All Forms of Art

If you're looking for a family drama that explores the ups and downs of raising children, Parenthood delivers exactly that. As the title suggests, the series revolves around parenting, following one extended family through the many stages of raising kids—from toddlers to teenagers and young adults. While it's undoubtedly a well-made show, it wasn't entirely my cup of tea. A Realistic Look at Parenting One of Parenthood 's biggest strengths is its honest portrayal of the challenges of family life. Every stage of parenting comes with its own struggles, and the show does a great job of highlighting the emotional highs and lows that parents face. That said, it sometimes felt like the writers packed every possible family problem into a single household. While this certainly keeps the drama moving, it also makes the series feel a little overwhelming and less believable for me. Familiar Faces, Familiar Characters Fans of Lauren Graham will probably be excited to see her ...

  Young Sheldon is a delightful surprise, blending humor, heart, and a touch of nostalgia. As a prequel to The Big Bang Theory , the show offers insight into the childhood of Sheldon Cooper, one of the most iconic characters in modern TV.  A Show That Grows Beyond Sheldon While you may start watching due to curiosity about Sheldon's early years, it soon becomes clear that this is not just about his childhood. The show includes an incredible variety of characters with their own charm and depth. Mary (Sheldon's religious yet compassionate mother), George (his often misunderstood father), and his siblings, Missy and Georgie, are all given their own moments to shine.  The cast and their chemistry make this show stand out. You start to care about each character's struggles and triumphs. This show quickly stands on its own as a heartfelt, family-driven sitcom. Especially in its last seasons, the show becomes a touching portrayal of small-town life, family dynamics, and persona...

From the very first episode, I found myself very fond of the characters in this show .  Autism is represented in a simple, general way. Nonetheless, with deep, meaningful relationships and without ignoring that, people on the spectrum have more in their lives than just a diagnosis.  [Spoilers ahead] Sam is a grown-up - what’s Elsa’s role now? Sam (Keir Gilchrist) has come of age, and it is time to go to college. A different environment, with different people and, most importantly, diverse and, perhaps, bigger challenges. Emancipation is hard, but he is ready. Elsa (Jennifer Jason Leigh), however… Sam’s mother is in a hard place about her marriage and her life. Sam doesn’t need her so much anymore, and she starts to feel lost. It’s quite common for parents, especially stay-at-home mothers, to start questioning the meaning of their lives and even the value of their efforts as soon as the kids stop being so dependent. It’s not difficult to imagine...

Many months have passed since we last saw Audrey (Alison Bell). Stevie is now one year old, and Audrey keeps trying to put her life back together.  ( If you didn’t watch the show yet, consider stopping reading - spoilers ahead. ) Endless work The sentiment of inadequacy and inferiority continues overwhelming Audrey, but she fights back. We can now see a different Audrey, trying to be more assertive and take control of her life. However, it's a difficult task, and she is always afraid of others' judgments. In the first episode, you might get caught by surprise when she is worried about what people will going to think about the cutlery she uses in Stevie’s birthday party. Motherhood seems to be easier for everybody else. It is, from the beginning, the most realistic part of the show. A new mom often feels so overwhelmed that she looks at other mothers and thinks it’s all easier for them. Abortion Season one ended with pregnancy news. After...

This was a very surprising show, in which disability is showcased in a natural, even sometimes fun way, clearly meant to show the audience that our focus should really be on the human being, beyond any apparent disabilities. True Empowerment  It’s a comedy, at times dark, and at times filled with strength, willpower, and motivational messages, and you can easily find yourself watching it for a couple of hours in a row since it only features eight 15-minute episodes.  It’s kind of autobiographical, but I had no idea at the time I watched it, so I’m giving my opinion on the impact it had on me, whilst unaware of that fact. Your Disability is NOT Who You Are The protagonist (Ryan O'Connell) is a gay guy with Cerebral Palsy, fighting to be able to be independent, have a job, and, like all of us, love.  He is somewhat ashamed of his health condition, also being very tired of not getting treated like any other person, so he tries to hide it, which tends to lead hi...

Atypical was a great surprise for me, a quite positive one at that.  The way they show and present autism, and a person on the spectrum with their own struggles, but also with every bit of usual teenage problems, just like everyone else, was for me a big step in moving forward.  It makes its contribution toward creating a more tolerant society and more informed people when it comes to autism. Family The whole story has a good structure. The way that this family, especially the mother ( Jennifer Jason Leigh), has her life revolve around her son’s problem is quite realistic. However, this is not just a show about disabilities. It’s a show about a family that happens to have a person on the spectrum in it. And most importantly, it shows us a realistic yet optimistic point of view, full of hope for many families out there. What does it feel like? By watching this show, you can have a closer idea of what a person on the spectrum might feel and think, an...

An Australian show about maternity. As well as that stage of life itself, The Let Down is often hilarious, dramatic, and chaotic.  We follow a recent mom through the day-to-day of her new life and all her problems. The doubts, the fears, and the constant state of exhaustion. A Feel-Good Story, Perfect Personal Timing As a mother of a young child, I particularly enjoyed this show because I can relate to it fully.  Dealing with the baby is actually easy, but dealing with the rest of our lives while taking care of the baby, that's the hard part. I think the show is really well done. If you have children, you’ll most likely immediately empathize with Audrey (Alison Bell - The Leftovers ) and the other women in her parenting group. If you’re not, you’ll probably laugh regardless, as it is a very hilarious time in people’s lives (especially for those who can sleep). What Let US Down Unfortunately, the show only has 7 episodes, but I'm already anxiously awa...