Matt Smith is a writer and theatre enthusiast based in New York. For more information, including additional writing samples, he encourages you to visit www.mattsmiththeatre.com.
Last week, I said that PARENTHOOD writers were giving us a little too much too soon in terms of introducing new plot lines this close to the end of the series.
It's the moment you've all been waiting for, the moment pumped into our memories through various promos and press releases throughout the summer — the recurring neighbors have finally arrived!! I think it's nice that the show is injecting these new characters into the lives of the Dunphys.
This season of PARENTHOOD has been definitely packed with enough drama, and the writers are brilliantly beginning to close up storylines while offering us new ones to keep us busy and immersed enough in the show that presumably we forget that it's ending in, like, December/January.
This week's episode moves the Dunphys from their house to “the last room at a hotel nearby”; as Claire explains in the opening confessional, they have to vacate the house — for one night — as it's treated for mold.
The episode begins with Zeek and Camille talking about the surgery — “The room's got a view” says Camille; “We can watch the squirrels fornicate” mutters Zeek — before the family stops by to wish him luck and offer hugs and words of strength and support.
Just a note before I begin: as the world's biggest hypochondriac, I rarely watch episodes of TV shows where any character is sick (in fact, “Chirp” — the Season 2 episode where Claire was last sick — is still the only episode in the MODERN FAMILY canon I have not re-watched).
We open with Cam, Mitch & Lily taking a new photo for above their mantle (“She's not in the one up there now and we started to get the slight impression it was bothering her,” quips Cam before cutting to one of the less humorous gags).
Though many viewers were teased that the final season of PARENTHOOD was said to tie up loose ends (and while it may still indeed do that), you wouldn't know it from watching their first episode back from their summer hiatus.
In last season's finale, Haddie comes home and reveals some news to the family; Joel and Julia show huge signs of reconciliation; Drew gets the Pontiac, as Zeek and Camille prepare to say goodbye to the house; Hank & Sarah finally get together; in the episode's final moments, Adam seems to take on t
In last season's finale (The Wedding, Part 2 aired May 21, 2014), Pepper (Nathan Lane) orchestrated a change of wedding venues, while Jay and Gloria mend the broken relationship between Merle and Barb.