Parenthood

[chitowngirl]

Jan 9, 2013 14:02:12 GMT -4 forever1267 said:

I just saw the Sex and the City episode where Miranda gets pregnant and decides to have the baby. Carrie and Samantha both mention they had had abortions but those happened pre-storyline. I can't remember the last time a TV character had an abortion on a show. Could it really be as far back as Maude?

Christina on Grey's Anatomy.

[Mugsy]

I actually liked Max, for once. That whole hygiene bit was hilarious. I wonder how many prigs were watching this "wholesome family show" and clutching their pearls with all the talk about wet dreams and pubic hair. And an abortion too!

Julia is a fail as a parent. Sydney was an easy child to raise; Joel did most of the work and Sydney had the benefit of two attentive parents. The entire family needs counselling so bad. Why should Victor call her "Mom" when he's being treated like a house guest.

And speaking of house guests... Renee? Stop it. Working for a non-profit all your life does not make you a saint. How can she be one paycheque away from homelessness? She lived in a house and is a renter; what about a lease? Where is all her stuff? She showed up at Jasmine's place with two suitcases. That plotline doesn't make much sense.

[narm]

Ugh, I peeked on the Parenthood FB page and my blood boiled. Like you said, lots of pearl clutching about the abortion. Then tons and tons of comments about how much Victor is a brat, they can't stand him, blah blah. Well, Paragons of Christian Love: guess what, kids suffer greatly when foster care is necessary, and it takes so much work and love to make it a success. Most of the time the kids will come with major trust issues, and it doesn't take a brain surgeon to try to understand why. I worked in child welfare and I love this story line. I loved that they got an older child, and they didn't just sail off into the sunset. Foster parenting and adopting is a commitment. No one said it would be easy. Then these same people offended by abortion (family values, y'all!) were yammering about sending him back to his "real mom." I just didn't even start. I just couldn't. I will be disappointed if Julia bails.

Renee's story is kinda common for the economy today, though...so many people have to rely on help family right now just to get by...and, (personal bias showing) I love that Crosby has to deal with inlaws! Instead of it being All Bravermen, All the Time. hah!

When Max had his first awesome line of the night, all my friends that I live-text the show with immediately started with a flurry of "Hi. I have pubic hair." messages. Bwah!

[forever1267]

Shirtless!Joel is always a good thing, and a rarity, too. Glad to see him again.

I did think we were going to finish this triangle, but from the previews, I guess we already have the answer.

Thanks for working with us, Drew. We won't need you again until, oh, we'll say November.

[Mugsy]

Come now, how can they make room for a shallow little storyline about teen pregnancy and abortion involving Drew, when they have to finish the season-long, life-and-death struggle of Max and his vending machine?

And I haaaaated that stupid scene at the end where the kids were throwing Skittles at Max. WTF? I thought it was a vending machine for healthy snacks. Even if they’re happy about the vending machine, why would kids throw Skittles at Max anyway? So lame and hokey.

[narm]

I can't stand Sarah, and I feel bad, but my dislike is bleeding over to Lauren Graham. Can't help it. Her facial expressions...bugging me.

The whole episode was kinda meh, besides going forward on Victor's adoption. I'm very, very glad they are going forward with it. I would have disappointed with the writers if they'd been all, 'Oh well, she tried!" and dropped Victor. I mean, you don't adopt from the system thinking it's going to be a road paved with rainbows. Which makes it just that much more of an incredible experience, IMO.

Yeah, I hope next year they lay off the Sarah stuff. I feel like Mark is being a dummy, and I'm annoyed at how he is blaming it all on Ray Romano.

Kristina better not die.

[Mugsy]

I really like Monica Potter, but I think it would be awesome if they killed off Kristina. Awesome in a ballsy way, not because of the ensuing storylines of Adam trying to cope with a toddler and a toddler-like teenager. And Haddie, whom they probably wouldn't tell about her mother's death until the school year was over so it didn't interfere with her studies. Plus, Adam would probably be sleeping with some new woman by Christmas. Can you tell I'm projecting the worst of PH here?

I loved the scene with Crosby and Julia at the restaurant. I forgot that he, too, had to instantly adjust to being a parent to an older child - and he doesn't have the "sorry, I can't" option that Julia has. It was a nice sibling scene and Crosby was actually helpful.

[Deleted]

The Skittles scene at the end confused me, too; I decided to think of it as an homage to the old Skittles commercials where it would rain down Skittles.

I love this show, and I adored the scene with Crosby and Julia at the end. I feel like Julia is a pretty thankless character, but that scene made her likable.

[narm]

Finally got to watch the season finale. It felt like the series finale. I read an interview with the head writer and he said as much- that it could be the series finale if necessary, since dramas like this are always in renewal limbo- or that it could be just the season finale if it is picked up for another season. I get annoyed with the Bravermans but I cried and cried during the adoption scene, and when Kristina was cleared. I did not, however, cry when Sarah was on.

I hope it comes back, but if it doesn't, I feel satisfied with the resolution of pretty much everything.

[Mugsy]

I really liked the final(e) episode; hopefully, it’s renewed. There’s a lot that annoys me about the writing, but a lot that I like as well.
Max was tolerable, even amusing, for once, even though he was acting aspie. I wish that’s how the writers had portrayed him all along – with a few major issues here and there – rather than the screaming fits and rants that made so many viewers hate any scene he was in. It probably did a disservice to Asperger’s awareness, which I think was the opposite intention.
Glad to see Sarah ended up with "none of the above". If the show comes back, I hope she stays that way for a while, concentrating on herself for a while. Maybe find a career that isn’t connected to a man or a family member, focus on her kids for more than a second.
I wish Haddie had been brought back, even for one quick scene. Even a quick Skype with her parents, reveling in the good news about Kristina’s cancer and Victor’s adoption.