Posts from the Past: Parenthood

Returning on a new night for its fifth season starting this Thursday at 10pm, NBC's Parenthood is a refreshing take on the family drama, or perhaps to be more thematically appropriate, dramedy. With a skilled combination of heart and humor, Parenthood stands out as one of the most enjoyable hours of television. Just as he did on Friday Night Lights, creator Jason Katims imbues Parenthood with a palpable authenticity that makes the hour more affecting than just pure entertainment. Additionally, the series' reliance on improvisational dialogue among its large and talented cast allows for character interactions that feel natural (full of inarticulates and the like) instead of coming across as written archetypes. Its these charms that have thankfully allowed Parenthood to fly under the radar, with a dedicated audience helping it survive the low-ratings onslaught that is NBC, year after year.

Centering around the large and diverse Braverman family, Parenthood usually manages to find enough time to develop engrossing stories for each of its many characters. As eldest son Adam, Peter Krause (Six Feet Under) is reliably at the top of his game in every episode, fully realizing the struggle of a father whose son has aspergers syndrome, with Max Burkholder also doing excellent work as the son. Later seasons find Adam dealing with issues at work, a new baby, and most recently his wife Kristina's cancer (another expertly executed character, played by Monica Potter). Additionally, Lauren Graham (Gilmore Girls), as Adam's younger sister Sarah, displays expert light-heartedness as a career-less single mother taking her shortcomings with a smile and self-deprecating wisecrack, while she becomes involved in various love triangles and her teenage son Drew deals with his first romance. Even more of a standout is Mae Whitman (Arrested Development) as Sarah's daughter Amber, impressively demonstrating range and depth well beyond her years, as Amber struggles to balance her education with her rebellious past and later develops a sweet relationship with a young veteran. Another surprise standout has been Dax Shepherd, bringing real pathos to youngest son/man-child Crosby as he tries to grow up after meeting his five-year-old son Jabbar, eventually fully rising to the occasion as a (mostly) responsible provider for his family. As the overachieving youngest sister Julia, Erika Christensen has been given more substantial material in the most recent season, being forced to juggle her successful legal career with the ordeal of adopting a nine year-old child, as her stay-at-home husband/father to their daughter Sydney goes back to work. The cast is rounded out by brash family patriarch Zeek (Craig T. Nelson) and his crafty wife Camille (Bonnie Bedelia).

If you're a fan of Friday Night Lights, or even an outright comedy like Modern Family, you should check out Parenthood and be prepared to quickly become invested in the lives of the Braverman clan. The sheer likability and reliability of the cast alone should keep you coming back for more, while the series' innate authenticity will have you championing the (perpetually snubbed) series every awards season. With plenty of humor and heart, each season, perhaps even each episode, of Parenthood seamlessly demonstrates how it truly is one of television's most underrated gems.