‘Parenthood’: The Complete Series Blu-Ray Review – Heartfelt Family Drama Reaches All-Time Greatness

Family always comes first with the Braverman’s in this stunning collection that captures every wise, warm and witty moment from the critically lauded series. From executive producers Ron Howard, Brian Grazer and Jason Katims comes all six seasons of Parenthood, the dramatic series that touches on all the rewarding and real aspects of being a parent, child or sibling. Join an all-star cast, including Peter Krause, Lauren Graham, Dax Shepard and Erika Christensen, as they take on raising babies, toddlers, tweens, teens and even older parents in this gratifying collection guaranteed to make you “nostalgic for memories that aren’t even your own” (Tierney Bricker, E! Online). It’s 103 episodes that prove every family is perfect in its own imperfect way.

For thoughts on Parenthood: The Complete Series, please check out our discussion on The Video Attic:

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Video Quality

Parenthood: The Complete Series arrives on Blu-Ray with a very fetching AVC encoded 1080p transfer in 1.78:1. This release brings all six seasons together for the first time in high definition with 103 episodes on 23 discs. This is never a show we expected to see in high definition, but now that we have it we could not be more thrilled. The series is not too visually ambitious, but it conjures a sense of familial warmth with its cinematography as you would want from a family drama. The levels of detail this presentation is able to eek out is really terrific, as all of the subtle details in the clothing and production design are easily identifiable. 

The series avoids being garishly lit, choosing instead to find rich, deep nuances within the colors on screen. Black levels are appropriately deep and give way to a fine amount of detail in shadows. The highlights of the show do not fall victim to any blooming in this presentation. Skin tones appear very natural across the entire cast. There are no egregious instances of aliasing or compression artifacts detectable throughout this arc. We have some of the older DVD releases of the series, and the jump in quality is significant. The Blu-Ray presentation is such a welcome surprise for this gem of a series. 

Audio Quality

This Blu-Ray comes with a DTS-HD 5.1 Master Audio track that handily brings these stories to life throughout all six seasons. Dialogue always comes through clearly without being stepped on by the gentle score, songs or any sound effects. Kinetic moments are very sparse but are given the appropriate power in the mix when the low end needs to be engaged. Ambient sounds are also precisely placed in the rear channels. The show features some memorable music that often fills the room and perfectly complements the drama on screen. The audio track is a homerun which supports this show very well. There are optional English SDH subtitles provided. 

Special Features

Season One

• Audio Commentaries

• • Pilot: Executive Producer Jason Katims and Director Thomas Schlamme

• Deleted Scenes: There is 22 minutes of unused material provided here which includes some engaging and amusing moments that were cut for time. 

• Get To Know Your Parents: A 13-minute piece in which the cast and creative team discuss the genesis of the series, how it explores heartfelt themes, the cast and characters and more. 

Season Two

• Audio Commentaries

• • If This Boat Is A Rockin’: Actor Peter Krause and Director Allison Liddi-Brown

• • Just Go Home: Actor Lauren Graham and Executive Producer Lawrence Trilling

• • Do Not Sleep With Your Autistic Nephew’s Therapist: Executive Producer Jason Katims

• Deleted Scenes: There is nine minutes of unused material provided here which includes some engaging and amusing moments that were cut for time.  

• From Page To Screen: A nearly 15-minute piece which takes a look at the production process with a specific focus on the episode entitled “New Plan” from the breaking of the story to filming and completion. 

Season Three

• Audio Commentaries

• • Remember Me, I’m The One Who Loves You: Executive Producer Jason Katims

• • My Brother’s Wedding: Actor Mae Whitman and Executive Producer Lawrence Trilling

• Deleted Scenes: There is 16 minutes of unused material provided here which includes some engaging and amusing moments that were cut for time.  

Season Six

• Farewell – A Parenthood Retrospective: A lovely 14-minute look back at the series with the cast and creative team. 

Final Thoughts

Parenthood was always a steady player on the NBC lineup during its run, but it never quite got the shine of more buzzy shows. It is time for it to be recognized as one of the great family dramas of the past few decades. The way in which it portrayed family was always grounded in truth, and it tackled numerous challenging storylines with nuance and grace. Characters had their frustrating moments, but you were always invested in their journey. The show was often hilarious, but it knew how to strike an emotional chord that would leave you a sobbing mess. The series also knew how to wrap everything up in a way that cemented it as a classic you long to return to again and again. Universal Home Entertainment has released a stellar complete series Blu-Ray set featuring a top-notch A/V presentation and an expansive selection of special features. If you appreciate a well-executed family drama with complex, adult storytelling, this set will bring you many hours of joy. Highly Recommended 

Parenthood: The Complete Series can be purchased directly through MovieZyng or through various other online retailers.

Note: Images presented in this review are not reflective of the image quality of the Blu-Ray.

Disclaimer: Universal Home Entertainment has supplied a copy of this disc free of charge for review purposes. All opinions in this review are the honest reactions of the author.