Rather than speeding things up in the race to the finish, “Remember Me” brought some of the season’s most volatile situations to a grinding halt. The episode was filled with stellar performances and near silent scenes that spoke far more powerfully than any amount of noisy dialogue could have.
After the embarrassing interruption to her date with Bob Little last week, Amber “voluntarily” left the campaign, leaving Sarah to ask Kristina what was going on. Cue Mama bear show down. Of course they both had Amber’s best interests at heart, but their clashing parenting styles were essentially what elevated the argument. Kristina eventually apologized to Sarah and then Amber about the way that things had happened, and I think Amber recognised that Kristina had acted out of love and protection. Meanwhile, Mark and Sarah are considering making the move to New York once Drew is finished high school. Sarah was visibly excited, yet still dubious about the idea considering how much Amber needs her at the moment. Parenthood wouldn’t work without any one of the Bravermans, so I doubt this move will come to fruition the way Mark hopes.
Crosby and Jasmine headed off on a school camping trip with Jabbar; it was genuinely heart warming to see them together as a family having a Johnny Cash singalong in the weathered Braverman tent. Sharing marshmallows and sleeping quarters was bound to bring out some wistful emotions in Crosby, but I so didn’t expect Jasmine’s sudden proposal. It was almost frustrating that the scene moved me so much, given my previous stance on Crosby and Jasmine’s relationship. I’ve really enjoyed watching their relationship change as they co-parented as separate, single entities, and I think Parenthood could have provided so many more interesting storylines for their characters in this situation. Like it or not, I was balling.
By far the most emotional storyline we saw come to a head this 
episode was the birth of Julia and Joel’s (or Zoe’s) baby boy. From Zoe’s frantic call in the supermarket, to Julia sneaking out to steal frozen yoghurt, to the dramatically painful labour – it was brilliant. The birthing scene was particularly powerful, as there were so many conflicting emotions from all sides. With so much doubt throughout the season as to whether Zoe would cave and want to keep the baby, I was convinced that she wouldn’t. As soon Julia saw Zoe bonding with that beautiful baby boy, we all knew it was over. And it was absolutely heart breaking, again without the use of any dialogue whatsoever. Erika Christiansen and Rosa Salazar both performed brilliantly this episode, and their strengthened bond only made the final scene more overwhelming.
With all of these emotionally conflicting situations culminating at the same time, it was no surprise that I had tears literally streaming down my face for the final five minutes. On the one hand I was feeling Julia’s devastation at losing the baby – Erika Christiansen absolutely nailed her emotional break down in the hospital room – but on the other I was uplifted by Jasmine and Crosby’s reunion (helped along by the pouring rain and Death Cab For Cutie’s “Transatlanticism”). Next week Crosby and Jasmine’s nuptials will bring the season to a close, and it’s sure to go out with a big bang.
Top Five tear-inducing moments:
5. Amber and Sarah’s Mumma hug – no words, just love.
4. Crosby, Jasmine and Jabbar dancing in the rain after the proposal.
3. Zoe telling Julia she loved her in the delivery room.
2. Julia walking in on Zoe being maternal with the baby.
1. Julia’s break down in the hospital.
I felt a bit cheated at the end, because of the switch away from the (in my view, far more compelling) Julia and Zoe storyline, back to Crosby and stupid Jasmine.
I agree it would have been more interesting to keep them apart. I suppose the show might have been aiming for the episode to end on a more happy note than Julia’s silent devastation (or sad Amber reaching out to Sarah) but for me the C&J reunion didn’t ring true. Jasmine’s change of heart just seems like another in her long line of selfish, fickle decisions made with Jabbar’s interests way down her list of priorities. And I can’t believe they told Jabbar straight away without thinking about telling Joe he just lost his new family, or making new living arrangements, or anything.
I would much rather have had the fade to black after Julia and Zoe’s unspoken moment, and Julia’s lonely meltdown. Switching to Crosby and Jasmine at the point just made me frustrated, and sucked a lot of the power out of the Julia and Zoe moment.
Erika Christensen owned all her scenes in this episode, and although I predicted the outcome a mile away it was still incredibly heartbreaking.
I’m annoyed at the Crosby/Jasmine stuff. It way to quick a resolution and tied in a neat bow. I much prefer him with the Courtney Ford character but probably because I have a huge amount of disdain for Jasmine.
Also, the Death Cab song at the end (one of my all time favourites) was just perfect. Don’t want the show to end next week
Ok so I finally caught up on these last couple of episodes and I can only say how amazing they were. I agree the Crosby and Jasmine thing is annoying but it was always going that way.
I can’t fault your review Lucy, you nailed it. I would only add a single addition to your list of amazing stuff, and not to take away from Erika Christensen but the look on Sam Traeger’s face as he sheparded their daughter back into the elevator was incredible. The man is a shining light in an already blindingly good cast.