I have seven shows to watch on Tuesday, and I still haven't watched NCIS: Los Angeles yet. I'll probably be switching off between reviewing Southland and Parenthood.
There's no time for me to do into plot detail, but it's much like the original movie with the kid with Asperger Syndrome. There's a large extended family and a little black kid that arrives. The ensemble cast allows for lots of stories and lots of dysfunction.
I was hoping for more comedy, but it never really came. There were moments when the smart writing and acting made the episode funny, but for the most part, the episode was mired in excessive melodrama between all the characters. For a pilot episode, I would have liked to see the lighter side of the show before delving into deeper issues. It's a dramedy, and the pilot clearly took the side of drama, so that's probably how the show will advance. Melodrama, heartwarming scenes, and a bit of humor. Is that enough?
I pointed out in the Preview of the Week that Parenthood would probably be like Modern Family with real issues. It goes further, showing the real issues and having the pathos Modern Family lacks.
Score: 8.7/10
