Parenthood – Recap & Review – Seven Names

photo: nbc

Parenthood
Seven Names

Original Air Date: Oct 26, 2010

Karen Belgrad – Associate Staff Writer
Karenbelgrad
@thetwocentscorp.com

Parenthood often straddles the line between drama and comedy. Even at its most heartfelt, it likes to throw the viewers a silly exchange to make things a little lighter in its most serious of episodes.

But when the show strives for an almost entirely emotional hour, it can offer up a poignant, tear-inducing hour of television. There are no clear cut villains in the Braverman universe. But there are double sided struggles that have us trying to decide who to root for. Can you imagine rooting for the man doing the layoffs?

Adam: Adam’s workplace is in trouble. Furloughs and budget reconstruction won’t do, according to Gordon, there has to be seven people fired. Adam struggles with whom and how to fire people he cares about, but knows it has to be done. He practices with Kristina, at which point the sometimes wise beyond her years Haddie advises him that he can’t cry. He can’t ask these people to car about his emotions while he’s firing them. He does the firing, but is clearly drained by episode’s end.

Haddie: Haddie is volunteering at a soup kitchen to put it on her college application. She’s dumbfounded that the volunteer coordinator Alex isn’t in awe of her volunteerism. However, he’s just familiar with her type of motives, as he actually grew up eating at the soup kitchen. He’s terse with her, but I sense a date in her future.

Sarah: Gordon is still in pursuit of Sarah, even asking her to jet off on an impromptu Los Angeles trip. Being the mom she is, she declines, but still plans to go out with him in the future. She tells Adam, but seems taken aback that he doesn’t think it’s a good idea.

Amber: Amber broke my heart this week. Sarah grounds her for last week’s frat party shenanigans and insists that Kelsey’s mom be told. Amber begs Sarah not to tell her, but she ends up doing so anyways. In a heart wrenching scene, Amber informs her that Kelsey’s mom thinks that Amber is the bad influence and has forbidden them to hang out. Amber cries that she’s lost her only friend and is lonely. Sarah understands, but the damage is done.

Crosby: Crosby and Jasmine are engaged! And Jabbar is happy there will be cake, but otherwise indifferent. Crosby worries about his lack of excitement, but Adam reassures him that Jabbar is only six and it’s not a big deal. Crosby is feeling the nerves, but Adam reassures him that everything he didn’t know he wanted, he’s found with Jasmine. They announce the engagement to his family, and amid toasts all around, Jabbar is finally happy… that he’ll get to wear a tux!

Julia: Joel’s taken a week-long job remodeling a bathroom. But because he and Julia didn’t talk it through in advance, she ends up frazzled as he shirks all of the parenting duties he’d previously been responsible for. Understandably to him it’s only a week and she needs to bend, but her harsh point about the money she makes as a lawyer is stinging, but valid. I know they want to actively parent Sydney, but it’s high time they looked into after school day care! Joel clearly needs to work to feel like an equal partner, so they need to communicate better and come up with a plan!
There wasn’t much lightness in this hour, but I did enjoy Kristina telling Haddie to punch the rude Alex in the groin, Zeek giving Sydney friend chicken to Julia’s chagrin, or Haddie giving Max synonyms for “wrecked” (drunk) as it definitely confused him. But at the same time, it felt strange to not have much in the way of levity. And once again, Drew doesn’t speak…Do we need an online petition to get the character more screen time?

So those are my TwoCents for this week’s episode! What were your TwoCents? Share your comments and feedback below!