What I’m Watching: Parenthood

Parenthood: Season 1, Episode 11 “Solace” (B+)

Cleaning out the attic as a way of providing Camille with a new workspace is a great excuse for the middle generation of the Braverman family to get together and try and accomplish something. I really liked the light moment provided by them trying to get the piano down the stairs. Crosby yelling at Joel for making a joke for the firs time in his life while they were holding a piano was very funny, as was his subsequent request to Joel to keep a little distance from Jasmine while dancing with her. Camille’s own self-exploration was fun for the suitor it produced, played by Joaquim de Almeida ("24"), and the reactions it elicited from Sarah. Her attempt to have dinner with her mother – “I saw people eating pizza on TV and it looked so good” – and her conversation with a random guy at the art show where they started talking about “Sex and the City 2” before scaring him away were very funny. The more serious effects of the separation of the Braverman patriarchs were just as good, positioning Zeke to clash with his son and his family. Zeke watching from the door as Adam calmed down Max was a particularly moving scene. It was nice to see Joel stand up for himself, making fun of the two Ms in Timm’s name. It was amusing that Crosby’s first concern related to reuniting his parents was to be able to do laundry again, and I liked his assertion that change being healthy is an urban legend. The subplot between Hattie and Amber and their man was very well-done, and both Sarah Ramos and Mae Whitman are extraordinarily talented young actresses.