Okay, I have to admit it. Ray and I have started binge-watching the television show, Parenthood. We must have watched 5 episodes yesterday on our day off. That meant staying up to 12:30 am to watch “just one more.”
The series which went from 2010 – 2015 is about the Braverman family, which is composed of four adult siblings and their parents who all live near each other in the San Francisco area. Stories spin off from each sibling and his/her family, plus there are a few that center on the parents of these four adult children. The siblings run the gamut from corporate lawyer (one sister) to bartender (another sister who has returned home with her two kids after hitting the skids following a bad marriage.) There are two brothers, one the oldest and most stable member of the family and then the younger who lives on a boat and works at a music studio. Each of these four (and their families) have problems that are relatable and real. No one is dying or been designated a target for the mob in these stories. No, this is about the vicissitudes of everyday life in an American family, and so far I would say it’s one of the most endearing and entertaining series I’ve seen on television in a long time.
Of course, I am coming to it after its 106 episodes. This is the story of my life. I still haven’t seen The Sopranos or Six Feet Under. They will be seen one of these day, I swear!
This series was recommended to us by our daughter, Sarah, who admitted to being so emotionally caught up with this family that after the last episode she had to go off and cry for a while. Now how much of that comes from being an overly tired medical resident and how much has to do with this series remains to be seen, but even after one episode I could see how one might get attached to these people.
The series stars some of the most recognizable faces in television. The father is Craig T. Nelson (The Incredibles and Coach); the mother is Bonnie Bedelia (Sordid Lives and The Division): the oldest son is Peter Krause (from Six Feet Under); Lauren Graham is the oldest daughter (from The Gilmore Girls). There is also Dax Shepard and Erika Christensen, with more movie credits than television ones, as the other two siblings.
Anyway, we will see if we make it through all 106 episodes over time, but I can say we are going to watch one or two more tonight.
I love being able to watch a whole series through Netflix. It’s fun to get immersed in the stories and get to see all of the episodes from first to last at whatever pace works best with our schedules. This is one technical innovation that has my full and complete support.
Off I go to sit and learn more about the Braverman family. I’m probably only one of the few who didn’t follow this series on NBC when it was running. Oh well, better late than never.
I hope you are having an entertaining evening, as well.
Until tomorrow.
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