This Is Us: Season 3, Episode 15 “The Waiting Room” (B)
It’s interesting to see that this show can be particularly effective when it stays grounded in the present and doesn’t involve any flashbacks. Those can be one of its strongest assets, but they’re also prone to being quite manipulative. In this case, the Pearson family members were able to invoke memories that stand out for them without us seeing them, as Rebecca picturing Jack on those seats would surely have been powerful but her description of how she remembered them was just as resounding. Also, not seeing Toby and Kate until the very end of the episode was effective since this was the experience of those on the outside, who felt bold enough to demand answers from those between the desk but as tangential family members weren’t actually entitled to an urgent response. Things did get dramatic, leading to a moderately irritating repetition of the same line thanking people for putting up with them, and it’s a rare circumstance in which Madison is the most sympathetic one in the room. Toby’s joke about Kate wanting to see Miguel first did feel a bit mean-spirited, especially coming from one of the outsiders, and Miguel got some aggression directed his way from Beth too when she felt he was speaking for Rebecca, who has a tendency to burrow within these moments and not take care of herself. Zoe acknowledging the contents of Kevin’s bottle doesn’t speak well to his imminent recovery, but it seems like she’s going to try to stick it out with him knowing where things stand at the moment.
Showing posts with label The Waiting Room. Show all posts
Showing posts with label The Waiting Room. Show all posts
Monday, March 18, 2019
Monday, October 13, 2014
What I’m Watching: Parenthood
Parenthood: Season 6, Episode 3 “The Waiting Room” (B+)
Sometimes it’s easy to forget what show you’re watching. One of the reasons this series is great is that it has a realistic quality to it and doesn’t pull devastating twists like Zeek dying during surgery when it could have just as well have gone fine. His health issues are likely not done, and Kristina’s cancer could well back. We know these things, but this show isn’t about shock value and trying to force their events on its characters, which is a very good thing. What we do get is four siblings united with their mother, all trying to cope with their father’s life being in jeopardy in different ways. Julia getting a hospital survival kit from her new boyfriend was sweet, though having to break the news to Joel that she’s seeing someone was brutal. Crosby didn’t manage his anger too well and let’s hope that all he has to do is shrug off an unfortunate injury that looks like it hurt a whole lot. Sarah and Hank are going to have some serious problems when he tells her that his ex-wife has forbidden him from letting their daughter spend time with Sarah, when Ruby is really the one who’s the problem. I like the relationship between Drew and Amber and the fact that, for once, Drew is the one giving relationship advice to his sister when she’s about to make a difficult choice to let Ryan back into her life. At least her family took it well when Zeek accidentally spilled the beans.
Sometimes it’s easy to forget what show you’re watching. One of the reasons this series is great is that it has a realistic quality to it and doesn’t pull devastating twists like Zeek dying during surgery when it could have just as well have gone fine. His health issues are likely not done, and Kristina’s cancer could well back. We know these things, but this show isn’t about shock value and trying to force their events on its characters, which is a very good thing. What we do get is four siblings united with their mother, all trying to cope with their father’s life being in jeopardy in different ways. Julia getting a hospital survival kit from her new boyfriend was sweet, though having to break the news to Joel that she’s seeing someone was brutal. Crosby didn’t manage his anger too well and let’s hope that all he has to do is shrug off an unfortunate injury that looks like it hurt a whole lot. Sarah and Hank are going to have some serious problems when he tells her that his ex-wife has forbidden him from letting their daughter spend time with Sarah, when Ruby is really the one who’s the problem. I like the relationship between Drew and Amber and the fact that, for once, Drew is the one giving relationship advice to his sister when she’s about to make a difficult choice to let Ryan back into her life. At least her family took it well when Zeek accidentally spilled the beans.
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