Grade: 89%
NBC’s PARENTHOOD returns this week with
“Family Portrait.” Picking up five months after where last season left
off, which makes sense, since it ended in late February, the Braverman
clan gather to take a picture together. As one might expect, the road to
get there is a little rocky, but it all comes together in the end, and
there are some fantastic snapshots to show for it. Which doubles as a
great summary of the series, too.
Sarah (Lauren Graham) is upset because
Camille (Bonnie Bedelia) won’t let Mark (Jason Ritter) into the picture,
even though they are engaged. The couple has not set a date yet, and
Mark hasn’t even put a ring on her finger yet, so one might understand
Camille’s hesitance, especially when there is a cautionary tale
involving Crosby (Dax Shepard) already in the family’s history. But
engaged means something, right?
Well, maybe not. Ritter is still only a
recurring player, and PARENTHOOD quickly introduces someone else with
their eye on Sarah, played by Ray Romano (Everybody Loves Raymond, Men
of a Certain Age). Ray is a grumpy guy who has been hurt, but may come
out of his shell a bit for Sarah. Plus, he has great chemistry with Drew
(Miles Heizer), and also more age appropriate, as Mark shows some
immaturity when dealing with the picture situation. No one wants to see
Ritter leave, but if he does, it’s nice to know someone as fantastic as
Romano is waiting in the wings to take his place. He is good in episode
one, much, much better in episode two.
Adam (Peter Krause) and Kristina (Monica
Potter) face their own impending departure as it’s time for Haddie
(Sarah Ramos) to leave for college. Interestingly, Ramos continues to be
listed as a main character, though she is absent from episode two, and
there haven’t been any hints that the series might follow her to school.
Whether she comes back a lot or a little, PARENTHOOD handles her
leaving, withd all the pressures and mixed emotions that go with it, as
wonderfully as one has come to expect from the show. Even better, these
things continue for her parents into the second episode of the season in
a very cute way.
Julia (Erika Christensen) is in a
completely different stage of parenthood, still walking on egg shells
around her newly adopted son. While Joel (Sam Jaeger) is ready to start
treating the boy normally, as Sydney (Savannah Paige Rae) doesn’t
understand the special circumstances so well, Julia is so afraid that he
won’t be comfortable with them that she goes overboard in trying to
make him feel accepted and welcome. Who is right? The answer may
surprise you.
Things are not all peaches for the
fourth Braverman offspring, either. Crosby and Jasmine (Joy Bryant) seem
like a solid couple now, but that doesn’t mean that they don’t still
have challenges. Crosby slipped back into less domesticated ways during
their time apart, and getting back into the swing of things will not be
easy. He may want to be a great husband, and he’ll try, but that doesn’t
mean he can do everything that he wants to do. Look for a shifting
balance here as the couple figures out what a mature marriage looks
like. Frustrating for Crosby, it looks a lot like what Adam and Kristina
have, though surely this younger pair will find their own way to do it.
The other story of note in “Family
Portrait” belongs to Amber (Mae Whitman). When last we saw her, she made
a very adult decision, picking a possible career over a boyfriend. In
the first episode back, she makes the mistake of sleeping with a guy who
is otherwise involved. Adam rushes to her rescue, his feelings about
Haddie possibly clouding his judgment. What is impressive is the way in
which Amber deals with the situation, showing how much she has grown.
Her maturation has been a true pleasure to watch, and seeing her enter
the real world with grace and good decision making skills is terrific.
Overall, “Family Portrait” feels a
little long, possibly because it takes time to catch up with the
Bravermans, for whom much time has passed. But by episode two, things
are flying by again, even if a little forced, somewhat over the top
drama is tossed in late in the second episode. Bottom line, television’s
favorite, heart warming family is back with the same quality of heart,
humor, and realism fans have come to expect. It feels good.
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