PARENTHOOD: Namaste No More

In a culture consumed with immediate gratification, we rarely think about the long-term consequences of our decisions. Whether you feast on the laughter elicited by an off-color joke, the bliss of ignoring financial hardships, or the warm affection of a new love, it is easy to ignore the consequences of building a legacy. Multiply these factors by the number of people in a large family, and there is no wonder we find so many ways to avoid eating dinner together!

In sticking with Parenthood’s mission to explore the family unit on all fronts, this week’s episode raised life altering questions for all three generations. This was tough to watch, but in the best way possible. This was not my favorite episode of the season, but I think it was the most powerful.

Bonnie Bedelia OWNED this hour of television. The term, “gravitas,” seems to have been retired in TV and film criticism, brought out of its shell only if Morgan Freeman is onscreen. It is time to revisit that practice and give Ms. Bedelia her due. As the matriarch of the Braverman clan, Camille was crushed by the weight of Zeke’s lies. As she glared across the table, waiting for her husband to come clean about their economic woes, I was captivated. Bedelia could teach a master class on nonverbal communication. The aftermath, informing Sarah about the “woman up north,” was noteworthy for being so simple. Without a teary build or wild gesticulations, a distinguished actress showed the audience what real life looks and feels like.

The dinner scene was absolutely brutal. Watching a family’s foundation implode is not a pretty sight. Wasn’t it touching, though, to see four siblings come together to protect their mother? Their intentions were not to embarrass their father, only to show that they were old enough to make adult decisions. Were it not for Dax Shepard’s amusing struggle to turn scripted lines into authentic sentiments, this story would have played out without a single laugh. Yet, I would not have changed a thing about it.

Lauren Graham is not playing the most responsible mother on TV, but she may be the most believable daughter. Sarah’s need for approval from her family, even as her age changes census brackets, fits her circumstances. Her siblings are succeeding in their work, and raising families with their partners. After jousting with her mother all season, especially after finding damning evidence of her father’s infidelity, Sarah rose to the occasion when the chips were down. By reaching out to Camille, then sharing the PhotoShop project that framed the Bravermans in the most positive light, the first daughter was the best child.

My biggest gripe with this episode is the angst surrounding Haddie, Amber, and Steve. Raising the topic of “the V card” is fair game, particularly for a 10pm primetime show. For me, the miscalculation was assuming that viewers thought of Haddie and Amber as particularly close friends. Before their brief conversation in this episode, I never saw them as confidants. Since they rarely share scenes, it was too soon to place a boy between them. Steve is ultimately irrelevant, both as a character and a symbol. The fights that will emerge from his courtship of Amber, however, would be more believable if the story had played out over a longer period of time.

Though I was not on board with the pacing of the story, I must acknowledge Sarah Ramos’ performance as Haddie. Every beat of Haddie’s story over the past few weeks, whether pestering Adam to let her date or dealing with Kristina over her mail-order bra, have felt like a young woman trying to grow up. When confronted with the very adult expectations of her hormonal boyfriend, Haddie reminded us why she is a smart and responsible girl. Rebuffing Steve’s advances by saying, “I’m not going to, like, ripen…like a piece of fruit,” Haddie lived up to her parents’ expectations to do the right thing. Unfortunately for Adam & Kristina, it would be out of character for their daughter to TELL them about it.

Finally, my TV girlfriend Erika Christensen put a brave face behind the “Victory is about having fun” message for ten minutes, before Racquel stirred her competitive spirit. I fully endorse Jabbar’s participation on the team, since we may see Jasmine and Julia get a chance to spend time together. Their approaches to life are vastly different, and that could lead to some very entertaining moments.

Before I turn the conversation over to you, a quick musical note. The closing song of the episode, “Live Forever,” was a perfect companion piece of Sarah’s class project, and was performed by Drew Holcomb & The Neighbors. You can find the song on iTunes or wherever you illegally download music.