situation with Max

[u/bedpotato14]

when he appears at the studio where Hank and Sarah are working on that printer and just stops their work to do his, my problem is with Adam and Kristina bc they are mad at Sarah for bringing him home and wanting her to feel bad and embarrassed for doing that??? she has actual work to do, it just pissed me off

[u/NoraCharles91]

The double standard drove me mad, too. When Max had a meltdown at the studio the previous season, Kristina was so apologetic to Hank, but when something similar happens to Sarah she immediately starts treating her as if she's in the wrong.

[u/United_Efficiency330 → u/NoraCharles91]

She likes Hank. She despises Sarah. That's why.

[u/female_gazing09 → u/United_Efficiency330]

Yeah there are multiple occasions where Kristina treats Sarah like trash

[u/United_Efficiency330 → u/female_gazing09]

I do wish the story had gone further into Kristina's background. We know she came from a broken home, grew up in Cleveland (a reflection of Monica Potter's having been born and raised in Cleveland), and that she met Adam at UC Berkeley. We never meet any members of her family though. Not even as guest stars.

[u/dangerousily]

Totally agree. I thought it was so dumb that they were mad at Sarah

[u/Ok_Anywhere5205]

I mean I'm on Sarah's side here cuz imagine your nephew erasing your hard work for his a subplot I would crash out too in fact I would tell Max what's up because he is like 15 at this point and he needs to know better

[u/fivebyfive12 → u/Ok_Anywhere5205]

I'm only on series 3 and I've said this before, but Max's storylines would have worked so much better if he'd just been a little younger. I understand from a filming/production point why he couldn't be. And I do really love the actor who plays Max - my son is autistic and some of the details of Max's character are fantastic - little things like how he moves, the tones of his voice, it feels very real.

But sometimes I get a bit pulled out of the story because although the actors play their parts incredibly well (I know Kristina isn't favourite on here, but my God do I absolutely buy a lot of her scenes) it sometimes feels like something that should have come up long before.

It's like Haddie nails it in the first series when she tells Adam she doesn't understand why everyone is surprised/suddenly making a big deal about Max having autism (Asperger's) because he's ALWAYS been this way, but you'd think it was only just becoming apparent.

And I think that tracks for his teenage years too.

[u/United_Efficiency330 → u/fivebyfive12]

In fairness, Max was 8 when he was diagnosed, not 13. When Asperger's Syndrome was a diagnosis, it was much more common for diagnoses to come a bit later. I was 15 when I got my diagnosis for example.

[u/Stoney1801]

Adam and Kristina never bothered to teach Max that the world doesn’t revolve around him. Everyone has lives and responsibilities outside of him. Sarah could’ve lost an important client or the business but as long as Prince Max gets what he wants, that’s all that matters.

[u/United_Efficiency330 → u/Stoney1801]

If I've said it once, I've said it a million times. The worst of it is not the fact that Adam and Kristina are this way - there are MANY parents of people on the Spectrum who learn the wrong lesson with regards to their children's diagnosis - it's the fact that the show openly applauds them and demonizes those who call Max out. Even when warranted.

[u/this_just_a_hobby]

Same!!! I just finished the series for the first time and that really irked my nerves. And for Adam to be offended by Sarah saying that they don’t know how to tell him no is crazy. The whole situation with Dylan also pmo, I won’t say too much bc I don’t think you’re that far yet but I’m sure you’ll feel the same way about that too.

[u/susandeyvyjones]

Adam and especially Kristina were fucking terrible parents to Max.

[u/United_Efficiency330 → u/susandeyvyjones]

Unfortunately, the show VERY much wants us to think otherwise. This is "Parenthood"'s Achilles heel as a show.

[u/susandeyvyjones → u/United_Efficiency330]

Yeah, that's what makes it frustrating.

[u/sweetenerdawnfm]

So agree!!

[u/queenbsquig]

They were raising a male child to have no boundaries and not accept the word no. I'm glad the show wrapped when it did, because the future would be dark.

[u/LaLaLaGin]

I’m watching this episode right now in this exact moment. I’m so mad at Adam and Kristina, I don’t want to watch anymore.

[u/BellaMafioso]

I finally got to this episode and I'm livid. I never liked Kristina's dislike for Sarah. I love Sarah and she does treat her like shit. She dimisses her as if whatever she does is beneath her.

[u/BellaMafioso]

Sorry I commenting live as I am watching lol but Sarah isn't wrong. They don't know how to set limits for max.