"Wow! Dinner and a show." With just five little words, Paul (an amusing, if too camp by half Dave Foley) summed up the weekly episode outline of Brothers & Sisters. And while, yeah, it’d be nice (and indeed a tad more realistic) if Nora and her kids could get through the occasional meal without some kind of full-scale drama explosion, there is something oddly comforting in watching the Walkers gossip and bicker and meddle by phone, in person, and through third-party stand-ins, as they prepare their meals and down their many, many glasses of wine.
Still, there was nothing warm and fuzzy about the week’s central arc — focusing on the finance and real-estate issues of Kevin and Scotty. Unfortunately, last week’s previews hinted at the fact that Kevin was going to give Scotty the gift that was going to keep on taking from the joint bank account they didn’t even have: A $750,000 mansion that Nora had been hoping to purchase as HQ for her new home-away-from-home for families of sick, hospitalized children.Now here’s the thing about Kevin: As a human being, he’s absolutely dreadful (most of the time). As a TV character who stirs up drama and makes for exciting television, he’s pretty great (almost all of the time). I could feel myself going into a full-body cringe when Kevin started to formulate the idea of stealing Nora’s high bid right out from under her, and making a massive financial and emotional commitment without even so much as a preliminary discussion with his lovely and way-too-forgiving partner.The fact that Kevin actually gave Scotty grief about his decision to storm out of the "Yay, Scotty!" party was off-the-charts self-centered, and so I was thrilled to see the up-and-coming chef call out his partner for being threatened by their shifting balance of income and power. (Side note: Anyone else think the show can’t afford both Luke Macfarlane’s Scotty and Sarah Jane Morris’s Julia in the same episode?)
Yet while it was nice to see Scotty call Kevin on his crap, wasn’t the whole conflict resolved too quickly, and just a little too smoothly? Kevin’s own mother was repulsed by his brash "bull in a china shop" behavior, so how come Scotty let his spouse off the hook with such stunning ease? I mean, it’s not like Kevin bought a new flatscreen TV, or even a car, without Scotty’s okay; he spent three-quarters of a million dollars. And yet, after five minutes of discussion, Kevin was coming to the realization "I didn’t realize how amazing I was" instead of being kicked to the couch where he belonged. I repeat: $750,000. It’s stressing me out to think about it even now.
At least Justin’s colossally unsuitable setup between Uncle Saul and his fellow NA-er Paul provided some comic relief from a pretty uncomfortable episode. The night’s funniest moment was a stern Sarah alerting her little brother that "You and I will be having words," after his pal arrived two hours early for her soiree. First and second runner-up prizes go to Paul’s comments to Justin ("Oh, Justin, I’m so flattered. But I’m afraid I’m way past my twink phase.") and Nora ("We have similar taste in men. I just go from one cheater to another!").
What did you think of this week’s episode? Were you as excited as me to hear someone acknowledge Justin’s lack of a job? Who else was happy to see Robert reluctantly (but nonetheless definitely) get pulled into a round of Walker scheming? And who else would have found it funnier if Kitty’s telenovela watching hadn’t been acknowledged by her sister, and instead been left as a hilarious background detail?
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Although I think Kevin and Scotty resolved their issues way to fast, I was happy to see them make up at the end because they’re my favourite couple on the show. Also, I really enjoyed Robert having the phone call with the whole family. It was great to see him be less detatched from the Walkers.
Any episode even remotely adjacent to being Kevin/Scotty-centric is awesome!
Where’s the rest of the recap? No mention of the Robert/Kevin/Sarah/etc phone call that set operation Kitty into motion? That was classic!!! And what about Holly’s comment she was hoping the night would go bad for the family–why is she still on this show???? Recap isn’t bad, just missing a lot of fun!
Why is no one noticing that Nora said that she did NOT want the house and wanted to go home.
Honestly, Nora drains me. Why is it that every meal seems like Nora speech time? “Oh, all Walker men are just like their Dad, the country is crap, why won’t my children tell me anything???” No wonder William cheated on her… As much as I love Sally Feild, she brings down the show.
More siblings! More wine!
Nothing warm and fuzzy about the K/S storyline? Did you miss the happy and uplifting scene at the end when Kevin surprised Scotty with an appointment to open a joint account? Kevin did majorly overstep this episode, but his heart is usually in the right place (yes, it was partly driven from his need to be the breadwinner, but it was equally clear he had wanted to surprise his husband with something he’d love). And unlike other characters (::cough:: Robert), Kevin admits his faults and apologizes when he makes a mistake.
And you took line, “I didn’t realize how amazing I was” out of context. Kevin saying that was a compliment to Scotty, since Scotty had just said Kevin had made him the person who he was now. Kevin was saying that Scotty has really achieved a lot in a short space of time.
One of my favorite episode this season. It featured my favorite dynamics (Kevin/Scotty, Kevin/Nora, Sarah/Kitty) and a new one I really enjoyed (Justin/Saul).
And I must have been watching a different episode than the reviewer, because this episode was mostly comedic in tone (with a few notable exceptions).
Enough with the dinner parties! And Thanksgiving is coming so I fear another one…..
Bad episode from a really mediocre season. Thank God for the dynamic trio of Flockhart, Griffiths, and Field otherwise these ridiculous storylines would be unwatchable. The acting is so great on this show but the writing is horrible.
scotty is just so damn adorable, i wanna squeeze his charmin. he must really love kevin to put up with that man! and where’s the B&S love? give em a full tv watch, dammit!
Is it really unrealistic that the Walker family can’t get through a dinner together without a meltdown? My real-life family can’t seem to do so either (though we do better with outside guests than the Walkers). As for Scotty and Kevin, they have to resolve their conflicts or we’ll lose Scotty. He’s too cute/sweet, so that’s not acceptable.
Favorite part was definitely the dysfunctional conference call about Kitty.
I may not have given this show much of a chance but the few episodes I start to tune into I change the channel b/c I realize it’s just going to be the family getting into another tiff over dinner and after some dramatic argument someone realizes they were wrong and apologize and then the cycle starts all over again next Sunday…
I really do not understand why people are giving this season such a hard time. I have laughed and been just as engaged with this show this season as I have always been. Not many shows are this smart, witty and engaging. I love it. Reminds me of my family every Sunday.
$750,000 was nothing in the pre-crash California real estate market.
I’ve had enough kissing between Kevin and Scotty to last a lifetime. If you want to know why Prop 8 passed, just think of them.
I agree, Slezak, you missed the mark on this one. It was FUNNY! One of the funniest eps of the season. Scotty is 2 good 2 b true, but still, sweet and brings out the best in Kevin; loved Kitty’s “feedback” on Sarah’s proposal, opening telephone mixup. A return to form!
To an extent I have to agree with comments from Peaches and SJ. The saving grace however, was that this episode was so doggone funny from beginning to end. I do wish though that the show had some spine attached to it. The entire episode resolved around shopping for houses, food conversations, and frequent outbursts from the gay ex-druggie. Again, while funny, it’s too much fluff. Until, this show develops some backbone and decides to put some meat into the storylines, it’s going to continue to lose 40% of the Desperate Housewives audience. If I were an exec. at ABC I would boot a show that continuously gives powder puff dialogue to a powerhouse cast of actors week after week, and move in potential blockbuster, Private Practice. Besides, there’s nothing watchable on NBC or FOX after DH ends, and I get tired of seeing people bludgeoned, stabbed, poisoned, kidnapped, and slow motion or point blank range shot to death night after night on CBS.
Can the writers not come up with any other plot besides: get family together for any sort of dinner or special occasion and have them get angry at each other for whatever reason and cause a scene? I love this show, but its getting really old. And the continuity between episodes has been fading as well, what ever happened to locking Kevin and Tommy in the room to work things out? I’m getting bored…
I loved this episode. Yes, the explosive family dinners are becoming cliche, but they amuse me every time. And boy, Nora can be brutal! I thought Dave Foley as Paul, the conference call about Kitty, and the fight about her notes were all so funny. I love this show!
I loved this episode. Yes, the explosive family dinners are becoming cliche, but they amuse me every time. And boy, Nora can be brutal! I thought Dave Foley as Paul, the conference call about Kitty, and the fight about her notes were all so funny. I love this show!
For me, this show has been going downhill ever since they robbed Kitty of her slightly edgy, not-a-knee-jerk-liberal-like-everyone-else persona. Now she’s come full circle and is just another ditzy-flustery Ally McBeal, minus the amusing romantic hook-ups that Kitty can’t have ’cause they hurriedly married her off!
This was a better show than this season — and why is this season disappointing to a lot of folks, some ask? It’s predictable (Dave Foley’s line, like dinner and a show, were funny because he’s a great pro with a great delivery, but that’s not a particularly new or witty observation), the plots are hackneyed or rethreads, or tedious. IN other words, everyone pretty much agrees the cast is great. The problem is the plots and the writers. Resolving Scottys/Kevin drama is a perfect example, the same thing happened when his folks visited. I agree, Nora is getting annoyed and another problem with the plots is the lack of realism. I mean, who gives a housewife in this economy the money to buy a 750,000 house for an unproven charity? There’s so much more they could have done with this story line rather than take it into these unrelistic waters. The trials of Nora is starting up a chartity would have been a better story arc than the rethread of another Walker out of wedlock kid.
Hated it.
I cringed every time Dave Foley was on the screen (AWK-WARD) which I guess is a testament to his acting but still.
Surprised no one brought up the fact that guys (even gay ones, even gay ones in a relationship) can and often are competative with each other. So far this season has been so-so at best.
What a wonderfull family, the camera jumps from one problem scene to another, from here to there and fast! I’ve never seen so many, and thank God for cell phones! Every scene has one of the characters calling on their cell phone. And why would Kevin go to an auction to buy a house, and for $750,000!! The writers couldn’t have him looking thru a paper, that wouldn’t film right and he has no $$ to pay for this house. The kissing is getting too much too, but the writers must be gay (not that it matters) and this must be added.
good show last night. for me, don’t like Kevin. as a tv character he’s annoying. and boring. do disagree about the ‘quick’ resolvement with Scotty. Scotty loves Kevin (which for the life of me I really, really don’t get but I digress….) and Scotty is NOT the loud, negative in-your-face-kinda guy. he has some sense. and a much needed calmness in that relationship. which, for the irritating Kevin, makes for a nice balance. the whole Justin fixing up Saul was a fine example of what’s wrong with his character ~ he has no purpose. no sense of doing or being anything. as Nora told him in the kitchen, he was a fine one to talk about “poor Saul” not having anything to do being retired. Justin needs to break-up with the even more annoying Rebecca and GET A JOB! and said it before and will again ~ Sarah (the magnificent Rachel Griffith my absolute favorite), Kitty, and/or Nora ~ alone or together, they MAKE THE SHOW!!!!!!
First of all, to: Electronwriter, You make me very sad. Just very very sad…’nuff said.
Now, onto positive stuff..Loved the episode, and anytime I get to see Kevin and Scotty together and being sweet and romantic and real..I get so giddy! They are such a wonderful couple.
I dont know why the reviewer was so upset about the $750,000. 1st of all, for that mansion in southern Cali? That is a fricken steal! 2nd, Kevin knew his mom wanted it, so he had basically had a back up in place.
Dave Foley was hilarious! All the food on his fingers! And the Twink comment was classic!
And yay!! Saul has a somebody!! So, now I wonder if it’s that guy that Saul knew from a long time ago? Anyone know who I am talking about?
And the previews showed that Kitty and Robert may have another chance with getting the baby from the birth mother who is a doctor!!
The scene with Sarah and Kitty in the kitchen when Kitty asks for a hug and as Sarah gives her one says I love you will go down as one of my favorite scenes of the season. The two of them are so amazing together it feels real.
Did anyone see when Foley’s character Paul was introduced to Nora in Sarah’s kitchen and he licked his fingers to get the food off of them and then extended his hand to shake hands with Nora?!?! Nora’s face was PRICELESS!!! I nearly fell off my chair hooting with laughter.
I wish there was something else on at 10 on Sundays.
So predictable. The family gets together, drinks lots of wine, and pisses each other off. And when does Justin become, like, US President or something? He seems to be the only one left who isn’t insanely successful, running some company or something. (Can no one in this family just have a nice, regular job?)
talking about things in the ‘background” – remember last week’s episode? The one where the Internet Dweebs spent most of their time drawing on a flipchart in Sarah’s living room? Happen to notice the ‘cool robot’ that Magic Dweeb was doodling?? It was the robot from the Carleton Cuse/Damon Lindeloff ‘Bad Robot’ Company. The dudes who produce LOST. Cool background indeed.