Up All Night Season 1 Episode 7 Parents

Up All Night season 1 episode 7 "Parents" delves into the familiar territory of dealing with the complexities of parents. Reagan, played by Christina Applegate, and Chris, played by Will Arnett, become more attuned to both of their dysfunctional family dynamics. Reagan's parents continue their stay with the couple in order to manage their divorce, while Chris plans for his father's surprise 60th birthday party.

The episode opens with Reagan trying to smooth things over between her father and mother after an argument. With the help of Chris, they manage to reconcile their issues and agree to keep living together for a little while longer, at least until they find new arrangements. On the other hand, Chris' relationship with his father is a bit strained, and he has little communication with him. But he wants to make an effort to change that and plan a surprise birthday party for him.

Reagan's parents, played by John Doman and Blythe Danner are experiencing issues with their separation, and their behavior puts a certain strain on the household. Their constant bickering and non-stop demands put Reagan and Chris under pressure and add to their stress. It's clear that Reagan wants her parents out of the house as quickly as possible, and she's worried that the tension of the separation will have disastrous effects on her marriage.

At the same time, Chris is struggling with trying to connect with his father, played by Stephen Root. He invites his dad over to the house for lunch, but they are both uncomfortable around each other. With some prodding from Reagan, Chris decides to organize a surprise 60th birthday party for his dad. However, this requires him to ask his dad for a guest list that starts the conflict between them.

The dynamic between both sets of parents is explored, with both couples having different issues. Reagan's parents are struggling to let go of their past, while Chris's father is absent in his life. As the party gets closer the family dynamics put each other close to their limits. Chris begins to feel the pressure of organizing the surprise, and Reagan becomes increasingly irritated with her parents' living situation escalating.

Throughout the episode, it's clear that Chris and Reagan's relationship is changing as they deal with the different aspects of parenthood. They are learning more about each other's backgrounds and are slowly starting to realize the impact that their families have on their relationship. They are discovering that for their marriage to succeed, they need to acknowledge each other's baggage and work through it as a team.

As the episode progresses, Chris becomes more confident in his ability to plan the party and even gets his dad to dance with him. Meanwhile, Reagan's parents learn to accept the divorce and make plans for their solo lives. The party is a great success, with Chris and his father reconciling and Reagan's parents leaving the house. The parenting challenges in the episode are relatable and go beyond the comedy of the show. "Parents" is an excellent exploration of parenthood and its complexities.