Parenthood – Recap & Review – Do Not Sleep With Your Autistic Nephew’s Therapist

photo: nbc

Parenthood
Do Not Sleep With Your Autistic Nephew’s Therapist

Original Air Date: Feb 22, 2011

Karen Belgrad- Associate Editor
Karenbelgrad
@thetwocentscorp.com

In real life, actions have consequences, but often in the world of television consequences are glossed over in favor of the next story. But Parenthood and the Braverman clan never shy away from fallout, which is a large part of what makes this show so engaging.

Tonight we begin the fallout of Crosby’s infidelity and Seth’s return, seeing how it truly affects those involved. And at the end of the hour, we are left with a revelation that leaves us viewers gasping from breath and anxiously awaiting next week’s episode.

To be honest with all readers, Chicago elected a new mayor tonight. And since I’m in the suburbs, and completely unaffected by this election, NBC-Chicago preempted the first fifteen minutes of tonight’s episode to announce Rahm Emmanuel’s victory. I was able to surmise much of what I missed from the remaining scenes, but please feel free to fill in any gaps for me!

Seth is still in town and it is clear Drew sees him through very rose colored glasses. He tries to win over Amber with a guitar and Sarah with a little help in the kitchen, but Amber has finally reached her limit. She goes off on Seth, releasing years of pent up frustration at his absence in her life. She vents that he doesn’t know her and was never there for her, she doesn’t believe he’s changed and is just the loser who has let her down. Mae Whitman completely sells it in this scene. Her anger comes across as disappointed resentment, but never veers into bratty or bitter. She’s just a kid who got a raw deal.

Drew is also angry, but his anger is directed at Sarah for letting Amber talk to Seth like that. He truly wants to see the best in his dad and is frustrated that nobody else wants to let him. Seth does the expected and visits Sarah at the bar to tell her he’s taking off for a tour. He downplays it, but actually asks her to say goodbye to the kids for him. Sarah has had it as well, and tells Seth that she’s sick of being able to blame him for everything that goes wrong and this time she doesn’t want to blame him. She insists he come by the next day, before school, to say goodbye to the kids in person.

And, surprisingly, he actually does. He tells Drew he’s proud of him. He apologizes to Amber and tells her she’s right. And then he thanks Sarah for making him say goodbye and tells her that he’s just a guitarist, but she’s the true talent behind his music as she wrote the best songs. And Lauren Graham’s amazing cry-face returns in the form of holding the tears back as they well up in her eyes. And at the end of the hour, Amber apologizes to Drew who, in turn, admits that a real dad doesn’t leave. As Sarah starts to write songs again, Amber plays the song from her dad’s show for Drew.

Sydney is now a vegetarian. Julia is trying to be a supportive mom, but an unaware babysitter Camille made Sydney’s old favorite, lasagna . During dinner, Sydney is also unimpressed with the seitan (pronounced Satan, yes) meal. Zeek issues an ultimatum of either the seitan or the lasagna, and a standoff is clearly in place. Julia goes to see Zeek and says she’s trying not to squelch Sydney’s spirit, but Zeek and then Camille both contend that she can’t give Sydney all the decision power. Zeek is very grateful that Camille had his back and shows his gratitude with a steamy laundry room kiss. And then Camille closes the door, mid-kiss, with her foot. Wow, when was the last time television showed Grandma and Grandpa getting frisky without it being a punchline?

And in the main fallout from last week was Crosby sleeping with Gaby. He’s consumed by guilt and rather quickly fesses up to Jasmine, who was feeling a little guilty for not bringing Jabbar to Max’s party. He tries to deflect some of his culpability by trying the whole “we were on a break” line of reasoning that failed Ross Geller so many years ago. But Jasmine is disgusted, revolted, and overwhelmed by his confession. She rails that he’s an a**hole, she’ll never forgive him, and he deserves nothing good in his life.

Meanwhile Gaby has quit her job as Max’s aide. Kristina tries to continue her work with Max, but isn’t able to attain the same results that Gaby had been achieving. After Max has a complete meltdown, she tries to tries to get Gaby to reconsider, but is flummoxed to learn about why she left. Kristina tells Adam, who really, really wants to punch Crosby in the face. Crosby shows up at their house, bemoaning the sorry state of his life. He doesn’t see how their losing a babysitter compares to how much he’s wrecked his life and insists he just screwed up this once, after being good for so long. But Adam doesn’t want to hear it, insisting that Crosby screws up over and over again. And he yells that Gaby wasn’t a babysitter, she was an Asperger’s aide for Crosby’s nephew.

At that point, they realize Max has overheard as he asks if he has Asperger’s and what it is.
Wow, it’s sometimes hard to remember that Max is still unaware of his condition as we, the viewers, have been so invested in it, his therapy, and his progress. But next week’s previews look to be truly heartbreaking as, based on executive producer Jason Katim’s experiences with his own son, Adam and Kristina have to answer Max’s hard questions.

So do you think that’s the last we’ve seen of Seth? And for that matter, will they explore Drew more and how he deals with his image of Seth being shattered? Where will Sarah’s songwriting lead her? And what will happen with Crosby and Jabbar’s relationship now that he’s lost Jasmine’s respect and trust? And will Joel and Julia get a story that doesn’t seem to play for comic relief? And are there any blanks to fill in from the first portion of the show I missed?

Well, those are my TwoCents! What are your TwoCents? Share your comments, thoughts, and feedback below!