So I have been highly anticipating the return of Parenthood this week. I've subscribed to their Facebook page, so I've been getting notifications/updates throughout the summer. This episode dives right into things. "Dives" is probably an understatement. It picks up on about 15 different character storylines since last season's finale and pushes the time frame forward a couple of months - as if our two summers have been spent apart, missing our weekly time together for quite some time. Awww...
There weren't too many big issues in this episode, although Haddie's leaving for college and Mark's reaffirmation of his relationship status were heavily weighed. Haddie's overwhelming feeling came right through the screen. I felt embarrassment, suffocation, and empathy for this character throughout the episode. What hit home further was the continued invalidation from Max regarding his feelings (for anyone) and the diner scene in which the family can't seem to have a normal dinner without something erratic happening. However, I was more than happy for Haddie to leave the rest of the Braverman's... mostly to save her sanity, but also character-wise, this one needed a break. Not sure how much of an appearance she will make this season but maybe Drew's storyline will pick up a bit more.
Sarah and Mark's storyline fit well with the episode, but the introduction of Hank was a bit odd in that Sarah asks for job - hasn't she had like 5 of those during the progression of this series? What will she be next, a lawyer? The editor of the city's newspaper? It seems as if she is the jack of all trades in this family - one that allows for the latest recurring guest star to just start out of nowhere. So yeah, that's how I feel about that one. However, I liked the scene with Mark appearing at Camille and Zeek's house to argue for his placement in the family portrait!
Other than this, the storylines were minor, yet continuations of the previous episode. What really left us wanting to know more was the addition of Victor into Julia and Joel's household. We learned one tidbit: it seems to have been difficult for Julia and Victor to connect. Her line near the end summed it up the entire situation: I feel like I waiting to love him. (This is one of the fantastic qualities of the show - it can be so convoluted in dialogue but the underpinning storylines are simple).
Crosby and Jasmine's storyline with Jabbar also felt out of place for an opening episode. I felt "meh" about the whole thing and would have much preferred the focus to be on the fact that this family just reunited some weeks earlier!
Amber vs. Adam was only appropriate because Adam was dealing with the loss of Haddie. He will always be that embarrassing father figure - so please keep that in mind if you (a) work for him and (b) sleep with people he knows. One thing that I felt was completely missing was how Amber ended up working at the studio...
Finally, Amy appears to becoming distant with Drew. The whole situation was very vague (then again there was three scenes for this tidbit storyline), but it appears this relationship may also be in danger of ending - she looked very apprehensive about meeting near the end.moreless
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Episode Summary
EDITBefore Haddie leaves home for college, the Bravermans gather to take a family portrait. Meanwhile, Adam, Kristina and Max all have a hard time adapting to Haddie going away. Meanwhile, Julia and Joel don't know how to react to the behavior of their newly adopted son and worry about the future of their family. Newlyweds Jasmine and Crosby disagree on how to teach Jabbar about spiritual beliefs. Mark wants to prove to Sarah that he can commit himself to her by changing a family tradition, while she tries to show photographer Hank Rizzoli that she is worth something. Also, Amber tries to get a new job at the recording studio.
morelessTV.com Episode Review
Parenthood's Season 4 Premiere: Who Will Survive and What Will Be Left of Them?
Sometimes you watch Parenthood and you wonder how different the Bravermans really are from, say, the Manson Family or that close-knit brood from The Texas Chain Saw Massacre.
By Nick Campbell, Sep 12, 2012
 Savannah Paige Rae |
Sydney Graham |
 Dax Shepard |
Crosby Braverman |
 Craig T. Nelson |
Zeek Braverman |
 Peter Krause |
Adam Braverman |
 Erika Christensen |
Julia Braverman-Graham |
 Mae Whitman |
Amber Holt |
 Sarah Ramos |
Haddie Braverman |
Recurring Role |
 Jason Ritter |
Mark Cyr |
Recurring Role |
 Ray Romano |
Hank Rizzoli |
Recurring Role |
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Mae Whitman, Jason Ritter, Lauren Graham...
© 2012 NBCUniversal, Inc. -
Dax Shepard, Joy Bryant, and Tyree Brown...
© 2012 NBCUniversal, Inc. -
Monica Potter and Peter Krause in Parent...
© 2012 NBCUniversal, Inc. -
Craig T. Nelson, Erika Christensen, Laur...
© 2012 NBCUniversal, Inc.
Trivia, Notes, Quotes and Allusions
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TRIVIA (1)
ADD TRIVIA-
The opening credits have been edited to include Xolo Mariduena (Victor) who becomes a series regular with this episode. Then-regular-now-recurring Sarah Ramos (Haddie Braverman) does not appear in the opening credits anymore.
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QUOTES (3)
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Julia: (To Joel about Victor) I feel like I'm waiting to fall in love with our son.
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Crosby: (Talking to Jasmine about church) If you don't have that belief, you're not gonna be a part of that community... and I don't want my son to be a part of some club that I'm not a member of.
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Haddie: I love you, Max.
(Haddie waits for a reply)
Haddie: Max, I said I love you.
Max: Yeah. Thanks.
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NOTES (2)
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Music Featured:
-Just As Loud by Paul McDonald.
-Corner by Allie Moss.
-Call Me The Breeze by Beth Orton.
-Amen by Rocco DeLuca.
-A Little One by Peasant.
-Counting Stars by Paul McDonald.
-T-Bone Shuffle by T-Bone Walker. -
Original International Air Dates:
Canada: September 11, 2012 on Global.
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ALLUSIONS (0)
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