zeek parenthood
Zeek (Craig T. Nelson) has been sick during "Parenthood" Season 6, but could he die? NBC

“Parenthood” Season 6 is the last season for the NBC family drama, and fans have been wondering since summer if a Braverman is going to die. The latest spoilers are not inspiring any optimism about the looming threat of death. It seems Zeek’s (Craig T. Nelson) health is going to play a big part in the final episodes of Season 6.

“Instead of being so segregated with each storyline, there’s one storyline that pulls us all in,” Monica Potter (who plays Kristina) told TV Line. “That’s the crux of the rest of the season. It’s going to be really sad, but it’s going to be really good.”

So what one thing could bring all of the Bravermans together? Well, we’d like to look on the bright side and think about Amber (Mae Whitman) giving birth, but that probably isn’t “really sad.” Showrunner Jason Katims teased a few spoilers about the 100th episode of “Parenthood,” which will be the 10th episode of Season 6. It seems that the milestone episode will kick off the grim storyline.

"It's going to be a particularly emotional episode ... [that] deals with Zeek's health," Katims told TV Guide. "It's an unusual episode in that it's a more compressed time frame than most of our episodes. It probably happens over 24 hours. It really is the beginning of the final movement of the series. ... It's hopefully what will be a juggernaut toward the ending of the show."

Zeek’s health has been a focus all season. Ever since he collapsed and had heart surgery early in Season 6, the entire family has been concerned. Crosby (Dax Shepard) has been making an effort to spend time with his father although he hasn’t quite come to terms with Zeek’s health. Zeek also seemed to be making extreme efforts to share memories with his grandson Drew (Miles Heizer) in episode 7. It could’ve been normal bonding, but he was particularly forceful about Drew ditching study sessions to hang out … was he trying to say goodbye?

Fans have been speculating about a potential death since Katims mentioned “the cycle of life” in an interview last spring. “And to me, 'Parenthood' is about, in a way, the cycle of life,” Katims told Buzzfeed. “You see these little kids become bigger kids and [in Season 5], you saw a shift in the patriarch going from Zeek to Adam [Peter Krause]. I think I would want the end to be about sort of that kind of change, that idea that something is passing and something is starting, something is beginning.”

“Parenthood” writers obviously aren’t letting that spoiler out, but what do you think? Will Zeek die? Take the poll below!

“Parenthood” Season 6 airs Thursdays at 10 p.m. EST on NBC.