Parenthood

[Mugsy]

Of course she will, because that’s what Sarah does. I don’t think she should, but I don’t think it’s "ew". They’re probably as close in age as Sarah is to Mark. Unless you mean "ew" because she sleeps with every guy she comes across.

I can’t believe Adam and Kristina would seriously consider getting a dog because A) they have enough to deal with already, B) a dog is not a substitute for a child who has left for college because that’s just weird and it’s not like she’s puttering around in an empty house, and C) Max needs to learn that he doesn’t get everything he wants just by howling loudly for it.

I also can’t believe those dog breeders would even consider giving them a dog after seeing the chaos it would be living with. Although maybe they just lied and told them the puppy they wanted had been sold. Heh.

Crosby is more tolerable, but still annoying. Oh yes, it’s so hip to be Mr. No Schedule, "I like to live life as it comes" guy, but life doesn’t work that way when you have other people to consider. Children need structure and boundaries; they do not need their dad turning up his nose at a nice salmon dinner to be Mr. Fun who has a craving for pizza. Ugh.

[forever1267]

I live in Los Angeles and the vast majority of my family lives in St. Louis, and tonight's episode really made me miss having family around everyday. This is the best show on TV that people are not watching.

[twodollars]

I love this show except for the Sarah storyline. I've decided that Lauren Graham must have it written into her contract that she gets a major storyline that is featured in every episode. Otherwise, there is no logical reason why her moronic triangle storyline is getting so much airtime. Julia and Joel have the most interesting storyline but get so little screentime. It's really annoying.

[Mugsy]

Well, J&J did get lots (for them) of screentime this week. Poor Julia; wouldn't there be some kind of parental leave when you adopt?

Although that baseball game was the worst kind of family TV nonsense I've ever seen. Victor can't hit a ball to save his life, but when he finally makes contact, he gets a homerun? The other team suddenly becomes clumsy and inept, not once but five or six or ten errors in a row? And no way would a relative be allowed to come on the field, much less yell at the coach. But it's Zeek, and he's a Braverman, so rules don't apply.

And of course Amber has to make goo-goo eyes at Zeek's veteran buddy. I'm sure she'll be sleeping with him by the end of the next episode.

[JeanBean]

I don't know why more people aren't watching this show, it's so good. But I really came here to say that last week my table at dinner was right near the girl who plays Hallie. She looks exactly the same in person, and her boyfriend is really, really good looking. They were hanging with a guy who I think was Piz from Veronica Mars.

[Mugsy]

Do you mean the girl who plays Haddie? Her hair is lightyears better this season.

I agree that this is a good show and am surprised by the lack of promotion, awards, viewers. What does it air against in the U.S.? That makes a difference.

I will also say that while I enjoy the show, the Braverman family irritates me quite often. They seem to have an entitlement complex that rules don't apply to them, and the writing is so choppy sometimes. Plots are introduced and dropped. There was a big deal about Max accusing Victor of stealing his lizard and viewers never knew what really happened. Then in this past ep, it was noted that Max was in his room playing with his lizard. No resolution.

Plus, I don't understand the finances in these families. Zeke had severe financial problems in that Adam had to help him with some sort of bad investment, and then a season later he buys an RV. What happened to his money problems, and what happened to his plans to travel in the RV?

Then Adam and Kristina have money problems so bad that they don't know if Haddie can go to college, and now they're investing in a new business, Kristina is able to be a SAHM now that the political assistant job has wrapped up and they casually talk about spending $1,000 on a dog. Makes no sense.

[granolamom]

Stupid DVR only recorded the first 46 minutes of last night's episode. Grrr.

I had anticipated that Kristina's storyline would verge into After School Special territory, but I think they're doing a good job with the ugliness of cancer. Adam busting in on Crosby's party to get some pot was clever.

[Mugsy]

Are you a week behind? That was last week's episode.

Max is a horrible person. It's my understanding, from reading TWOP, that showrunner Katims has a child with Aspergers and is trying to show the public how difficult it can be. However, it is also my understanding from TWOP (since I don't know anyone with Aspergers) that the show is doing a huge disservice, making Max look like a self-centred, sociopathic douche. Plus, his parents don't parent him properly; they don't explain in steps what is required of him (and follow through), and undermine each other at every opportunity.

[granolamom]

Yup, I was commenting on the last complete episode that I'd seen.

I just watched the end of this week's on Hulu, with Max and Kristina dancing. I agree that Adam and Kristina seem to know very little about parenting an Aspy kid, and in fact make choices that wouldn't be great for a neurotypical child, either. The focus always seems to be on how freaked out the parents are. Get over yourselves, Bravermans!

[narm]

I am just really kind of struggling with Kristina's storyline. It is just not easy to watch. I really don't watch tv- I watch this and Bill Maher, and then PBS kids shows. The cancer storyline is so hard. I think the actress does a very good job with it. I guess it is just not escapism for me. Still hits a bit close to home. F cancer in the dumb ear.

Interesting about TWOP. I haven't ventured over there in years. I may have to check out that thread, as I have heard parents of kids on the spectrum both praise and criticize the show. It's pretty compelling to me, but I do think they have made Max to seem pretty hard to deal with. The could throw the kid a bone here and there and show us some lovable stuff, too. Just like any teenager generally does.

I am so sick of Sarah Braverman and her stupid life choices. She had NO freaking business uprooting her son to move in with a guy. Yeah, I know they are engaged, and I know that she thinks this is what is gonna happen, but I am sick of her! The next episode looks so annoying. Ray Romano has actually grown on me (I could not stand his sitcom) and I no longer find him ew. But come on, Sarah, Patron Saint of Shitty Life Choices. If she is getting ready to get married and has gone so far as to make her son move, again, then Ray should have no impact on her. Besides, how is this guy any better than Seth? Seth is hot at least. She has a great guy that is pretty healthy and she doesn't need to "fix" him. Oh, her story has grown so thin.

And is it any wonder that her daughter has fallen right into her mom's codependent footsteps? Geez. The guy seems like a wonderful kid that has seen too much. I like how they address his issues, actually. But each guy (save maybe the politician and Jason Ritter) seems to exist only to show how flawed the relationship choices are for the women in that branch of the family tree. Which, I guess is valid. But Sarah- over it!