I’ve always been a fan of ensemble family dramas, especially ones that focus on relationships between siblings, which is why I enjoyed watching Brothers & Sisters from 2006 to 2011. But somehow I missed Parenthood, a show that also fits that same description, and aired from 2010 to 2015. Luckily, Netflix was once again able to hook me up with all the seasons of a new (to me) show that I could watch in its entirety so I got started. After watching the first few episodes I realized that, although Parenthood is excellent, it bares more than a few parallels to Brothers & Sisters:
- Each show features characters named Julia and Sarah. In B&S, Julia is Tommy’s (one of the main siblings) wife and Sarah is the eldest sibling. In Parenthood, both Julia and Sarah are siblings. Too similar? Yes. Are there seriously no other female names that could have been used for these characters?
- Both shows feature overachieving female characters who are high-powered working women (lawyer and businesswoman). Too similar? Not really. Even though they are both workaholics who struggle with finding time for their families, the characters are different. That being said, the husbands of these women in both shows are stay-at-home dads who sometimes need an outlet from too much kid time. That’s where it does get too similar.
- The grandparents have been married for decades and then we find out the patriarch cheated on the matriarch within the first few episodes of season one. Too similar? Yes and no. While there could have been a number of other obstacles the patriarch and matriarch face to cause conflict, this type of realization affects the entire family, not just the two of them.
- The youngest son is considered rebellious. Just like Justin in B&S, Crosby in Parenthood starts off as the rebel. However, while Justin is a war vet with a serious drug problem, Crosby is a musician who enjoys his freewheeling lifestyle that includes living on a boat – that is, until he finds out he has a son. Too similar? No – these characters are distinctive and, by the way, extremely well-acted.
- Both shows feature illegitimate children. This storyline occupies a much darker and place in B&S and the family finds out about the child after the patriarch is deceased. In Parenthood, having the child in Crosby’s life has worked out so far (I’m a few episodes into season two) because they get along really well and he gets back together with the kid’s mother. Also, the child in the former is in his 20s while the child in the latter is only five years old. Too similar? Not really because the circumstances and ages of the children are vastly different.
- One of the adult daughters moves back in to the parents’ house. Early on in season one of B&S, Kitty moves in with her mother after relocating from New York to Los Angeles. Her father dying plays a role in the decision as well. In Parenthood, Sarah leaves her addict husband and her former life in Fresno in the first episode of season one. In an effort to save money, get her life back on track, and provide a suitable place for her two kids to stay, she moves in with mom and dad. Too similar? Yes. It’s odd that this happens with daughters in both shows and that they continue to live in the grandparents’ home for as long as they do.
- Both patriarchs deal with cash flow issues and the lawyer in each family tries to fix the problem. While it makes sense that the lawyer would help with legal issues, the fact that both shows have a sibling with the same occupation who also always puts the job before everyone and everything else (Julia in Parenthood and Kevin in B&S) is redundant. Too similar: Yes. If both shows need to feature a lawyer than they need to be dealing with issues that are a little bit different.
Although I’m only a few episodes into season two, Parenthood already has me hooked. I can’t wait to find out what happens next and a lot of that has to do with the superb acting. Craig T. Nelson’s ability to play a Vietnam vet who is as funny as he is unstable, Erika Christensen as the competitive, feminist workaholic mom with a great husband and daughter, and Mae Whitman as the feisty high schooler who realizes she is brilliant, are my favorites. Another favorite is Dax Shepard who has officially convinced me that he can be charming without being a slapstick idiot.
Overall, the Braverman family is full of rich characters who demonstrate why family is so important without being too over the top. Even Lauren Graham, who somehow finds herself playing a single mom again, is funny without being too much like her former Gilmore Girls character. Additionally, the young kids on the show turn in impressive performances – they are authentic, sweet, and captivating – especially Max Burkholder who plays a nine-year-old with Asperger’s. He’s got a tough but important job and absolutely nails it.
If you’re a fan of ensemble dramas that insert humor in all the right places, check out Parenthood on Netflix. I think you’ll be glad you did.
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