PARENTHOOD “Do Not Sleep with your Autistic Nephew’s Therapist” Review

PARENTHOOD “Do Not Sleep with Your Autistic Nephew’s Therapist” Season 2 Episode 17 – There are consequences galore from Crosby and Gaby’s night together in this emotionally intense episode of Parenthood. Meanwhile, Seth faces the music for his parental transgressions and Zeek and Camille may have found their way back to each other.

It’s amazing what a mess you can make with one decision, isn’t it? Crosby hurt Jasmine, Jabbar, Gaby, Max, and himself all at once. Couldn’t you just feel the raw pain permeating through this episode? Whatever issues he and Jasmine had to work out are now completely overshadowed by the fact that he cheated on her. I’m not sure they could even be revisited if Crosby and Jasmine get past the cheating because not only did he betray her, he also proved he is terrible at making decisions. Speaking of bad decisions-he never did legally formalize his relationship with Jabbar, and I think he will regret that very soon. I love Crosby, but sleeping with Gaby was selfish, stupid, and shortsighted. Wonderful work by Dax Shepard, though, with just the right mix of sadness, anger, shame, fear, and stubborn pride.

So Gaby’s motive was simply that she liked Crosby. Oh, ouch. No, she shouldn’t have slept with an engaged man, but I’m so glad that Kristina and Adam blamed Crosby, and not her. I am surprised she even told Kristina, though, and she probably should have stopped at ‘personal matter.’ Of course, then we wouldn’t have the set-up for what looks like a stunningly powerful episode next week.

I’m not sure how things will shake out with Crosby and Adam. Adam has always judged Crosby and now Crosby’s actions directly affect Max, so I can only imagine Adam’s anger. Their brotherhood will eventually pull them through, but this is going to leave a mark. I love the range Peter Krause has to show this episode: from the irritation with Alex to the frustration at being destroyed at basketball to rage and then dawning horror that Max heard he has Asperger’s.

Oh, Drew. Sweet, searching Drew. I was wrong when I said last week that I thought he would put Seth on too much of a pedestal. Drew may be an idealist, but he knew exactly who Seth was and that he would leave again and he was just trying to delay it as long as possible. “If he was a real dad, nothing you could have done would have made him leave.” The Drew-Amber scenes and the way their relationship unfolds this episode is phenomenal. It’s all so real and heart wrenching and when Amber finally breaks and unloads years of pain on her father, it’s such a tortuous catharsis. Then, when Amber sings Seth’s song–talk about a blubber fest. “We’ll always have each other.” Yes, they will. I don’t know if/when Seth will be back, but I think his story has played out well and he is rightfully humbled tonight. John Corbett knocked it out of the park, but he’s still over-shadowed by Mae Whitman and Miles Heizer.

“I don’t want to be let off the hook. Not anymore.” That is serious growth for Sarah. She is seeing herself and her life clearly and accepting both as they are. She protects her children and makes some sort of peace with her marriage, finally freeing herself to look to the future. “I’m just the guitar player, but you’re the artist.” Given her writing at the end of the episode, I do believe we have seen a glimpse of Sarah’s next story arc, and I like it. I’m so glad Parenthood moved away from Sarah’s love life to focus on her as a person and a parent for a while.

On the lighter side, we have Sydney, who is now a vegetarian because her friend Ella is. I probably shouldn’t even give an opinion on the Zeek-Julia argument since I’m not a parent, but I have to say, I think Zeek was right about telling Julia to eat one dinner or the other (though not about telling her he ate dog in Vietnam). Vegetarianism is terrific, but Camille did make a second dinner, so that was covered and Sydney’s bubbly “I’ll just have dessert” is a tad on the entitled side. I had to eat what I was served as a kid and my spirit wasn’t squelched, so I think Sydney will be just fine. Zeek thanking Camille is so touchingly lovely. She finally gets some of the appreciation she wants and some of the acknowledgement she deserves and he gets the partner he’s been missing. He also gets pretty darn lucky. Is this the first time since their separation, do you think?

This is a strongly written, tremendously acted episode of Parenthood. I like the juxtaposition of the immediate fallout from Crosby’s current mistake to the scars left by Seth’s years of screw-ups. The Seth/Sarah/Amber/Drew scenes are once again almost uncomfortably real, and I’m thrilled to see Camille, and Zeek take a step toward each other.

What did you think of the episode? Will Crosby and Jasmine get past his cheating? Should they? Do you think Seth will come back? Let me know in the comments.

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