‘Parenthood’ series finale review: Death, life, and baseball diamonds
There were many questions tonight when it comes to how “Parenthood” would come to a close, and we wondered just how hard the show would really try to answer this. This is not a series about surprising you so much as making you feel, to inspire you at times, or to at least realize that sometimes in your own life, you tend to take a few things for granted.
The big “event” of the episode was in many ways Sarah and Hank’s wedding, and we feel like it was everything you could have hoped for. Not only did Sarah finally have love and stability, but Max found a place for himself in the process. Finding a place was in a way something many struggled with on the show, and it took until the end for Adam to find his around the children he loved to encourage to support.
For a time, it felt almost as though the series would conclude without a significant character death. Then, we saw reality set in with Zeek. Did the show really need to do that? It’s hard to answer that entirely. The show certainly would have had a warmer, fuzzier ending without it, but it feels in a way necessary to the fabric of life. Death is inevitable, and many fans probably assumed that this was coming. Without this moment, everything else from the promotions to the new arrivals would have felt slightly too rosy. We only wish there was more time in the final minutes to truly honor him.
Our only fault in this episode lies with NBC, who could not find a way to give the show at least another 15 or so minutes to tell a complete story. The final montage with the baseball game and more felt a little rushed. This is not so much the show’s fault, but we did find ourselves wanting more; this can at least be a good thing, but there needs to be a balance.
We do leave “Parenthood” still for the most part with warm memories, and an appreciation that this show existed. There was nothing else like it on TV, and we’re not sure anything else will strike this same balance. Grade: A-.
What did you think about tonight’s series finale? Share with a comment.