Parenthood begins season two a little lighter

     This past Tuesday, NBC's Parenthood returned for a second season. A surprise hit after a rocky start, the show has already received a 22-episode order, making this season a full one for the charming family drama. Season one ended with some heavy issues, and while those things have not gone away, the season premiere avoids being too depressing or melodramatic.

     The funniest moment in this week's episode came when young Sydney (Savannah Paige Rae) asked her parents, Julia (Erika Christensen) and Joel (Sam Jaeger), if she came out of a vagina, and if they did, too. She became obsessed with the whole concept of where babies came from. I thought it was just an amusing couple of scenes as the couple awkwardly tried to explain things to their daughter, but the plot then developed into Julia's desire for another child, and Joel's reaction against the idea. It's writing like this that elevates Parenthood above other shows in the way they manage to seamlessly intertwine the comedy and the drama.

     The most moving scenes came from Hattie (Sarah Ramos), who seems to be leaving behind the rebellious phase she went through last season. After knocking the mirror off her parents' minivan while her mother, Kristina (Monica Potter), was trying to teach her to drive, Hattie really stepped up and handled the situation with her mother in a surprisingly mature way. A few minutes later, she stepped up and helped out her brother, Max (Max Burkholder), who was upset that his cousin wasn't able to attend a sleepover. Hattie is certainly going to be an interesting character, already showing depth, and I hope that despite the very large cast, the show continues to follow her when she inevitably goes off to college.

     Speaking of the missing cousin, Crosby (Dax Shepard) is having a tough time being all the way across the country from his son, Jabbar (Tyree Brown), and girlfriend, Jasmine (Joy Bryant). I'm sure this will be milked for awhile, but Jasmine and Jabbar have to move back to town soon. Jabbar was in almost the entire first season, and this year has been upgraded to series regular. Jasmine also remains in the theme song, so I'm assuming that means they will end up back with Crosby. But that resolution can't come soon enough for me.

     Resolution is the key for the elders in the family. Zeek (Craig T. Nelson) is showing plenty of humbleness as he tries to make things right with his wife, Camille (Bonnie Bedelia). It seemed to me that he was back to living with her, but it wasn't completely clear. Their separation was one of the darkest paths explored last year, and I'm glad to see that bitterness will not be the reigning emotion between them.

     Perhaps the most anticipated plot this year will be coming from Adam's (Peter Krause) office. We met his boss (Billy Baldwin) this week, and it was revealed that his company is in trouble. Adam's sister, Sarah (Lauren Graham), is plenty creative, but has been striking out on the job front. A match made in heaven? It seems so. Making the story more juicy is Sarah's attraction to Adam's boss, and a love triangle will soon develop as Sarah also falls for a forklift operator (Kevin Alejandro, True Blood) at the company.

     Because there are 15 starring roles in this show, a couple of the characters weren't even in this episode. That means plenty more will be coming up! I urge everyone to check out Parenthood, airing Tuesday nights at 10pm on NBC.


Article first published as TV Review: Parenthood Begins Season Two a Little Lighter on Blogcritics.

Gossip Girl returns with more scandal

It’s been since a long wait since we last saw life on Manhattan’s Upper East Side, but last night Gossip Girl returned with the first of ten new episodes.  When we last left them, Dan (Penn Badgley) was falling for his best friend, Vanessa (Jessica Szohr) after having a threesome with her and his girlfriend.  Of course, the relationship quickly fell apart, and he realized he had feelings for Vanessa, while she may have gotten over the torch she had been carrying for him.  Vanessa was nowhere in sight in the first episode, and not returning Dan’s phone calls.  Hmm.  Poor Humphrey.
The other new, but long anticipated, relationship is between Serena (Blake Lively) and Nate (Chace Crawford).  Though they had been friends forever, they decided to take things up a level.  Last night’s episode featured a few missteps, but nothing so bad as to threaten the new fling.  Could this be GG’s big romance?  The other two established ones are certainly falling apart.  Though Blair (Leighton Meester) stood by her man, Chuck (Ed Westwick), the fact that he lied about the woman at the grave in the first place could spell doom.  Or perhaps not.  Blair certainly rose to his defense.  And Rufus (Matthew Settle), who had finally gotten with the woman he’d loved for decades, Lily (Kelly Rutherford), appears to be throwing it away because of a lie she told, and last night found Rufus seeking comfort in the arms of another woman.  It was so hard to get them together, and it felt so right, their dissolution would be highly disappointing.
Much is in store in the next nine weeks.  ***SPOILER ALERT!!!***  Serena’s father will finally show up, played by none other than Billy Baldwin.  Eh, he’s not Alec, but at least he’s not Stephen.  The season finale will also feature the return of my favorite character, Georgina (Michelle Trachtenberg)!  Though the actress is currently starring in Mercy on NBC, she was given time to pop in on some more juvenile drama, and really, we would miss her deeply if she stayed away too long.
In other news, Leighton Meester will be starring in a romantic comedy with Hugh Laurie (House), which is awesome, because she played his little teenage stalked on his show for a few episodes years ago.  Should be great fun.

Gossip Girl returns, and it's here to stay

    Back in December, I lamented that Gossip Girl was taking a far too long break on the CW.  The excruciating wait is finally over, as of 9pm tonight, as the first of ten consecutive episodes premieres.  Ten hours of guilty pleasure drama, wrapped in the riches of Manhattan's upper east side.      Of course, GG being what it is, there will be lots of roller coaster twists before the spring finale.  In fact, it is promised that there will not be one big event built up to for the rest of the season, but many intertwining plots, tightly strung together, brimming with surprise and excitement, culminating in not one, but TWO huge moments!  I know, I know.  Perhaps I'm getting ahead of myself.  Maybe the show won't live up to that excitement.  However, the only way to find out is to watch.
     Some surprises have already been dropped.  SPOILER ALERT.  Serena's (Blake Lively) missing father is finally found, and he is played by none other than Billy Baldwin!  While it's certainly sad that brother Alec was not available, be glad that it wasn't Stephen.  Billy hopes to not only be a part of this season, but to return next year as well.  Of course, that depends on how he is received by fans.
     There is even bigger news, though.  By the season finale, the b*tch will be back.  That's right, Georgina (Michelle Trachtenberg, squeezing it in with her Mercy duties) is returning to star up the trouble.  No Gossip Girl season is complete without a dose of Buffy the Vampire Slayer's little sister gone bad, and thankfully, this one will be no different.  True, we got some of her in the fall, but a little Georgina is never enough.
     In other Gossip Girl news, Leighton Meester, who played Dr. House's teen love temptation for a few episodes a couple of years ago, will be starring in a romantic comedy movie with Hugh Laurie.  Wow!
     Gossip Girl airs the next ten Mondays on the CW at 9pm.