Fans of heartfelt family dramas are facing a race against time, as the beloved series Parenthood is set to be removed from Netflix in the UK in a matter of days.
Netflix's Year-Long Deal Reaches Its End
The streaming giant's licence for the acclaimed comedy-drama, which stars Lauren Graham of Gilmore Girls fame, is expiring. The show will vanish from the UK library on Sunday, 14th December, giving viewers less than two weeks to complete their viewing.
Parenthood has been available to Netflix subscribers in the UK, along with several other territories including Canada, Australia, New Zealand, and parts of Europe, since December of last year. Its impending departure has sparked disappointment among subscribers who are mid-binge.
A Beloved, Emotional Rollercoaster
The series, developed by Jason Katims, is loosely based on the 1989 film of the same name. It ran for six seasons and 103 episodes between 2010 and 2015, following three generations of the Braverman family.
Lauren Graham, who played the fast-talking Lorelai Gilmore, leads an ensemble cast including Peter Krause, Dax Shepard, Mae Whitman, and Craig T. Nelson. The show tackled weighty issues like divorce, adoption, and mental health with a blend of humour and raw emotion, earning a cult following and strong critical praise despite modest ratings.
On forums like Reddit, fans have expressed their frustration and affection for the series. One viewer lamented, "I only started watching a couple of months ago... I've REALLY gotta binge it rn." Another described it as an "emotional rollercoaster," while a third called it a "wholesome, wonderful show about truly dysfunctional characters."
The Bingewatch Challenge
For those determined to finish the series before the deadline, the task is substantial. With 103 episodes each around 43 minutes long, completing the entire run requires watching approximately eight and a half episodes every day starting from the announcement on 3rd December.
For viewers who miss the Netflix window, the series remains available for purchase on platforms like Amazon Prime Video. Meanwhile, fans of Lauren Graham's most iconic role can rest easy: all seven seasons of Gilmore Girls continue to be available for streaming on Netflix.
The removal of Parenthood highlights the transient nature of content on streaming platforms, reminding subscribers that even critically adored series are subject to licensing agreements that can change with little notice.
