'Parenthood' Recap: Episode 16, 'Tough Love'

This week’s episode of Parenthood, “Tough Love,” was just in time for Valentine’s Day as the episode showed viewers that everybody needs somebody.

This was especially true for Adam and Kristina’s son Max, who is living with Aspergers syndrome. In this episode, Max asks to sit out of gym because he feels isolated, since he is always picked last for teams and the other kids call him a loser. But Max finally finds a friend while riding the bench in gym class. Max meets Mica, who is a student at school in a wheel chair. They hit it off instantly and even have a play date. Max’s parents get instructions on how to watch out for Mica, considering his disability, but they don’t care about the extra work. They’re just ecstatic that Max finally has someone to call his friend.

Meanwhile, Sarah’s son Drew is finding it hard to cope with the fact that everybody needs companionship— his mother included. Drew is distraught when he is forced to come to the realization that his mother wants to get serious and try for a baby with Mark Cyr. Mark tries to take drew out for dinner to help him understand that he wont be losing his mother, but Drew cannot contain his emotions. He confesses to Marke that he is hurt and afraid that his mom is going to move on and have a new family without him. Drew cries and storms off at dinner. Later, Drew tells his Mom he has been secretly wishing she would get back together with Drew and Amber’s father, Seth. Unfortunately for Drew, Seth has been given more than enough chances by Sarah. At the end of the episode though, Sarah and Seth, talk on the phone and he sounds hurt that she is moving on as well. But doesn’t everybody know that Sarah can’t just wait around? It’s time for her to move on with someone she can truly love, without coming second to his addiction.

Another romance is blossoming as Amber accepts Bob Little’s invitation to accompany him on a business trip for the campaign. The trip turns from business to pleasure though, when Amber and Bob end up in a hotel room together. This doesn’t last long though since Haddie grew suspicious after she saw Amber pack high heels and sexy lingerie for her “business” trip. Haddie tells Kristina about this and Kristina goes to bust Amber at the hotel and takes her home.

Elsewhere, it seems that Zoe doesn’t believe that she needs anyone’s help to get by. She makes this very clear by turning down Julia’s offer at a paralegal position in the law firm. Julia is angry at Zoe’s unappreciative and unmotivated attitude. Zoe basically tells Julia to bud out. Zoe is content with her life as it is, even though she wont get very far without her high school diploma. In spite of their heated argument, Julia comes back to Zoe’s house with GED flash cards in hand. Viewers can see that Julia really does care about Zoe’s future, and not just the future of the baby she will adopt. Zoe can see this too and she finally gives in to the fact that maybe everybody really does need somebody.

Throughout the show, Crosby worries about his father, Zeke’s health, after he goes to the pharmacy and accidentally finds out that Zeke has several prescriptions. Zeke confesses that he has been hiding a heart condition to spare his children the worry.

And by the end of the episode viewers can see that nobody wants or deserves to have to go at it alone.

Watch Parenthood next Tuesday to see the birth of Julia and Joel’s new baby boy and to see if Crosby and Jasmine can really give it another go!