So Brian and I have been watching the TV series Parenthood. The fact that we look forward to it each week says something since we are not really your TV buffs. There are very few programs on that we value enough to set apart time during our week to watch But this series is definitely one of them. If you haven't watched it or are behind, you can catch it on Hulu.
The show is about family. It's about immediate and extended family. It deals with boundaries and sibling rivalry; with allegiance and devotion to one's own family. It shows the parents as both parents and kids themselves; as siblings within a greater family and as heads of their own family. It captures all family dynamics- there's a single mom, a stay-at-home mom, an executive mom, a stay-at-home dad, a young dad who is parenting for the first time, and a 9-5 dad who constantly puts in hours to fill the void that his nieces and nephews have. The kids include a rebellious teen, a social misfit, a "perfect" child, and an autistic child. The shows demonstrates that no one has arrived. That learning goes in all directions. The autistic child is as much a teacher as the grandparent. The strength in marriage doesn't necessarily come from years. Strength in identity doesn't necessarily come from ideal living situations. The series allows you to see growth in each character but still includes glimpses of each character's humanity. Every episode reveals something new about a character that constantly shapes your conception of him/her.
I really enjoy watching because there is a great sense (in every single episode) of struggle and of redemption. It's not the predictable "always end in victory" type series. There is definitely realistic baggage that you see intertwined simply for the fact that families are complicated!The show is about family. It's about immediate and extended family. It deals with boundaries and sibling rivalry; with allegiance and devotion to one's own family. It shows the parents as both parents and kids themselves; as siblings within a greater family and as heads of their own family. It captures all family dynamics- there's a single mom, a stay-at-home mom, an executive mom, a stay-at-home dad, a young dad who is parenting for the first time, and a 9-5 dad who constantly puts in hours to fill the void that his nieces and nephews have. The kids include a rebellious teen, a social misfit, a "perfect" child, and an autistic child. The shows demonstrates that no one has arrived. That learning goes in all directions. The autistic child is as much a teacher as the grandparent. The strength in marriage doesn't necessarily come from years. Strength in identity doesn't necessarily come from ideal living situations. The series allows you to see growth in each character but still includes glimpses of each character's humanity. Every episode reveals something new about a character that constantly shapes your conception of him/her.
I hope you get a chance to check it out. Ok... there's my plug!
2 comments:
We love that show!! (and so do my parents!)
I absolutely LOVE that show! Love the characters and the family interaction. Great season finale!
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