As we prepare to empty our tear ducts during the “Parenthood” finale on Thursday, the HuffPost newsroom gathered to reflect on the six seasons we’ve spent with the Bravermans. Here are the 10 times that beautiful family made us cry the hardest. (NOTE: If we were counting all the times it made us cry, this would just be a list of all 103 episodes).
When Amber tells Zeek that she named her son Zeek.
This literally just happened at the end of the penultimate episode of the entire series, but I don’t think that means it should be disqualified. I wept. Buckets. And I wasn’t even shocked: Amber naming her baby after Grandpa Braverman is something “Parenthood” telegraphed so hard throughout this final season that it may as well have been included in the opening credits. (“May God bless and keep you always, and name babies after Zeek.”) It’s just, damn, both Mae Whitman and Craig T. Nelson sell the moment so well that it actually felt like I was watching members of my own family. The joy and fear in Zeek’s face — at once so happy to be alive for this moment and so scared of not being around for so many future moments — was devastating. Amber never looked so happy. I’m going to cut this blurb here because it’s making me emotional all over again. Curse you, Jason Katims! — Christopher Rosen
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When Max gives Kristina money for her campaign.
One of my biggest “Parenthood” crying moments was a little bit unexpected. I cried a lot when Kristina got breast cancer, so when she decided to really seize life and run for mayor in Season 5, I was seriously rooting for her. I loved Heather, I loved Kristina’s determination and I loved when she turned down that rich developer’s huge donation, even though she didn’t have the funds to run. The best part came at the end of the episode, when Max handed Kristina a $20 dollar bill and told her she should still run. Out of nowhere, I burst into tears. Max believed in his mom, just like I did, and it was the best. — Leigh Weingus
Okay, fine, just really anything with Kristina.
It might be because Monica Potter looks like she’s about to cry at any given moment. Or it might be the cards life dealt her (a son with special needs, cancer). Or the hardships she creates herself (running for mayor, building a school). Whatever the reason, when the warmest, most caring and loving member of the Braverman clan enters, I preemptively weep. It’ll end up making sense later. — Liat Kornowski
