NBC's Parenthood - Episode 6.01 "Vegas"
Sarah steals Zeek away on a birthday trip to Las Vegas, and what unfolds will set the Bravermans on a dramatic season-long course. Amber faces a life change and grapples with how to navigate the new landscape of adulthood. Two days before opening, Adam and Kristina's charter school is far from ready, and the whole family springs into action to help complete the construction.
Going into the sixth season, we knew that it would be the final 13 episodes for Parenthood and that series creator Jason Katims had teased a major event in the premiere that will bring the entire family together in these final episodes. Season five of the series did fumble a little bit. It didn't always know exactly how long each story arc should run or which ones deserved the amount of screentime they were given. It seemed like Zeek and Camille selling the family house dragged out too long but Kristina also had time to run for mayor and build a new charter school. The final season promises to take us back to the energy of the fourth season when Kristina's cancer arc brought the entire cast together in emotional and fulfilling ways.Now, Zeek may be having problems with his heart. He collapses while in Las Vegas. It wasn't a heart attack but it was a cardiac event. And that sends the whole family spiraling. He's away while it's happening and everyone is relying on phone tag in order to get information from the doctors and Sarah. Zeek is also a stubborn man. He won't admit that it was a heart attack. To him, he just drank too much and got up too fast. And yet, there's so much more to it than that. But he's in Vegas to have a good time celebrating his birthday. Not to worry about his health. He just wants to get back to the card tables and win more money. Everyone else is worrying about him - so much so that Adam and Crosby drive out to check in on him. He appears healthy and they continue to have a good time. Alerting Julia through a text (couldn't they have invited her too?) But his heart is still an unknown right now. And that is going to be a very scary prospect moving forward.
It's going to be a really potent narrative spine this season with the series focusing on the possibility of losing one of their own while another (Amber) will be entering parenthood for the very first time. I didn't like the circumstances of her getting pregnant in the finale. They felt like they were reaching a bit. But the show is committed to it as a story arc and I imagine it being a great one for both the character individually and amongst the entire family. It's already proving to be quite emotional. She's not exactly sure what she wants. She loves Ryan but right now he's away getting better so one day they could potentially be together again. She's reaching the point-of-no-return in terms of termination and the only other person she has allowed in is Haddie. Honestly, I love that Haddie is the first person she told. The two are cousins but more importantly they are friends. When the show remembers that friendship, it can be a great thing. Once Amber's secret is out, it takes some weight off her shoulders. She can just have a nice heart-to-heart with Haddie and reminisce about their past problems - which seem somewhat trivial now.
But more importantly, it seems that Amber is in the exact same position Sarah was when she was her age. Sarah spent this entire premiere dealing with her father. As soon as she gets home, she is welcomed with yet another big development. And all she can say is "Oh." She is sure to have a strong opinion over what Amber should do. For so much of the series, Amber has tried not to make the same mistakes that Sarah did. And yet here she is in her early twenties, not married and pregnant. The family has come full circle - for better or worse.
Some more thoughts:
- "Vegas" was written by Jason Katims and directed by Lawrence Trilling.
- I love that Adam considers Sarah the second worst of his siblings to deal with the situation with Zeek. With Crosby being the worst, of course.
- Meanwhile, Kristina's school gets finished in time and it opens without a hitch. But more importantly, Max shows up to be there for her. Not because he wants to but because, as Adam rightfully points out, she put a ton of work in and it would make her the happiest and proudest mom in that moment.
- The season is also gearing up to tell a story about a blended family for the very first time. That's exciting. I've always loved Hank and with the return of Betsy Brandt as his ex-wife and Ruby his daughter could be an interesting story paired with Sarah and the stuff happening with both Amber and Drew.
- Julia has also moved on from Joel. But more importantly from the two guys from last season. Now, it actually feels like it could be a meaningful relationship because she's open to the concept again. I really don't know much about this new guy. But that kiss from Joel only promises to make things more complex for that side of the Braverman family.
- Aida is walking now!
- Before all the stuff went down in Vegas, Zeek's new hobby is pickling.
