope was willing to put her daughter through this kind of torture without blinking.
Penelope had always been cruel to her daughter, but this was another level that was even more brutal. While Penelope may have had it in her to love her son, none of Penelope's actions make it seem like she had even the smallest amount of love for Cheryl.