Netflix Instant Pick of the Week: Parenthood

Nov 1, 2011 by Shelby    9 Comments    Posted under: Boob Tube, Chickster Crush, Netflix Instant Pick of the Week

As much as I love watching movies, I somehow manage to love TV shows even more. Maybe it’s because it’s so easy to marathon. Maybe it’s because I’m a serial monogamist who loves seeing characters develop over many episodes and seasons. Or maybe it’s just because some of the best storytelling over the last decade has been on the small screen. For any TV lover, “Parenthood” is the perfect comfort food. I don’t think there’s a single other show on TV right now that is so emotionally cathartic, week in and week out, and so accurate in its portrayal of family life. “Parenthood” is the kind of show that can break your heart and put it back together again within 40 minutes.

Centered on the Braverman clan in Berkeley, California, the show stars TV favorites Lauren Graham (“Gilmore Girls”) and Peter Krause (“Sports Night,” “Six Feet Under”) as adult siblings Sarah and Adam Braverman, respectively, alongside their younger siblings Crosby (Dax Shepard) and Julia (Erika Christensen). Each of the four Braverman kids has their own kids now, but even if you don’t have kids yourself (and I don’t), you will recognize yourself in at least one of the relationships on this show, whether it is in Sarah’s rebellious daughter Amber (poignantly played by Mae Whitman, she of Ann “Her?” Veal fame from “Arrested Development”) struggling to connect with her mom or having a creatively eccentric grandmother like Braverman matriarch Camille (Bonnie Bedelia). From the inane strife that always accompanies family holidays to asking yourself how you could be related to so many crazy people, “Parenthood” effectively touches on truths universal to all families.

There isn’t a single main character on “Parenthood” I don’t adore, and the show is just unceasingly warm and touching. I’m sure a lot of that is due to showrunner Jason Katims, who previously served as the showrunner of the amazing “Friday Night Lights” and also wrote for the emotionally resonant “My So-Called Life.” From the pitch-perfect choice of Bob Dylan’s “Forever Young” as the theme song to the rich production design of every character’s home, “Parenthood” does exactly what good TV should do — create a space where you want to be for however long you’re watching, whether it’s one 40-minute episode or a day-long marathon.

The first two seasons of “Parenthood” were added to Netflix Instant last month, and the third season is currently airing on NBC and available on Hulu.

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Tags: Boob Tube, Chickster Crush, craig t. nelson, friday night lights, Gilmore Girls, jason katims, lauren graham, my so-called life, netflix, netflix instant, parenthood, peter krause, roswell, sports night

9 Comments + Add Comment

• 
  Shelby November 1, 2011 at 5:13 pm

  Also, I meant to add that I never thought I would be able to see Lauren Graham as anyone but Lorelai Gilmore, but she completely embodies Sarah Braverman, imbuing her with a vulnerability and lack of confidence that Lorelai never had. And I actually like her “Parenthood” daughter, Amber, better than Rory.
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  Cynthia November 2, 2011 at 9:37 am

  Television always does have way better character development, although I have a hard time picturing Lorelai as anyone else!
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  Shelby November 2, 2011 at 9:41 am

  She is totally great on this show, and her relationship with her son and especially her daughter is heartbreaking and touching. Although it is a little ridiculous that her character is surprised every time a man is interested in her, and so far, every single guy she’s met on the show has been interested in her, because, duh, she looks like Lauren Graham!
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  kelly November 2, 2011 at 4:02 pm

  I agree that the best character development happens on TV. And I’m so glad to hear that I have something new to watch now that I’ve caught up on Parks and Rec.
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  Shelby November 2, 2011 at 9:54 pm

  Ooh yes, please watch so we can discuss. I am halfway through S2 right now. And did you fully catch up with Parks and Rec on Hulu for this season? Last week’s Halloween ep was pretty great.
• 
  Kelly November 4, 2011 at 12:02 pm

  I am completely caught up on Parks and Rec and loved the Halloween episode and last night’s. “Where are all the faces of all the presidents?” Hee hee hee.
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  janea (2brokelagirls @ blogspot) February 9, 2012 at 1:19 am

  I cannot wait until season three is available on Netflix! I marathoned the first season in one day (can you tell I loved it??). I had to spread out season two over a few weeks but I really wanted to just watch it all at once! You are so right about them breaking your heart and putting it back together again (nicely put!).

  I’m trying to get everyone I know to watch this show so that it lasts as long as it can!
• 
  Shelby February 9, 2012 at 11:15 am

  Thanks, Janea. I can’t wait for season three to come to Netflix either. I think the season ends this month, so hopefully we won’t have to wait too long!