kateevans-31553 Parenthood tells the heart-felt, dramatic story of an upper middle class family in Berkeley, California. Zeek and Camille Braverman have four grown children, all of whom live near them and have become parents themselves. Each subsection of the Braverman family looks a bit different, but everyone has their issues. Sarah Braverman has moved home with her parents with her two teenage kids because her ex-husband, a musician with an addiction problem, has left them with few alternatives. Julia Braverman is a corporate lawyer with a stay-at-home husband, and she's constantly trying to balance her heavy workload (and majorly Type-A attitude) and her role as a mother. Crosby Braverman randomly finds out he has a five year old son and is quickly catapulted into the tumultuous world of fatherhood.Then there's Adam Braverman. The oldest child, the prodigal son, the perfect husband. Adam has it all figured out. He has a beautiful, sweet wife who cooks, cleans, and drives the kids around, and his teenage daughter Haddie and eight year old son Max are just lovely. That is, until, his son Max's tantrums at school become uncontrollable. One day, Max finally shatters the class fish tank and soon after, he is diagnosed with Asperger's syndrome.

Denise C E4:11 - what to my wandering eyes. This episode paralleled my life. Several years ago I went into septic shock from eating bad food at a restaurant. Obviously I lived, however I was so sick that I hardly noticed what was going on around me. This episode allowed me to experience what my husband went through. He was sick too, from the same meal; yet, there he was at my side, holding my hand, settling me down so the doctors could help me. He never left my side. I knew he stepped out to call family yet I never realized how difficult this must have been for him...to loose the love of his life, almost. You see, we are high school sweethearts. We married other people after high school, lived separate lives, and divorced. We met up again years later and married. I am so blessed to have him, and his delightful family - so much like the Braverman's it is remarkable. Amazing parents, 2 boys, 2 girls, and they demonstrate their love and devotion for each other every day of their lives. As I came back from the brink of death, I felt so deeply grateful for my life, for my love, and for my family. Thank you to the writers, cast, and crew, of Parenthood that so thoughtfully brought me back this memory. This episode helped me relive the tender and tearful moments of that experience and allowed me to gain empathy for my husband & families' experience. Teaching me again to be grateful, and honored, and humbled by the power of faith and Love. Denise C

scifisyphers Let's put aside the fact that, without being a regular watcher of this show, I predicted EVERY coming plot point from how hard the writers telegraphed them each time I caught it while my wife was watching it.Solely on the merits of the characters and their motivations/reactions this show is melodramatic garbage masquerading as realism. Every character is two dimensional with the only development being ones you could expect from the character descriptions (idiot makes good, put together couple falls apart, trouble child actually talented still trouble). Each and every character instill within me a deep and abiding hatred of the writers, and that's for the characters you are meant to like, because with few exceptions the antagonists of the show are one dimensional, serving only the purpose of being terrible people without actually having any humanity of motive to their actions, existing solely for the point of conflict.I hate this show so much I actively leave not just the room, but the floor of the house it is playing on. If I could give it a zero, I would.

Jazznme2 All the screaming and yelling! Continually talking over one another! So exasperating! The only reason I would occasionally watch is to see Craig nelson and the wife. The rest is a mess!! Each family either whining or screaming and yelling or all three! Just TOO MUCH craziness! It's not even drama. And then that annoying theme song! Oh dear Lord! Thank goodness I finally have a DVR and can roll right through it. It had nothing to do with the "storyline" or was there even a storyline. The overdramatizing of Max character---you just want to reach in and ring his neck. And Ray Romano comes on the show and that's when I quit watching after a couple shows. His character is always the SAME. Only now, more annoying. And the dumb sister that he started the relationship with--they actually might match up well, as they are both equally annoying! All I can say is AMEN!!!