Friday, January 17, 2014

Day 17 of 365 (Hope and Discomfort)

Last night I watched the series Parenthood again. The episode was entitled Jump Ball. 

 The character most in focus in the episode was Hank. Hank is an adult who dated series regular Adam Braverman’s sister and who is a professional photographer. He has struck up a relationship with Max the Braverman’s son who has Aspergers. 

 Recently Max and Hank had a blow up clearly time to Maxcys Aspergers. In response Adam had given Hank a book on Aspergers and Hank suddenly has seen indications that he might be on the Autism Spectrum. 

 Hank not sure if he has Aspergers sought out an appointment with the Aspergers specialist Max sees. Hank goes to see a therapist and sit down for a session. When interviewing with the therapist Hank asks very bluntly (and in a very ASD manner) for a ballpark assessment as to whether he has the disorder. The response is a very cautious, “It’s a jump ball.” 

 Lots of other things were going on in the episode but one conversation stood out. It occurred when Adam Braverman told his wife that Hank was exploring the possibility he might have Aspergers. The back and forth was wonderful. 

 If only I had a transcript. After some searching I did find a clip. It is attached below. 

 The gist of the back and forth of this conversation is that the Braverman’s have discovered that an adult friend of theirs has been investigating whether he has Aspergers. The conversation is disjointed. They don’t wish the condition upon their friend but….if he does have it they see hope for their son that they might not have had previously. 

 Hank, their friend has a successful business. He has had romantic relationships. They note to each other none have ended well but as you will see in the clip the Braverman’s are thrilled “well at least he had them”. Hank has a daughter, she doesn’t speak to him, “but at least he has a daughter.” 

 In the possibility that a successful adult has the disorder the Braverman see hope for their son. Think I was squirming as I watched this? http://movies.yahoo.com/video/parenthood-jump-ball-111900681.html

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