<p>That lunch story drove me wild. I don’t know what was more ridiculous, that Kristina couldn’t say, “This is what we serve, we encourage you to send a lunch to school with your child if he has special dietary needs.” or Adam dropping everything to take over as chef, or kids in the kitchen playing with fire and knives, or having an instant response to a need. It was all ridiculous. There is a school near me (in CA) with a similar mission to Kristina’s school and I just checked their lunch program (this is what the show drove me to). They ask for no peanuts in lunches, they offer hot lunch and the encourage parents to send healthy lunches and snacks. There was nothing about special accommodations for particular diets. No school can have a special lunch for every kid and no school would even want the responsibility of figuring out who gets what. </p>
<p>Not to mention that going to Whole Foods to buy 40 made-to-order lunches is ridiculous. Probably cost them $20 a pop! There wasn’t a cheaper alternative? </p>
<p>The school thing, since it began, is my least favorite story line. There’s a whole Mickey-Rooney-“Hey, let’s put on a show” quality to it that is just not to be believed.</p>
<p>I agree – it’s also kind of disrespectful as a plot line, because it fails to acknowledge just how difficult it is to provide that sort of school program. There also seems to be a dearth of staff at the school… doesn’t seem to be any sign of real teachers on the premises, much less the type of support staff or therapists you might expect to see with a specialized students for ASD students. </p>
<p>Dissapointed in this story.
Over the years I had about given up on Grey’s Anatomy but they finally let the characters grow up and this opening was delightful. While Parenthood seemed silly.</p>
<p>For some reason my DVR didn’t record this week’s episode. I was annoyed but after reading the comments here, it sounds as though all I missed was more annoyance at the ridiculous school storyline.</p>
<p>I agree that the school lunch storyline was implausible. A school offers a lunch menu that meets common dietary guidelines and parents pack food if it isn’t compatible. End. Of. Story.</p>
<p>Where is Drew this year? And why was Hattie in first episode but not at Zeke 's party?</p>
<p>One last thought regarding Sarah… If my unattached daughter just told me she was pregnant, I could not buy party hats and flounce in to a party with a crown on my head. </p>
<p>Love this show but the “compartmentalizing” these people do is unbelievable!</p>
<p>Also disliked the school story. Just silly.</p>
<p>I love the way Julia told off Joel, even though I love him. As I said at the time, Joel being unwilling to go to counseling just made no sense. Of course, I still want them to get back together.</p>
<p>For probably the first time ever, I felt sorry for Sarah. To see Amber repeating her mistakes must be difficult.</p>
<p>I’m glad Zeek is having the surgery. I predict Amber will have a son and name him Zeek.</p>
<p>If she does, I hope she spells it correctly. 
Nowhere other than this show have I ever seen it spelled Zeek and not Zeke.</p>
<p>Just watched the show. Yes, the school story lunch thing is crazy, and I would expect, if the school chose to offer it, a lunch that was gluten and casein free. Sure Adam was able to drop everything and knew how to cook lunch for many, supervise kids, and be code compliant without training. </p>
<p>The surgery thing is crazy as well. People who need valve replacements are pretty compromised with shortness of breath and the least of his worries is occasional fainting. And it’s not fainting in that you are well, you faint, and then your well again. Plus, why are the kids suddenly gung ho for surgery when they seemingly don’t know much about it (of course Adam suddenly become expert at that) and just pronounce “he needs it.” It’s rarely that simple. Maybe a second opinion as opposed to the strong arm approach?</p>
<p>I love Julia’s scene</p>
<p>Spelling it Zeek. Aack. Just weird. But I like the show’s page on FB, and that is how they spell it.</p>
<p>I also do not care for the school storyline. I am hoping we get to see more of Drew. I usually don’t like Julia, but I like her so far this season. Sydney has always been a brat and a bully, so I don’t get quite how they blame it entirely on the family situation. Zeek (Zeke?) and Ambers scene was very touching. I feel like if the thoughtful seemingly competent doctor thinks he needs surgery, he needs surgery, but agree that the medical facts don’t quite add up. My favorite parts are always when they are all together. </p>
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<p>She has. That little girl is a very good actor. That is truly the strength of this show, that it has been cast with excellent actors.</p>
<p>p.s. I miss Drew.</p>
<p>Yes, that actress is fantastic, because I have never liked Sydney! :)</p>
<p>At least that storyline with Sydney is a bit more believable. Kristina, the new school, lunch crisis - really ??</p>
<p>I am pretty sure that I saw the young man who plays Max on Nashville briefly last night. Anyone else see him or was I delusional?</p>
<p>Drew will be back tonight, according to the summary.</p>
<p>This is pretty fun: <a href=“So, Is The Rest Of 'Parenthood' Just Going To Be Zeek Slowly Dying? | HuffPost Entertainment”>HuffPost - Breaking News, U.S. and World News | HuffPost;
<p>I didn’t see him, 2VU. Yea about Drew. Did you see this???</p>
<p><a href=“Jason Ritter Is Returning To "Parenthood" For The Final Season”>Jason Ritter Is Returning To "Parenthood" For The Final Season;
<p>Did some digging on IMDB and I was wrong. The actor who was on Nashville trying to hit on Maddie looks like the guy who plays Max, but obviously someone different once I looked on IMDB.</p>