Parenthood – Recap & Review – I Hear You, I See You

photo: nbc

Parenthood
I Hear You, I See You

Original Air Date: Sep 14, 2010

Karen Belgrad – Associate Staff Writer
karenbelgrad @thetwocentscorp.com

Parenthood is the little show that shouldn’t have, but, thankfully, did. Last season was delayed due to Maura Tierney’s illness, but in the end provided us with the stellar Lauren Graham. A second season didn’t seem likely with faltering ratings, but NBC stuck by it. And an episode about driving, lojack shoes, skype sex, and a leaky roof shouldn’t be interesting, but it was!

Welcome back to season two of the Braverman family! A cast of fifteen characters can be easy to lose track of, so let’s list this out by who did what this week!

Sarah, Adam: Sarah’s still on the job hunt for something more fulfilling than bartending. Her work history is thin and her career wardrobe is lacking. (That yellow/gray floral dress was the ugliest outfits I’ve seen Lauren Graham in and I watched seven years of Gilmore Girls.) Adam is suffering at work because his family is seemingly taking constant priority. His boss Gordon (played by the strange-line-delivery guest star William Baldwin) is pressuring him to step up and put his work on the front burner.

Sarah’s offhand comment about a shoe with a tracking device (lojack) becomes Adam’s successful pitch to Gordon and Sarah is peeved. After a little back and forth, Sarah asserts herself (with a little Zeke guidance) to wanting to claim her idea. Adam fesses up to Gordon, who could not care less, and then manages to get Sarah a paid design internship. (We’re all happy to know that nepotism is still alive in this economy!)

Joel, Julia: At the playground, Sydney asks the question that all parents dread, albeit with more interesting phrasing: Did I come out of your vagina? Joel shrinks for the question, but Julia steps right up and confirms that the whole family came out of vaginas. Throughout the hour, Sydney continues to ask questions and Julia continues with the technical medical answers. Later, Julia ascertains that she has to handle this because Sydney is a girl. Joel questions if he’d be responsible for a boy. This offhand remark puts Julia into boy-baby-making mode. Joel looks terrified.

Crosby: Crosby’s been going back and forth to New York to visit Jasmine and Jabbar. They plan a visit but she has to cancel at the last minute for an audition. They attempt Skype sex. Crosby’s computer freezes. Their chemistry is cute, but I prefer Crosby interacting with his siblings or Jabbar. Dax Sheppard has actually become quite charming (in a daffy way) in this role.

Haddie, Kristina: It’s drivers ed time in the Braverman house. And, wow, is Kristina the most anal teacher ever. Her constant needling ultimately causes havoc when Haddie finally gets onto a real street, but it’s all a mask for her fear of her children being hurt and growing up. Haddie’s teenage indignation was right on point and expressed beautifully.

Haddie, Max: This portion really shined for me. Max Burkholder’s portrayal of the youngest Braverman is heartbreaking and poignant without going over the top. Haddie’s fluctuation between being a normal teenage sibling and sensitive to her brother’s Asperbergers is beautifully represented. Her giving him his sleepover after Jabbar couldn’t make it was sweet, but not saccharine

Zeke, Joel: When the roof begins leaking at the patriarchal Braverman home, Zeke leaps into repair man mode. However, like a TV dads, he has a long history of making problems worse. Joel is a licensed contractor who has become a stay-at-home-dad due to the economy. Zeke undermines Joel, who eventually has enough and stands up to him. The two come to a mutual understanding and even bond a little!

Camille, Zeke: The grandparents are now in couples counseling. The oft-repeated-by-Zeke mantra is apparently: I hear you, I see you, and I’m breathing. He’s trying to keep his temper and arrogance in check. I’m still wishing we could get to know Camille a little more.

Line of the evening:

Haddie: Do you guys have some stupid agreement about not acknowledging each others flaws?

Adam: Yeah, it’s called marriage.

I truly enjoy how this show can take such minute family items, but bring them all together for an enjoyable hour of television. It’s not perfect, but what family is?

But, out of curiosity… Is Zeke living back with Camille? If not, where does he live? Is the name Haddie short for something? Wasn’t Crosby going to move to New York at the end of last season? Why were Amber and Drew so quiet this hour? And, most importantly, when did Billy Baldwin become William Baldwin?

Those are my TwoCents! What are your TwoCents? Share your comments and feedback below!

Next: No Good Deed