Spoilers ahed for the series finale of Parenthood.
Scripted television is becoming quite the exploratory and unpredictable form of entertainment. With so much quality programming ranging across network, cable, premium, and streaming services, the opportunity to create unexpected and exciting new work has never been better. One trend that has been increasing in hype and popularity is reboots of previously completed or cancelled series. Between The X-Files, Heroes Reborn, and Gilmore Girls: A Year in the Life it has become clear that fans of cancelled shows are more than willing to see their favorite characters make a comeback. And because of this, people are constantly asking those behind completed shows if there will be a reboot. Case in point: Parenthood and its creator Jason Katims.
Jason Katims recently had an interview with the folks over at TV Line, where he was asked if Parenthood would be making more episodes, like its star Lauren Graham's other project, Gilmore Girls. Unfortunately, it looks like the show will have to wait a few years before it would even make sense, given how the series ended.
There's nothing happening right now, but when the time is right I would love to revisit it. But the whole thing about Parenthood is the kids get a little older and their lives change and then there's more story to tell. I feel like that will happen at some point. And then it will be a question of, logistically, can we get the actors [back together] at the same time? And then we have to [find an outlet] that wants to [air] it.
This makes a pretty great deal of sense. While we'd all love new Parenthood episodes, it's not going to be a logical or exciting program to produce. The series finale simply gave us too much information.
For those who don't remember, Parenthood ended in a pretty glorious final montage. In the closing moments, everyone's favorite patriarch, Zeek Braverman, passed away in his living room. We are then shown the whole Braverman clan spread his ashes on his favorite baseball field, and begin a pick up game to celebrate their father/grandfather's life. During the joyful game we are given some flash forwards, where we see the future of the family. If this sounds familiar, it's because HBO's Six Feet Under famously did this during its final episode. In fact, actor Peter Krause filmed both of these montages, as he was a series regular in both shows.
While Parenthood's flash forwards don't go incredibly far in regards to years, it did give us a ton of closure. So logically, we'd have to wait until the cast ages appropriately in order for new episodes to make sense. We saw new babies born, school graduations, and a few years go by, so the audience would need to see what happens after those events. So it's going to be a while.
Would you like to see new episodes of Parenthood one day, or was the finale perfect the way it was? Sound off in the comments below.
