During a recent episode of the new NBC show “Parenthood,” the patriarch of the family was jokingly reminiscing with his wife about a family trip they had taken years earlier when one of their children got sick and vomited on her. His wife painfully recalls the situation in a far more serious tone noting that she was washing out the vomit from her hair in a dirty disgusting gas station bathroom and her husband was amused. As she talks about the experience, her husband slowly realizes that he had hurt her by his casual response to the situation and that the memory was a painful one for her to recall. It was a subtle, small and powerful scene that showcases how NBC’s great new program “Parenthood” is able to capture real relationships and complicated people.
“Parenthood,” a television drama inspired by the 1989 film of the same name, focuses on a large, eclectic family like the film did. However, instead of going for laughs as the film did, the show focuses on the drama that come from being a parent. I watched the film “Parenthood” for the first time several weeks ago and enjoyed it. However, I am liking the television show a lot more because it’s less concerned with creating comedy and more interested in developing strong characters and great storylines.
The show revolves around the Braverman family, which is headed by a a strong couple: Zeek (played by Craig T. Nelson) and Camille (Bonnie Bedelia). The Braverman family includes Zeek and Camille’s children and their numerous grandchildren. One of the major storylines focuses on one of the grandchildren, Max, who was recently diagnosed with Asperger’s Syndrome. Max’s parents have a difficult time adjusting to the realization that their child is different than the other kids but ultimately they learn to adapt their life for him — to give him an environment where he can grow.
From the beginning , these characters were written as complex individuals whose problems are not solved in one hour. In the Max storyline, for example, his struggles are often seen on a weekly basis and you can see how the other family members adjust to this new reality. Max’s parents are extremely worried after their son is diagnosed and they are not sure what they can or should do for him. Max’s sister feels left out because of all of the attention focused on Max, something she has dealt with throughout her life. Max’s aunt sees her daughter acting a bit strangely and suddenly, she’s asking herself if her own daughter has Asperger’s as well. There is a strong family dynamic on this program that shows how each of these characters may be affected in small but subtle ways by what their other family members are going through.
Another storyline focuses on Zeek and Camille’s daughter Sarah (played by Lauren Graham) who has recently moved her family back home. Sarah is a single mom trying to create a new life for her and her children, and to do this she moves back in with her parents. In a recent episode, Sarah went out with her daughter’s English teacher, played by Jason Ritter. Upon learning that her daughter has a crush on this teacher, Sarah has to decide whether to continue dating him. After she tells her daughter about the relationship thinking that she can make it all work, she hears her daughter crying alone in her bedroom and she seems to come to the realization that in having more of a personal life, she would be hurting her daughter and decides that the relationship is not the price.
In addition to strong writing and interesting storylines, this show also has an extraordinary cast of stars in it. Peter Krause (“Six Feet Under”), Erika Christensen (“The Upside of Anger”) and the wonderfully talented Lauren Graham (“Gilmore Girls”). Additionally, the patriarch and the matriarch of the family are played by two strong performers: Craig T. Nelson (“Coach”) and Bonnie Bedelia (who you may recall played Bruce Willis’ wife in the first two “Die Hard” movies). Even the guest stars are strong actors, including Jason Ritter (“Joan of Arcadia”) and Minka Kelly (“Friday Night Lights”).
One of the few faults is that sometimes too many storylines are jammed into the short episodes. It is easy to become overwhelmed. However, the show grows on you if you are willing to invest time in following it. There are some weak minor plots on the show. For instance, did the show really need to dedicate time to focus on how much time one of the teenage boys spends in the bathroom? Does the show really need to focus on who is faking what in the bedroom? Such plotlines take away from the other much stronger family stories.
Overall though, “Parenthood” is a really great show and definitely worth checking out even if you’re not a parent.
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