Well, we’re three weeks into Parenthood and I’ve officially had my fill. The time slot certainly has not helped the show. Somehow Tuesday at 10 has become a hot bed for good TV. The Good Wife, which I think is probably the best new drama of the year airs on CBS, and V is going to be returning to ABC in a couple weeks. Add in Justified over on FX (which I haven’t even had a chance to check out, though I’m very interested), and Parenthood fades into the distance. With that being said, there’s more at work than just the time slot.
Just about every plot point and scene in this week’s episode annoyed the snot out of me. Everything was predictable and contrived. Did anyone really think Jabar wasn’t going to mess things up in the music studio? Was it a big surprise that Sydney had a panic attack in the pool when Julia tried to “teach” her to swim? Did anyone think that Adam and Kristina were actually going to make it to Haddie’s soccer game? I understand that shows need conflict for there to be the all-important resolution, but I just didn’t find any of this interesting or compelling.
Everything rubbed me the wrong way in this episode, and it probably was not as bad as I thought it was, but this show is definitely not for me. My natural distaste for children should have tipped me off that maybe Parenthood and I weren’t going to be the best fit for each other. Even the little things got on my nerves including the over abundance of music playing in the background of almost every scene. I hate when shows do that. I feel like it’s there just to cover up the poor writing and add to the mood and drama what the story cannot.
The writing may not be up to snuff, but the acting is still great. It seems like the producers (big names like Ron Howard, Brian Grazer, and Jason Katims) focused all of their time and money on the cast and not the writing team. Of all the plots that are happening, there is only one that would get me to check back in with the show, and it has been the smallest focus so far: the troubled relationship between Zeek and Camille. It has been slow to develop and feels organic. Unfortunately, it’s just not enough for me.
How are you feeling about Parenthood? Are you digging it? Done with it? Think I’m insane?
Clacked by Bob Degon
on Mar 17, 2010 @ 20:39 EST5EDT
I really really like Parenthood. It has become my new favorite show. I think the acting is great and even though I don’t have kids – I can relate somehow. I agree with you on the Zeek and Camile thing though – I want to see more of them too (although I read that there is a back story to the condoms that is not what you think in some spoiler blog). I love Julia and her husbands relationship and Sydney too – I thought the swimming scene couldn’t have been better actually. I could do with a lot less of Jabare though – I would rather see more of the teenage daughter too with the dark hair (Lauren Graham’s daughter). Overall though the show is impressive and definitely worth watching!
I’m with you Bob. I was done last week if not earlier. I think the scene that annoyed me so much I started hating the writers was when Peter Krause had tears in his eyes telling his father “There’s something wrong with my son”. I don’t understand why it’s necessary to portay this guy as a whiny little pussy (sorry) instead of at least showing SOME strength in light of his sons condition. Everyone on this show is so god damn whiny and I don’t connect to ANY of them so it really just annoys me.
And I don’t think it’s just because you hate kids that you don’t like the show Bob. I mean even though the show is called Parenthood not everything is about kids on this show. Lauren Graham’s dating story on the Pilot was annoying enough on its own, even without her son “catching” her later on. All the crying in the restaurant and then her sleeping with the guy based on what? I’m sorry but “wuah wuah my life sucks” just isn’t going to cut it for me to stay interested.
This is “Brothers & Sisters” in a different package and I stopped watching B&S after Season one.
Bob, I think this episode was exactly as bad as you thought it was. I’m addicted to The Forgotten, but since that’s dead I might hang on to Parenthood a while longer to see what they do with it. Fortunately, the captivating Southland and Justified, whose pilot was brilliant, don’t air directly opposite it in my area. Of course, if V comes back at 10, I’m definitely gone.
Most of the kids are annoying, without the positive dimensions to balance them out that other shows feel they need to give children. The only one that’s slightly relatable is Haddie, who, while still flawed, at least attempts to be understanding of others. I was completely on her side when she bitterly illuminated for her parents how they allowed Max to always have his way ever since he could talk, long before he was diagnosed. I seriously can not stand their younger kid.
And I find the people that surround the Braverman clan to be even more loathsome: Raquel, the sanctimonious other woman; Crosby’s inconsiderate baby mama; the baristas that went postal on a woman that dumped their boss after one date; any random authority figure that pisses in the Braverman cornflakes—the list is endless. The only likable person was Sarah’s younger boss, so of course she didn’t get that job.
And who the hell are Zeek and Camille? Why the hell doesn’t he spell his name “Zeke?” There are too many characters for me to keep more than a few names straight three hours in, although oddly I didn’t have that problem with Modern Family. Perhaps there are just too many characters about whom I couldn’t care less.
I would rather see more of the teenage daughter too with the dark hair (Lauren Graham’s daughter).
Her?
Hehe… unless you were speaking in hyperbole, Zeek (and that’s how imdb spells it) and Camille are the parents. Dreadfully underused.
I agree with just about everything you have to say. Haddie does seem like a good character. All the secondary characters do seem like complete charicatures.
It’s ultimately a shame that the show is squandering so much good talent.
If the family is Jewish, I retract my objection to the spelling of the patriarch’s name. Otherwise, honestly, WTF?
I was being completely serious, and only cottoned to their true identities once Danny mentioned the condoms plot point. I never thought I could dislike a non-evil character played by Mr. Incredible so intensely. Holly Gennaro really ain’t doing it for me yet, either.
From what I’ve seen in Brett’s posts, the show’s ratings don’t seem to be falling nearly fast enough for the network to pull the trigger and free up all this top talent for better shows; it could even return in the fall. We can only hope the situation improves.