Parenthood

[narm]

Hey mods, I did a search and couldn't find a thread on this show. Hope this is okay!

That said, am I really the only Greecie to watch this? I love this show! Some of it is completely implausible (why do NONE of the spouses, save Jasmine, have parents? Really, Bravermans?) It's been renewed for the fall season and I am so glad.

Anyone else watch?

[monopoly19]

I watch! I thought the most recent season was the best - just the right mix of drama and humour for me.

Can't wait 'til it starts again, particularly to see how Julia's new family addition is going.

[Mugsy]

I loved the movie and held my breath when the show began – knowing it could be awesome or awesomely bad. Fortunately, it’s great. The casting helps a lot.
My guess as to why the in-law kids "don’t have parents" (they probably do, they just don’t show them) is that the cast is already large enough. They also have few friends. Like most shows, if it focuses on family, there are no friends; if it’s all about friends, there is very little family. Too many characters.
That said, Kristina has dropped hints over the past three seasons that her childhood was less than idyllic, esp. this last season. Makes me wonder if they’re going to introduce some element of her family, at least for a temporary story arc.
Joel and Julia are my favourites, but I wonder about the wisdom of introducing an older boy so suddenly to their family, esp. for their daughter to adjust to. Not only has she lost her "only" status, she’s lost her "eldest" place too. That can be tough for some kids.

This show has been on the bubble of cancellation since it began, and it’s no wonder, the way the network treats it. I thought summer reruns were a time to check out shows you otherwise haven’t watched, maybe become a new fan, catch up on missed episodes. But they just dump it from the lineup for some reality crap and if you don’t watch it during the regular season, there’s no chance of randomly tuning in over the summer in the chance of picking up some more fans. So dumb.
(Oddly, I thought there was a thread for this show here.)

[narm]

That's true, Mugsy- as to why they don't have inlaws, etc, because the cast is already yuuge. I guess I just am sensitive- my hub's big family always eclipses my teeny one.

I am so glad to find other viewers! I initially started watching because of Peter Krause (hence the Six Feet Under inspired screen name) and am pleasantly surprised to really like his character. I HATED Nate towards the end of SFU. Mr. narm and I still refer to him as Nate Braverman, though. Ha!

As former CPS/child welfare, I am THRILLED to see the older foster storyline! They really did good there- no perfect squalling baby just ready for them. I cried at the finale.

I love the dialogue and really think it is one of the best-written shows on network television. I like how it is messy and not perfect. They started to lose me a bit with the drama of Amber's accident and whatnot, but I think they hit their stride this last season.

I love Kristina. I relate so much to her uptight ass, it's not even funny. Good point about summer reruns. I hate reality tv, and never watch.

[Deleted]

I adore this show, and I have to say, as the parent of a boy with Asperger's, they've done a great job with the Max stories. The one where the kids on the math team were making fun of him just gutted me; I swear I could have written that myself.

[narm]

It's back tonight! Who is gonna watch it with me!? Come on, peeps. It's a great show!

Newt, I am glad to hear that. Not about the teasing resonating with you--just that it seems to do a good job with its portrayal of the family and Max. I think it is so good to have a show that can portray things like Asperger's respectfully and accurately. I'm finishing my master's in Special Ed right now and I just think it is important to have some representation of families out there in pop culture. Sick of disabilities, intellectual and otherwise being reduced to a punchline. Hope you get to tune in!

Soooo...with Crosby and Jasmine being married and all, that means Minka Kelly won't be returning? My husband will be disappointed. Hope to see John Corbett soon. Or, CIM for old-timey FT/TWOP peeps...

[forever1267]

I love this show, too, and I don't have kids, and probably won't have them. It's just a really good family drama. It should have multiple Emmy nominations, especially Lauren Graham and Mae Whitman.

Was that guitarist boyfriend of Mae's from American Idol a few seasons ago, whose now married to someone from Twilight? I think his name was Paul, but he wasn't on the guest list. I did notice Jason Ritter is still on the guest list. Hmmm....

[Mugsy]

I do like this show, but I find so many of the characters unlikable in many ways. Lauren Graham is always great, but she gets way too much air time at the expense of other characters/stories I prefer, such as Julia and Joel.
Sarah flits around aimlessly and seems to fall into relationships and jobs situations constantly. Her fiance insists on being included in the family pic, but we know he won’t be around for long, given her history.
Amber takes after her aunt, hopping in the sack without a second thought to consequences. Adam gets over fatherly over a kid that’s not even his, and is an adult, and loses much needed business as a result.
Adam and Kristina don’t do a thing about Max’s horrible behaviour. Yes, he has Asbergers but he can be taught what is proper behaviour and what is not. Screaming fits in restaurants is not. And Kristina, other diners have every right to stink-eye your family for that. If you apologized or got up quickly to leave, it would be fine, but somehow it’s the other diner’s fault for "looking at you".
No wonder Haddie is so happy to move across the country.
I wish we had seen more about Victor’s adjustment to the family, and Sidney’s adjustment to suddenly having an older brother. Why does he get to bend the rules? That won’t go over well.
Crosby’s annoyance factor must be tied, Samson-like, to the length of his hair. Now that his hair is short, he’s not annoying. Let’s keep it that way.
Given all that, I do like this show and enjoy watching it, even though I find the Braverman clan exhausting.

[twodollars]

Sept 13, 2012 11:56:15 GMT -4 Mugsy said:

I do like this show, but I find so many of the characters unlikable in many ways. Lauren Graham is always great, but she gets way too much air time at the expense of other characters/stories I prefer, such as Julia and Joel.
Sarah flits around aimlessly and seems to fall into relationships and jobs situations constantly. Her fiance insists on being included in the family pic, but we know he won’t be around for long, given her history.

I wish we had seen more about Victor’s adjustment to the family, and Sidney’s adjustment to suddenly having an older brother. Why does he get to bend the rules? That won’t go over well.

I was just coming here to post this. Julia and Joel have the most interesting storyline and we so little of it. Instead we get endless episodes of Sarah reliving the same storylines - career problems and men problems. If it isn't that, it's Adam/Kristina's horrible parenting of Max. I really want to see how Julia, Joel, Victor and Sidney are doing as a family. Hope we get more of this in the next episodes.

[narm]

I agree about Joel and Julia's storyline. I think it is very well done and I am hoping to see even more. I got very teary when Julia sat outside the school the whole day.


I am kinda over Sarah. Is she gonna hook up with Everyone Loves Raymond? Because, ew.