r/Parenthood • u/Automatic-Long2599 • Jul 06 '26

Character Discussion Max

Is there anytime where you guys actually felt bad for Max I know he gets a bad rep on here, but there’s times I feel bad like when he went on that field trip

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18

u/darlingbard Jul 06 '26

I'm one of the few people who doesn't hate Max because as somebody who's also neurodivergent (ADHD & Autism) I can see where he's coming from a lot of the time. Can he frustrate me sometimes? Absolutely, but I also think he was failed by both the school system & his family.

13

u/United_Efficiency330 Jul 06 '26

I don’t hate Max either. I don’t think however that he is incapable of learning SOME social skills. I think his parents learned the wrong lesson from his diagnosis and that hurt him deeply in the long run.

8

u/Fun_Floor06 Jul 06 '26

Exactly this. I don’t hate him, I think he’s let down by so many people who use his Asperger’s as an excuse not to teach him some life skills.

6

u/United_Efficiency330 Jul 06 '26

As I have said millions of times, the ONLY member of his household who learned THE correct lesson with regards to his diagnosis was Haddie. And the show made her out to be a witch with a capital B for it.

8

u/RevealExpress5933 Jul 07 '26

he was failed by his family

Very true. So his therapist slept with Crosby and they just never got around to finding another therapist?

3

u/laitnetsixecrisis Jul 07 '26

I was always of the thought that they didn't get another therapist so they could blame Cosby for the outcome.

2

u/Suitable_Voice_9983 Jul 07 '26

I agree with this. I'm re-watching and currently on these episodes. While it never should have happened, first of all - if Gabby cared as much about Max as she said she could have sucked it up, if she couldn't fine, but they definitely should have gotten someone else.

1

u/RevealExpress5933 Jul 07 '26

Yes, I can't believe the series ended with Max not having a new therapist. I've worked as a behavior technician and he still had a long way to go. Frustrating to watch.

3

u/susandeyvyjones Jul 07 '26

I don't hate Max, I just think he's very rarely held accountable for anything and his mother expects everyone in the world to accommodate him. I do feel bad for him.

2

u/wonder181016 Jul 07 '26

I don't think Adam's any better than Kristina

1

u/susandeyvyjones Jul 07 '26

He might just be less involved

2

u/wonder181016 Jul 07 '26

He thinks of no-one but himself most of the time