Here’s hoping last night’s Brothers & Sisters was one of those weird transitional episodes that will serve as a bridge to less painfully mundane plotting. Yes, I still love this show. And yes, any hour that features Kevin doing a "Saturday Night Fever point" to celebrate a workplace victory can’t be all bad. But think about the great characters (and actors) being wasted on insignificant story arcs. Sarah (Rachel Griffiths) had her most dramatic moment cradling a little green caterpillar and tucking her son into bed. (Zzzz.) Saul (Ron Rifkin) spent the bulk of his screen time helping Nora to create snazzy pie charts. And Kitty’s sudden shift to ancillary spouse makes me wonder if maybe Calista Flockhart is off filming a buddy comedy with Sarah Jane Morris (AKA that woman who occasionally plays Julia).
Even Nora’s new foray into charity work left me a little cold. Sure, I was excited to see Sally Field exiting the kitchen and hitting the board room (in that rather va-va-voom white blouse) to raise funds for a home away from home for parents of ailing children, but it just felt implausible that she could win over Mr. Goldschmidt (and his grant money) with an angry speech about the managerial power of the U.S. homemaker. The whole setup and payoff felt as thrown together as the meal Nora prepared for Kitty’s adoption-inspector dinner a few weeks back.
On the plus side, though, I like seeing Nora take on a project that hasnothing to do with her family. And certainly, the show’s writers arealready finding great soundbites in the clash of Nora’s practicalhead-of-household skills with the sometimes nonsensical world ofcorporate red tape. "That’s not communicating. That’s haiku," shebarked about the rule of having no more than six words per slide.
And it looks like Matthew Rhys’ Kevin (who’s been this season’sindisputable MVP) will be headed for some workplace drama, too, as he(not unexpectedly) took up his brother-in-law’s job offer and nowfinds himself in the position of liberal Democrat director ofcommunications for a conservative(ish) Republican Senator. Add Kevin’scareer change to his meteoric rise and stall at his law firm (includingWhale-gate, a trip to the corporate closet, and a last-minute rejectionas partner) and his alternately sweet and prickly relationship with newhubby Scotty, and it’s pretty clear which actor is a favorite in theB&S writers’ room this season. I love that the show refuses to turnKevin into a gay saint. Sure, his mother-in-law is cold and borderlinerude, but his dinnertime outburst threatened to alienate Scotty fromhis parents at the precise moment they were making at least a smalleffort to connect. I loved how Scotty blasted Kevin, reminding of theWalker-centricness of their life together, although he seemed to lethis bratty spouse off the hook a little too easily just because he’dhad a colossally bad day at the office.
As for the post-fight sex between Justin and Rebecca, and the finalconfrontation between Holly and Nora, I leave that for you to discuss,B&S fans. The former still felt a little too dirty for my comfortlevel, and the latter a little too stilted. Was the Justin-Rebeccaromance a great idea, or totally flawed? Is Holly completely evil, orjust a little bit beastly? And how’d you like Saul’s passing remarkabout being totally into the idea of crushing his sister’s saucy blonderival?
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wasn’t it not too long ago that Saul LIKED Holly? Like, obvi not since he’s gay, but he didn’t hate her so damned much….didn’t this seem a little too convienent?
And I LOVE MATTHEW RHYS. Love him, love him, love him. And poor Sarah….wah wah wah, suck it up and figure something out. Take a job close to home for less pay and get over it. It happens to everyone.
And I’m totally over the Justin/Rebecca thing…give them a chance! They weren’t ever actually bro&sis, so it’s totally fine. They are two hot people, and since they’re together, they’ve been less annoying and maybe even a little more mature!
Hooray!
And YAY for Chad Lowe directing! Glad to see he has a job. And Rob Lowe needs more screen time. He’s too gorg to sit on the sidelines.
Wouldn’t it be cool if they had Zac Efron on the show as Rob Lowe’s long lost given-up-for-adoption lovechild from a dalliance in the ’80s? The resemblance is uncanny!
this is has become boring, I was only half watching last and I used to hang on for every detail…all the storylines this season are uninteresting, no matter what Justin and Rebecca having sex is CREEPY
I didn’t like Scottie in the very beginning BUT I have come to believe he is good for Kevin. BUT Kevin needs his ears pinched. He ALMOST ruinned Scottie’s chance of building a bridge for his parents to come around. I DO LIKE that Kevin is NOT perfect in his gay-life, just like us not perfect in our straight-life! Like Justin-Rebecca, wish however there might have ended with a “romance” ending vs the “we are suprised it was good” ending.
The only good part of last night’s ep was the fight between Holly and Nora. They are heading towards Krystal and Alexis territory. Cat fights in shoulder pats in the pond, have got to be next!!…
And speaking of Tommy’s wife Julia, I didn’t know until late last season with the affair storyline that he had a wife. What’s the point of never showing her?
i feel like the writer of this recap is lazy. why are these recaps only 1 page?
The only good thing about last night was the argument between Holly and Nora. They are fast heading towards Krystle and Alexis (from Dynasty) territory. Hopefully, shoulder pad catfights in the pond will be next!!
I’m also confused by the whole Julia thing. I didn’t even know that Tommy had a wife until late last season when he had the affair. What’s the point of him being married if they never show her? (it especially doesn’t make sense considering the screen time given to Kevin and Kitty’s spouses).
(sorry if this duplicates but my last post didn’t seem to take).
Slezak you’re so much better than this show. Why are you wasting your time recapping this maudlin soap opera. Recap Dirty Sexy Money instead!
Sooo glad Justin and Rebecca finally got over themselves and their situation. Very anti-climatic. Loooove Kevin and Scotty. Def too cute at the end, but I wouldn’t have let him get off quite that easily. O well you can only fit so much in 45 min. Agreed on the boring transition show. Next week should be much better. Road Trips w/ your mom always spell disaster followed by hugs, crying, and a little understanding…as long as you don’t kill each other first.
The first thing I thought of when Saul mentioned getting rid of Holly was SD-6. Really, I’d give anything for Ron Rifkin to play a master manipulator again because he’s so good at it.
LOVE Justin and Rebecca together. Was never convinced of their sibling relationship anyway, so this works just fine for me. I agree with most of the rest of the write-up, it generally felt like a set-up episode for payoff to be had later… also loved Kevin and the whole storyline revolving around him. So good!!
This show is much better than Dirty Sexy Money (talk about a maudlin soap). Though I would prefer it if Slezak did the official TV Watch that this show deserves to have back!
take the gay junk off of Brothers and sisters and the show would be great.I record it and then pass through the gay part it is sick……….
I have to agree that Jubecca (Justin and Rebecca) is still very creepy. I can’t get the idea out of my head that they are brother and sister. Maybe what the show needs to do is bring in Ryan and Hook him up with Rebecca, and then have her tell Justin “This is too weird, I love you, but no!” On a lighter, less incestuous note, I LOVE LOVE LOVE Rebecca (Emily Van Camp) and I love Holly. They are the two best characters this season. They are great, especially when on screen together. They really look lik emother and daughter and they’re very likeable, even when Holly’s up to something. They need to do something with Sarah (love interest?????) that chick has the worst life. And Get rid of Rob Lowe, he sucks ass. and he’s a dick… also, scotty, kevin’s boo, is given nothign to do, same with kevin’s wife, what a bore! kill off kevin’s wife, and rob lowe during sweeps week please!!!! then, get norah another love interest, but one who can stick around…. this show has gone DOWNHILL, sad.
“Rustin” (Rebecca and Justin) are B&S’s jump the shark moment for me. They bore/nauseate the hell out of me.
And next week’s episode looks pretty awful. ABC needs to bring back creator Jon Robin Baitz, fire Balthazar Getty, and give Calista better story lines.
I’m so glad you continue to recap and review the episodes. I have felt like a few of the episodes this season have been transitional ones. I really hope they find something suitable for Sarah right away as she is being highly under utilized (and is one of the best actors on the show, and one of my favourite characters.) Kevin’s disco pose was possibly one of my fave TV moments in recent history. I loved Justin & Rebecca’s angry sex, though I wish they’d stop being so angry about everything all the time. I know there has to be some drama but I much preferred seeing them create it by bringing Nora & Holly together haha. Can’t wait to see who gets to Ryan first! I also can’t wait to see if Saul makes good on his promise to help get rid of Holly. I heard someone is going to die at the end of the season…I wonder who it will be?!
None of my friends or I ever thought Justin and Rebecca were actually related. There were several key things leading up to that conclusion, so the fact that they are together, doesn’t creep me out at all really. I think people are just looking for a reason to complain about this show that stands heads and shoulders above so much of the crap on tv right now. If they aren’t complaining about Justin/Rebecca, then it’s Kitty, Keve or Tommy…Never satisfied. J/R are not related-get over it.
Love your weekly recap… Love the show. Scotty and Kevin are the best as is Nora…Please I hope Holly leaves the show soon..Tpmmy is boring
and obnoxious also. You have to love Nora, Rebecca, Justin…Please would they improve Sarahs part..that is a waste of wonderful talent..
Are there any plans to get Scotty out of the apartment at any point this season – besides spending time with his parents?
I was never creeped out by Justin & Rebecca – I’m just slightly jealous of her every time
I liked this episode as it (at least I’d hope so) laid the ground for future story lines. B&S is in my humble opinion a great show with wonderful characters I came to care for in the past two years. Well, almost all characters, as I still can’t stand Rebecca – but maybe that’s because I keep thinking of Britney Spears when I see Emily VanKamp. Something phony about her. But that’s just me and that’s the only irritating thing – other than that: to many more seasons with the Walkers.
c’mon! wouldnt u have let Kevin off the hook too after his hearing his voice break when telling u how sorry he is? all my defenses go away whenever theres a man in front of me thats about to cry…
i think all these episodes are building up to some really good storylines. and i love what they are doing with scotty and kevin.
i actually like the transition to new story lines. it feels natural and not rushed and out of nowhere. it makes sense.
I say Thank you for the re-cap! I love Brothers and Sisters…I have enjoyed each episode. I love Sally Field I wish her love interest would come back..Danny and they were wonderful. AND To any and ALL of you Anti-Gay people, why don’t you SIMPLY ‘fast forward to another network all together’! I don’t understand why you watch it IF IT SOOOO OFFENDS. For the record, I am neither gay nor ANTI-GAY. I simply love the show and appreciate THE CHARACTERS and their stories…each one. FYI: did you notice the Chad Lowe directed last nights episode?
I love Kevin & Scotty. They were easily the best part of the show last night.
Wait, what?? First, Kevin is completely insufferable on this show. He’s completely self-righteous and loud, and then thinks he can just apologize later with a sheepish look and everything will be OK. Unfortunately, the writers let him get away with that (and give him basically everything he wants.) So, no, he’s not a gay saint at all. Instead, he’s a stereotypical b*tchy gay. That’s somehow better? Also, exactly how many story lines are we going to get about “everything’s always about YOUR family?” Already, this season that’s been a factor with Kitty and Robert, Rebecca and Justin and now Kevin and Scotty. Fine, the show’s about the family, but do we need to have the same running theme over and over again?
Sarah definitely needs a good storyline, though. And I don’t get Holly as a villain. She’s someone who’s fought through a lot in her life, and happens to sometimes be the voice of reason outside of “the family.” I guess strong women have to be considered evil on TV still.
This is the first time I’ve watched the show since the first season, and boy, it it soapy and melodramatic. I’ve never seen such a bunch of unlikeable characters. Nora: judgmental and shrill. Kevin: sourpuss. Holly: immoral (why the rest of the family has anything to do with her, I have no idea. If I were them, I’d dedicate my life to making her as miserable as possible in order to force her out of the company). Justin: basket case, played by a horrible actor (why does he always talk out of one side of his mouth?).
And why is Jayne Brook playing Scotty’s mother? She seems more like an older sister.
I am already bored just thinking ahead to Nora’s inevitable emergence as a non-profit powerhouse before whom the boards of Fortune 500 companies tremble. It’s so like Holly’s turning into a corporate big shot. Hollywood writers seem to think the minute you take off the apron, a career grows out of your tuchus. If only…
I like how they make the charecters on this show out to be less than likeable at times (as most of us can be too) given the right combination of situations.
Nora and Holly squaring off = fun
As for Scotty’s mother, someone needed to put her in her place (I was hoping for Kitty) but since it wan’t going to be Scotty’s dad (whipped) or Scotty himself (desperately wanting acceptance) it fell to Kevin.
Thanks for the update…didn’t get to see last night’s ep but this is the only network show I regularly watch. And thanks for your props to Matthew Rhys. As a gay man, it’s refreshing for me to see him portrayed as something other than a “gay saint.” Keep the updates coming. And I agree, the relationship between Justin and Rebecca, while kind of sweet, is just a little dirty (and creepy).
These recaps are short cause its part of popwatch vs. its own tv watch- I’m sure there is a limit. Sleaze is much better than this. This episode was dull- the Rustin crap is yuck- I was hoping for food fight part 2 at the end but I guess I’ll have to wait until the other Walker is finally revealed.