I feel that this episode was supposed to be something else. With Parenthood's renewal is still up in the air, I think this episode struggled with what it had to be and what it wanted to be. Because of this, there was mild disappointment.
For example, if Parenthood had been renewed a few months ago, I don't think we would have gotten this episode. Sure, some parts might have remained the same. Adam would have still been fired, and he would have still found the pregnancy test in the trash. Julia would have still decided to adopt at the end of the season. But would Jasmine have been so open to seeing Crosby's crib? Would Amber have gotten out of that hospital so easily — and become so remorseful?
My guess is no — at least for Amber. Crosby, well, he impressed me with what he said to Jasmine in this episode and really showed himself to be an adult, so I guess that might've still happened. But Amber, I'm sure, would either still be in that hospital bed (possibly unconscious), or we'd see her going down another unhappy path by the end of the hour.
I'm not saying this show had a tidy bow, but you could certainly end the series on this note without too much horror from the fans. After all, this wasn't anything like the finale of V (which I still hope gets renewed). In fact, I do hope Parenthood gets picked up, just to see what really does happen with Adam's job search, and I hope Joel and Julia can adopt. Sarah could have a new career ahead of her. Who knows?
But I am disappointed a little in seeing the end of this season. I was amped up with Amber's accident. It's not that I wanted her to die, but to have such a fast build-up to her spiral downward, only to have it fixed by one accident really bothered me. I wanted to see real repercussions. I mean, we didn't even see Cappy Gary after the accident. Supposedly he's getting a DUI. But that's it? I was expecting that if she didn't die or have some horrendous medical problem after this accident that left her unable to walk for a few episodes or in a coma, at least he would. Then she could at least have guilt.
Was that morbid?
What did impress in the episode (beyond Crosby, as said above) was Max. As much as I just wanted to yell at him, we were ever more reminded of what Adam and Kristina have to deal with every day. His response in the hospital was horrifying, but his question to Adam about whether he was angry at him for his Asperger's was such a real moment that it really balanced it out. Max's awareness actually made a difference; sure, he might have immediately put the marker away that his father was using incorrectly, but he did apologize to Sarah, which was great.
Overall, it certainly wasn't a bad episode of Parenthood. I just wish the show had been in a better position off-screen, so it could have lived up to its true potential.
On the PopPressed Radar
Recycled Glasses We Covet 
Crumpled City Maps 
Chloe Sevigny's Apartment, Two Ways
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