What I’m Watching: Parenthood

Parenthood: Season 6, Episode 7 “These Are the Times We Live In” (B+)

In our weekly missing character count, we have no Adam, Kristina, Crosby, Jasmine, or Camille, but that gave us plenty of time to focus on everyone else in the family. Amber babysitting Max and Nora wasn’t necessarily a good idea, and it didn’t help that Max blatantly told her that she would be a terrible mother before indulging in an all-out sugar fest in protest of not being able to go to Alcatraz. Fortunately, Sarah swooped in at just the right moment to help her daughter realize that being a parent isn’t something automatic and that she’s actually much more qualified for the job than she thinks. It was great to see Hank speak his mind with Sandy and take responsibility for the failure of their marriage, and he even got to have a little bonding moment with his ex-wife and his daughter, which unfortunately meant that Sarah got left out after being the impetus for the family reconciliation. Drew’s still unsure of what he wants to do with his life, but at least he has Natalie encouraging him to compromise his undetermined morals and go shoot guns with his thrill-seeking grandfather. Watching the latest and most finite chapter of Julia and Joel’s relationship unfold was heart-wrenching, and Joel’s conversation with Zeek was pretty tough. It certainly seems like Julia is ready to move on, but I suspect that Joel’s effort won’t end up being fully in vain. It would be sweet if they got back together, and this show doesn’t seem to be too averse to a happy ending.