8. Parenthood
Parenthood is perhaps one of the most underrated and under appreciated shows on television today. Becoming a parent and dealing with parents is an integral part of growing up and this show reinforces the fact that we are always growing. Following the lives of the extended Braverman clan, this show makes you feel the entire spectrum of emotions almost on top of one another. And speaking of on top of each other, one of Parenthood's major strengths is that it trusts the audience is smart enough to understand that conversations are often not back and forth, but a jumble of opinions being voiced over one another. This is especially true when it comes to family and relationships. Parenthood is so accessible to all audiences because it has entry points for any age. Whether you are an aging patriarch, a single mom trying to get her life back on track, or a teenager trying to break out of your shell, the multi-layered plots include a rotation of situations for all stages of life. Furthermore, it looks at the same situation but simultaneously from different angles. As an audience, we understand that Drew does not like his mother dating his teacher, but we also want Sarah to be happy. We want Julia's adoption to succeed, but her other child Sydney is being ignored and her feelings of resentment make sense. The breadth of situations allow us to permit seemingly preachy story lines like Max's Asperger's and the beautifully handled cancer story line for Christina. Like most shows about family, Parenthood's strength is in its cast. As a viewer, you believe that they are a family and yearn for the scenes when all 4 main siblings are together, even the ones you do not like quite as much. Although I have never seen a family that has dance parties as much as the Bravermans do with one another, I sure would like to be part of one. And I would be remiss if I did not point out that Dax Shepard came to play.