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I just started watching the show Parenthood a couple of years ago and I really enjoyed it. Then the A happened and I discovered that OW also watched the show but I wasn't going to let that stop me. But this season has been building up to just the thing I was dreading...an affair between one of the main characters and a "friend ". The last episode had the main character texting and calling her "friend " and discussing the issues in her marriage and family life with him. I felt ill watching the progression in their "relationship" and now I don't know if I can comtinue to watch the show. The one thing the show does have going for it is that they deal with issues based in reality as much as possible (from what I can tell from the past 2 years.)

Anyway, I was wondering if anyone else watches and if you were going to continue to watch to see how they portray infidelity.

I have watched it from the beginning. I'll continue to watch. But sigh, it would be nice if I didn't have to watch an infidelity trainwreck when I already had to experience it myself. Then again, it's so rampant that I guess shows, movies, books, media, etc are going to reflect it.

I've watched it since it started, and have loved the "realness" of it like you mentioned. But I've been dreading where this storyline was going all season. It's so disappointing! But I won't stop watching, even if I have to fast forward through some parts.

It is true that it is almost impossible to avoid. Because this is A season for me, it makes it really difficult to watch and not have mind movies going through my head. I may skip it until the fallout happens and then see if I can handle it and to see if they do justice to the repurcussions.

It makes me so sad. I love this show and I don't want to see Julia go down this path.
I guess it is going to show how easy it is for this to happen (you can tell she's struggling with it as she was all giggly from the text and then felt so guilty she went to visit the husband) and how it can happen to anyone.

In season 1 (maybe 2) Camille had an affair with her art teacher and we found out Zeke had had a LTR with another woman as well. I can't remember if all of the kids knew this or not.

I've been watching since the beginning and it is by far my all time favorite show. I too am watching the dreaded storyline with anxiety, but I will continue to watch because I believe/hope in true Parenthood form that they will tell it like it is and be real about it. I'm hoping it stops on the slippery slope and doesn't go into all out affair, but I have faith they will show the pain of it, the horror of it, etc. They will not romanticize an affair. But I get it, watching Julia and Joel on this path is awful.

ETA, I just realized I still haven't watched last night's episode, so maybe my stance will change, now I'm nervous!

[This message edited by OldCow18 at 10:49 AM, November 8th (Friday)]

In the first season the matriarch either had an EA or was on a slippery slope with her art instructor, right?
I hadn't suffered d-day at that point, and the A was dealt with quickly in the show.
Now she's headed off to Italy with her class...it made me think, "hmmm".

But the progression of the other current situation is triggery, for sure. Her face, while listening to his message, multiple times, just- argh.

Long time watcher here too, and I'm SO disappointed as to where this is heading.

What kills me is she's not talking to anyone about how she's really feeling, despite the family being close. She danced around it with her father and now her mother this week.

My hope is Crosby reels her back in somehow.

Argh.

AJ's MOM

It's one of my favorite shows. I spotted this storyline coming from the moment they got stuck working together at the school. I agree that parenthood does a good job with being real. I'm sure this is going to be more then an ea though with at least borderline pa if not full on pa and then Joel I'm sure is going to end up with a little pa or revenge affair with his boss too. Then we will have friend affair and work affair both covered...blah

I don't watch this show in particular, but I have watched other shows involving infidelity at times after d-day.

Some shows, I find triggering and I have to stop watching.

At the same time, I LOVE the walking dead, orange is the new black, and then goofy shows like family guy- all of which have infidelity in them at one point or another and for some reason have not triggered me.

Hopefully they portray it realistically and show all the pain of the fallout.

I spotted this storyline coming from the moment they got stuck working together at the school

Agreed - how she was at first annoyed with him then a few episodes later - BAM! - they're cooking dinner together and his wife comes home.

..finding it more and more difficult to watch TV period!! just too many triggers come up.

..had to walk out from Survivor last week when some comment was made about why so many women fall for the "Bad Boy" types..

..bfOM was seen as a 'Bad boy' by my W..

..i love watching 'car shows' and every time i flip one on.. there's a fucking Mustang in it..

..i can't seem to escape the damn things!

smy

Yes, I love this show, it makes me feel closer to my siblings. The A storyline is disappointing and sickening, but mostly it just makes me sad that this is something that is so common.

I am a fan of the show but I don't really trust them to handle it well. The mom did sleep with the art instructor. The very same art group she is taking a month long trip with.... Is that guy still around? Who knows.... They pushed that storyline under the rug so fast it gave you whiplash.

Julia's H, I can't remember his name, told her at the time that he 'would never cheat on her' uggh. He is on his own slippery slope himself right now.

I hope they handle this A better than the last one. We shall see...

Personally, I am having trouble focusing on any storylines of any kind. Just can't ever focus long enough to get hooked. No sitcoms, no rom-coms, no movies, no books . . . having trouble keeping house. Just exhausted and hopeless and lonely. Just sad, I guess.