Nuclear Family

We need to hear Tom's side of the story. I feel this series is too one sided in regards to Tom's defense. I feel like he is also a sperm donor in that he's anonymous.

This three part disjointed series dealt with custody issues between a gay male donor and a lesbian couple who raised the child. The donor was selected by the lesbian couple as he was a good friend, nice looking and extremely bright. Once he decided to sue for partial custody all hell broke loose. I was initially sympathetic to the women, but grew to feel compassion for the father who, in my opinion, was treated shabbily. Whatever, this documentary, done by the child in question (now an adult) could have been done a whole lot better.

This documentary tells the story of a family nearly torn apart. The filmmaker, also the main character, tells the tale with grace and intelligence. It's moving and compelling and is well worth a watch.

I got through the straightforward backstory episodes 1 and 2, swayed by the documentarian, who was the child at the center of this custody battle (and an accomplished episodic tv director in her own right), to feel a certain way towards the parties involved. But episode 3 turns the whole event and fallout on its head, adds a completely new perspective, and changes the way you see this story, and possibly your feelings toward the different parties involved. I remember this story from my teenage years. But I only ever saw the quick news stories and maybe a few talk show appearances with the mothers and the daughter in the middle of it all. This documentary adds context and perspective. It also shows that winning a custody battle can be a tragically pyrrhic victory. I recommend this series as a whole.

This Documentary was a lot better than expected and really provides an insight into a type of Nuclear Family that has not existed for very long or one that many people may know much about. After watching the Documentary the viewer understands how complicated some issues, that are taken for granted in traditional families, can be in same sex families.

Overall, the Documentary is very balanced and provides a very honest and open look into the damage that custody battles have on children as well as every other personal involved. It's a sad story without any villains and can best be summarized with the. Dave Mason lyrics:

"There ain't no good guy, there ain't no bad guy There's only you and me and we just disagree"

Good Documentary.