Really?

Um.. what? Kristina Braverman conceded?

I'm sorry. I went a lot a lot of episodes suspending my disbelief that Kristina Braverman could be the mayor of Berkeley. It took me a while, but I began to believe in her, so for the show to just give her an easy out at the end so they don't have to deal with the fact that Berkeley is a real town and it already has a mayor.. dude. Really? I mean, you didn't even show us the phone call she made to Bob? And then she said she believes he will be a good mayor? True, he probably knows more about it than she does, but he's a terrible person, right? I just can't believe this was such a big plotline, when they knew all along they were stringing us along and weren't going to do anything with it in the end. I would have liked for her to have actually lost at least. There is more virtue in that because then it shows that she really wanted to do the job versus she just did it to see if she could because she beat cancer and "can do anything now."

[Sigh.]

And what's with Amber smiling at the end at the election? I'm pretty sure anybody (and especially dramatic Amber) would still be upset about Ryan and like crying in her own world or not showing up to important events or something. Though actually, now that I think about it, I think she wanted an out from the Ryan marriage so she probably really was happy he got in a fight and is in jail (?) now.

Is he in jail? I'm so confused. And really, for real Amber? You knew your angry fiance was about to pick you up from the bar, and you're sitting with this band member who's in love with you and letting him touch you? Really?

I just didn't believe a lot of this episode. And I didn't cry at all. Not that I need to. I just really wasn't getting into it.

My favorite story was the Max-and-Ray's-daughter thing, even though I got totally distracted at the beginning trying to figure out if she was reading Divergent. (She was.)

I liked the moment between Sarah and Drew and Whore Girl, but it felt strange to bring it up so late in the episode for only a few seconds.

The Crosby / Jasmine / voting thing was funny. I've been enjoying Crosby a lot this whole season, I'll give it that.

(I've been enjoying the whole season in general after the first few episodes, but this one was just a little disappointing.)

Also Julia and Joel? It's starting to feel forced. Like they've been forcing this almost-affair forever, and it just keeps dragging and dragging. I suppose that's how it sometimes is in real life, but they had a happy marriage. How could you do that to them P.Hood Writers, I really feel like it's not what they want but they're forcing it to make you happy (and also probably because they have a contract).

Good acting by little Sydney, but for real, I would like to see a storyline involving a different side of her, as I am sure she is a very sweet girl in real life and as her character sometimes.

Besides that? I like the lead singer of the band. He consistently cracks me up with his few seconds of presence.

And actually I did like the moment where Amber got to sing. It seemed almost unbelievable that she could do it that well so automatically, but she is a good singer, and it's been a while since we talked about that. And I was excited to see her get excited about something other than a guy for once (even while she was screwing hers over). Obviously they're not getting married anymore. Probably best for both of them, though it sort of sucks it got Ryan in the slammer.

People, people.

There were a lot of Fruit Loops in this episode.

I also think Victor and Julia should win Emmy's for this one.

How can I be such a good actor as they are on Parenthood?! (is the real question)

Sarah - thank you for starting to have your own life.

Crosby - thank you for smiling like a silly-kook at your son's ballet class.

Parent-who-I-always-forget-your-name (is it Ed?) - Stop hitting on Julia!

Kristina and Adam - You guys are so cute! And way to go Kristina, for real. Can't imagine what that story would have done to Amber and Ryan's already faltering engagement.

Ryan - I'm sorry, but you're sort of being a little boy. And also Amber - You're starting to see what it might be like to be married to Ryan, and I'm not so sure you're liking it. And also I think you might still want to flirt around a little. So maybe you should wait. (Isn't it interesting how when your mom finally starts to let you go and do her own thing, you finally start to see what's right?)

Camille - You're a jerk. I think you should stay in Italy. FOREVER.

Zeek - We like you right now. Keep it up.

Bob Little - Really?

Haddie - Where are you?

Drew - Where are you? Hopefully not still having sex with that girl.

But for real, do these people take acting class? Because I don't feel like they get enough acting practice on the show to do their few-minute screen time so flawlessly, I don't get it. I need to learn their technique.

Now I'm all wound up.

So now Amber's gonna get all focused on her "recording career" and not want to get married, right? And she's gonna have a fling with that guy she keeps hugging?

I'm glad Ryan is catching a glimpse of her tendencies, but then he buys an expensive ring and does a second proposal? It's funny how people on this show tend to make big, impulsive commitments right in the middle of their doubts. (See: when Sarah wasn't sure about Mark, so she decided to move in with him.)

I guess we do that in life though. I was super unsure about what to major in in college, but after I finally chose it at the last minute, I went at it with full force, taking all my major classes right away and blasting through so I wouldn't be one of those "undecided" people. And what was the result? I graduated early with a marketing degree, which I have not to this day ever officially used in my life.

I think when we have doubts about things, we should admit it, express it, you know? Not run from it or overly run toward it, pretending to be sure.

So anyways..

I love how realistic the Joel / Julia / Other Guy situation is depicted. A different show might race into the affair in an overt way, but Parenthood lets you see how the little things can lead to unwanted results.

Same with the Drew situation with that girl. Drew! I wanted you to tell her to leave at the end when she wanted you again. You were so close!

And Sarah - It is possible for you to "do something different with your teeth," it's called whitening. You don't have to be such a jerk to Ray, he's just a camera nerd that's in love with you, and he's doing a good thing for Max, and you could just accept his compliments. And I wouldn't even mind if you dated him again, you have my permission. Sure I miss Mark, but the show's not letting us see him so it's sort of out of sight out of mind, and Ray / Hank is in sight, and do you really not like him anymore?

I'm really enjoying all the band scenes. They make me laugh.

Oh, something I didn't like though was how when Adam and Zeek were talking, Zeek acted like he had been totally against the condo, but he wasn't! He was for a while, but he changed and got optimistic about it. I felt like he was trying to be supportive of Camille in a sincere way, but then Camille gave him the shaft because.. why? Because he built a fire pit in their backyard? Was that his way of saying "screw your condo idea," because I didn't get that. I just felt like he was helping her see the options of moving versus compromising, not telling her which one to want but just letting her see.

Ah, well. I'm at a loss with those two.

I totally watched this late at night tonight (Saturday), and now I'm all wound up and I have to get up early tomorrow. This is why I don't like to watch this late. Ugghhhhhhhh.

Seven Moments

There were a lot of little things I liked on Parenthood this week:

1. When Crosby is going door-to-door, and the girl is like, "Crosby? I thought you moved to Europe.."

"Uh.. I did move to Europe, and.."

[Door slam.]

Omigosh what a hilarious throwback to Crosby's player days, so right on that that would happen to him while he's campaigning for Kristina.

2. When Crosby tries to slam the minivan door, and it won't let him because it's one of those doors that shuts (very slowly) automatically. (I love how Parenthood gets the details, seriously, Parenthood Writers, seriously, I love you.)

3. When Zeek and Camille go to look at that condo and Zeek is actually sincerely trying to give it a chance. Such love we hadn't seen in their relationship in a long time, I was starting to get tired of them. (Though it was a little hard to believe that after he did all that, Camille wouldn't at least attempt to ask him about the trip versus telling him like a brat and walking away. Camille, I want to like your character, but you do things like that, and I just don't.)

4. When Joel has the nice dinner all ready for Julia and tells her he's sorry, and she almost starts crying because of her earlier affair-of-the-mind with that parent guy whatever his name is. Was that his wife that came home or his ex-wife? I thought he was divorced for some reason, but I guess not?

5. All the Amber / Sarah moments make me cry. You'd think I'd be bored by those because it's pretty much the same vicious cycle between them, but dude those girls can act, I could just watch them argue and cry all day.

6. Oh, the Kristina moment! I mean, it was predictable that something good was probably going to happen for her during the debate, but it was still touching and so believable that she would come down to that woman and that everyone would be moved. (I was a little surprised Bob Little let her keep talking though since he's such a little interrupter-face.)

7. Oh, it was sort of funny when Julia was taking the kids door-to-door for the campaign, and Sydney was like, "This is nothing like Trick or Treating." Ha! Um, yeah, you don't get candy, and people don't want you there. Timely joke.

I'm sure there were more, and I should probably think of three more to make ten, but I have more things to write, and I think I'm done. I really, really liked it though. I wanted it to go on forever, I almost feel like watching it again but I really don't have time.