Parenthood "Just Like at Home"

I sure missed Parenthood during the break. The whole Julia/Joel situation is really stressing me out and I need to know what is going to happen. It is heartbreaking to watch Joel, Julia and the kids try to adjust to Joel moving out, and it's even harder because it seems so unnecessary. I totally understand why Joel is hurt and angry. He is justified in that, but I don't think he should give up so easily. It's obvious that he still loves Julia and she definitely doesn't want to give up. I hope that he can see past his hurt and anger soon and bring his family back together.

I love the Braverman siblings. I wish that I had three siblings that would drop everything and come hang out with me when I'm having a hard time, like Julia's did in this episode (not that my siblings aren't great). The family dynamic on Parenthood is what makes the show so great. They are all there for each other in a way that makes you wish you were part of it, but at the same time they aren't perfect. They have real life problems and flaws. This show is dramatic, funny, sad and happy all at once. It's fantastic. If you aren't watching it yet, you need to start! 

I tend to fixate on one storyline at a time, this season is Julia and Joel, last season it was Christina. But there are actually other things going on on the show. Sarah is starting to move on with a guy who seems really great, but then there's Hank, Drew finally confronted Amy about her hiding out in his dorm, Crosby is trying to understand Camille and Zeek deciding to put their house on the market and Adam and Christina are finally taking some time to themselves after a very difficult year. 

-Chelsea

Grey's Anatomy

"Take It Back"

I think this is probably the show I have been most excited for after the winter break. I honestly haven't been very excited about Grey's in a very long time, but the winter finale ended on a really great cliffhanger, and I love Jackson and April as a couple, so I've been giddy at the prospect of them finally being together. And I mean really being together, not just banging in bathroom stalls.

But before we get to that, I really want to discuss Jimmy. I adore James Remar, and I was so excited to see him in Grey's. He's been in two of my other top five favorite shows (Dexter and The Vampire Diaries), and I've loved him in both of those, so I was really pleased that he was going to be playing Alex's father. Especially since this is a character that his been talked about for a very long time, but we've never seen. Because of this and the fact that James Remar is such a great actor, I had really high expectations for Jimmy. And I wasn't let down. I think Remar did a great job at playing the part, and I could really see him reflect some of the bad traits we've seen in Alex over the years. I was really pretty heartbroken to see him die. I was hoping we would get to see him redeem himself a bit more before he went, but such is (TV) life.

Now onto the really good stuff....Jackson and April! I'm so happy that she picked him. I disliked April quite a lot when she first came on the show, but she's grown on me over the past season. And I love that Jackson kind of challenges everything she's ever known or believed in. I think she also brings him down to earth a bit. While they will never compare to Derek and Meredith in the early years, I think they are the new exciting couple on the show. I was worried throughout the episode that she had just freaked out and left him after the car scene at the beginning of the episode. So when we saw them together at the very end, secretly married, I got thirteen-year-old-girl excited. Grey's hasn't given me the butterflies and squees like that in a very long time, and I loved it. It'll be really interesting to see what happens with their relationship next week with the new rule the hospital is enforcing about not dating coworkers. They better not get torn apart!

It looks from the previews though like Alex and Jo might not be so lucky. They are my other favorite couple on the show. Despite the fact that he's been around since the beginning, I honestly feel indifferent about Alex. I don't hate him, but I don't love him either. But I really love Jo (she actually might be my favorite character on the show), and I think she's really good for him. I guess we will see what happens.

-LC