The first episode of Parenthood’s sixth and final season premiered on Thursday, prepping us for what looks to be an emotional rollercoaster of a goodbye to the Bravermans. If you’re a college student who keeps up with the show, chances are you watch it alone, hiding behind your laptop to avoid the sneer of your roommate. But Braverman-wannabes, it’s time to shed the stigma and embrace our Parenthood pride!
Here are five highlights from the 6th season opener that remind us why we love Parenthood. (Warning: spoilers ahead.)
1. “You built an entire school for your kid and now he’s not going? That’s harsh.”
Thank you, Joe the builder, for this ironic gem. Two days before Chambers Academy (the school that Kristina and Adam have founded for kids with special needs) is set to open, Max informs his parents that he won’t be attending. He prefers being homeschooled, away from all the other kids. As he so bluntly puts it, “I don’t need friends. I have Hank.” Of course, the amazing human beings that they are, Kristina and Adam do persuade Max to show up for the first day (they also magically manage to finish the school’s plumbing and interior within two days, but we can suspend reality for a moment). Considering the bullying and apathy Max has faced from many of his peers and teachers during previous seasons, let’s hope this school becomes a positive, nurturing environment for him.
2. When in Vegas…
As the patriarch of the Braverman clan, Zeek’s never afraid to speak his mind or stand out (remember that time in Season 3 when he starred in a Viagra commercial?). When Sarah surprises him with a birthday trip to Vegas, he’s ready to have a merry ol’ time (apparently good times include testing out the latest tribal print trends), drinking and gambling until he drops—literally. After collapsing, Zeek is taken to the hospital–he is not happy about it. Though the doctor rules out a heart attack, preliminary test results don’t reveal what happened. But between his contempt for his baby-faced doctor and his insistence that he just stood up too fast, Zeek refuses to stay for any more tests. He’s in denial: an all-too-familiar and relatable outlook. As Zeek convinces his kids to stop worrying about his health and enjoy Vegas, we can’t help but worry for him. Haven’t we all been through this before with a parent, grandparent, friend, etc.? We can pretend that everything’s okay, but sooner or later reality hits. And in Zeek’s case, it looks like that may happen next episode.
3. Long live Joelia?
This episode was quick to answer the question weighing on every fan’s mind: have Julia and Joel reunited? Nope, they have not. Their relationship is civil, albeit awkward, but it doesn’t look like civility will lead to romance anytime soon. Upon the relief of learning that Zeek is okay, Joel kisses Julia—and she promptly pulls away. She’s pretty fed up hearing her family talk about how great Joel is—Camille’s declaration that “when you have someone like Joel, you don’t give up on him” is met with a peeved “okay” from her daughter. Tired of waiting, Julia’s moving forward with a new beau: a law school classmate and current co-worker. He seems a little sleazy, even after he tells Julia that he’s serious about her. We’ll have to keep watching to see how things pan out.
4. “Now we’re like… old. We’re real-life grown ups, dude.”
Ah, Amber and Haddie. These two shared some much-needed cousin-bonding time this episode, reminding us just how much we’ve missed watching their relationship grow (why did you have to up and disappear to college, Haddie?). This episode opens with confirmation of Amber’s pregnancy and the insinuation that Ryan’s out of the picture. Amber hasn’t told anyone about the baby yet and, needless to say, she’s freaking out. When Haddie confronts her about her edgy attitude as of late, Amber breaks the news and Haddie is immediately supportive: a testament to the candidness at the core of their bond. As the two enjoy a quality night out on their old high school field and reminisce about some not-so-perfect times (yes, Haddie, of course we remember Steve), we’re reminded why we love these two so much: they’re just like us. Any college student who’s been watching from the get-go has basically grown up with the Braverman kids, relating to their school, relationship, and parental stresses.
5. The one-word ending
And speaking of parental stress, Sarah wins for worst reaction ever to a pregnancy announcement: “Oh.” Not exactly the compassionate response Amber was looking for. To be fair, Sarah does have a lot on her plate this episode. She has to put up with Zeek’s hospital tantrum and, although things are going well with Hank, she learns he’ll be getting shared custody of his teenage daughter soon (Sarah has had quite her fill of teenage angst in the past few years). The episode ends with this awkward moment, leaving us on edge for its implications to play out next episode. You know you’ll be watching.
Parenthood airs at 10pm Thursdays on NBC.