Ep 2. Man Versus Possum

The episode starts with Adam Braverman (Peter Krause) and his wife Kristina (Monica Potter) dealing with their son Max's (Max Burkholder) Asperger's diagnosis. Kristina is researching on the internet, while Adam is struggling to come to terms with the news. Max is shown to have difficulty making friends and following social cues, which is causing trouble at school. Kristina suggests they consider moving him to another school, where he can get more individualized attention.

Meanwhile, Sarah (Lauren Graham) is trying to get her life back on track after a failed marriage. She is staying with her parents (Craig T. Nelson and Bonnie Bedelia), who are a bit overbearing. Her son Drew (Miles Heizer) is shown to be a bit shy and reserved, and is having trouble making friends at his new school. Sarah gets a job at a nearby bar, where she meets a musician named Mark (Jason Ritter).

Julia Braverman-Graham (Erika Christensen) is a successful lawyer, but is finding it hard to balance her work and family life. Her husband Joel (Sam Jaeger) is a stay-at-home dad, and they are struggling to get their daughter Sydney (Savannah Paige Rae) potty trained. Julia is also dealing with her competitive nature at work, where her colleague Racquel (Erinn Hayes) is gunning for the same promotion.

Crosby (Dax Shepard) is a carefree guy, who has just found out that he has a son named Jabbar (Tyree Brown) from a previous relationship. He is trying to bond with his son, but is finding it hard. His ex-girlfriend Jasmine (Joy Bryant) is not too keen on him being a part of Jabbar's life, but Crosby is determined to be a good father.

In this episode, the Braverman siblings are dealing with their own problems, when they are faced with a common enemy – a possum that has made its way into their childhood home. Joel is tasked with getting rid of the possum, but he is scared of it. He enlists Crosby's help, but their attempts to catch the possum are comical and ineffective.

As they are distracted by the possum, Max wanders off from his school field trip. His parents are frantic, and Adam steps up to search for him. He eventually finds Max at a museum, where he has been admiring a dinosaur exhibit. This experience helps Adam realize that Max has an affinity for certain topics, and he should encourage his interests.

Meanwhile, Sarah is trying to get Drew excited about the school dance, but he is not interested. Mark comes to the rescue, and takes Drew under his wing, giving him guitar lessons and advice on girls. Sarah is happy to see Drew opening up to Mark and making progress.

Julia is struggling to find time for potty training, and enlists her mother's help. But her mother's methods are old-fashioned, and cause more harm than good. Julia eventually realizes that she needs to trust her own instincts and find her own way of parenting.

In the end, the possum is caught, and the Braverman siblings come together to celebrate their victory. Max's school principal informs Adam and Kristina that he knows of a school that would be a better fit for Max, and they decide to pay it a visit. Crosby bonds with Jabbar over their failed possum-catching attempts, and Sarah has a heart-to-heart talk with her father about her life choices.

Overall, this episode highlights the challenges and joys of family life. The Braverman siblings are shown to be flawed and imperfect, but they come together to support each other in their time of need. With its relatable characters and heartwarming moments, Parenthood is a show that will tug at your heartstrings.