There was so much done right in this episode (i.e. Saul saying it would be weeks until the investigators knew what happened in WineGate 2009, so we knew we wouldn’t be seeing Ryan!) that we’re going to forgive the writers for bringing Tommy back next week for “the emotional episode of the season.” (What do you think that means? I’m guessing Rebecca starts to miscarry at the wedding, and it’s a cliffhanger.)
Let’s dive in. We had the return of the popular Walker Sibling Phone Tree™ after Kitty walked in on Nora and Simon having relations in the shower and, naturally, had to call Sarah because Robert didn’t give her the horrified reaction she was looking for (“Good for her,” he said. “It’s a whole new day in Pasadena.”) Kevin, unfortunately, also chose to call Sarah at that moment to tell her that he and Scotty were having their sperm counts tested (“I’m not at work. I’m waiting for my husband to finish masturbating”) and he had to hear about Nora’s afterglow before going in to make his deposit. (“There’s not a DVD in the whole of West Hollywood that could counteract what I just heard.”) I’m sorta happy that Scotty has better swimmers: It’s always fun to see Kevin competitive, and it set Sarah up for another zinger (“Oh, by the way, I’m glad Scotty’s sperm’s better than yours — us Walkers need to stop reproducing”).
Justin also phoned Sarah to ask if Luc could come out to play and to show us yet again — we get it! — that he’s lost touch with his family studying for his midterms. Do we believe that Justin actually thought he’d aced his exams, or was his impending failure, along with Rebecca denying him morning sex, the reason Sarah had to ask if she was on suicide watch after hearing his voice? (This was such a good episode for Sarah and she didn’t even have sex!) Regardless, it’s worth noting that Justin never actually got to tell Rebecca that two Ds, two Fs, and a C- put him back on academic probation. When she heard he’d had two gulps of champagne at the “gayest bachelor party ever” (thrown by Robert!), she interrupted his string of confessions to tell him he couldn’t fall apart now, he’s going to be a dad. I can see why Justin would be angry that everyone but Holly already knew about the baby. (Rebecca had to tell Kitty she was seven weeks pregnant when her bust wouldn’t fit in her wedding dress, Kitty then told Robert on purpose and Nora accidentally, and Robert told the gay triumvirate.) But I don’t understand why everyone, including Rebecca, expected Justin to immediately have an answer. Rebecca had taken weeks to come to the decision that she wanted to keep the baby. Justin deserved more than a game of toss with Robert in the backyard. Let’s not even go into how appropriate it was for Justin to ask Robert when it’s okay to lie: Robert telling Kitty that when he looked at her bald all he saw was how beautiful she was and not that she could die (good); Robert not telling Kitty that he intended to run for governor (bad). Justin wanted to know if it was an appropriate lie to say you’re happy to have a baby when you’re not. Robert told him he’d have to figure that out for himself. Apparently, it is. He told Rebecca he wanted the baby, too — and sold it. I believed him until we got the shot of his worried face as he hugged her.
While we wait to see what happens there (the preview showed Justin telling David that he’s not on board with the baby), we’re also left wondering what Simon is up to… I’m not sure what kind of game he could be playing — does dating the founder of a home for cancer patients and their families help the reputation of a possibly disgraced doctor? — but we’re being led to believe it’s something. Sarah Googled him and found out that he had two major malpractice suits against him for negligence. When she went to burst Nora’s bubble, Nora already knew about them and said they’d been thrown out. After Nora asked Simon to leave following family blowout #1,456, Sarah and Kitty convinced her to get back with him (“You were doin’ somethin’ that was feelin’ good, so go with it,” Sarah said, with the delivery that earns Rachel Griffiths Emmy nominations). But then Kevin told Sarah the cases were thrown out right around the time he stopped seeing patients and began focusing on research — could his license have been yanked? Again, not sure what this has to do with him dating Nora, unless he’s trying to treat patients at her home, which he isn’t. Maybe they’re afraid he’ll distract Nora from more than her housework — “We always have milk! The Northridge Earthquake, El Niño, the LA Riots. We always have milk!” — and her foundation will suffer? (No, still don’t buy it.)
Do you have a theory about Simon? What do you think will happen between Rebecca and Justin? How are the writers going to ruin the new respect Nora has for risk-taking and resilient Holly? I love it when the two of them are civil, but that can’t last, right?
Photo credit: Michael Desmond/ABC
Comments (1-15) of 48 Add your comment
The fact that there are no comments yet must mean there is something wrong with the website. There are ALWAYS comments. This was a good episode. There must be wrong with Simon, because this is a drama, and if there were nothing wrong with him, where would the conflict, and, therefore, the drama be.
I just can’t like Sarah these days – she’s just too negative for me. And Rebecca is a spoiled little brat. She complained that Justin was studying and not at home? Wait till he’s an intern/resident! She’ll never see him. I detest these accidental pregnancies by women who should know better. I think its a writers desperation ploy b/c they can’t come up with something better. Ever wonder why someone who “has to get married” then doesn’t have another kid for years? Curious. I like Simon – so what if he did lose his license? Doesn’t make him a monster.
Rebecca is really bugging me…your fiancee comes home to tell you he’s having a bad day, had two drinks of champagne but realized it was a problem and called his sponser and all you can do is freak out and yell at him? I don’t have to deal with recovering addicts in my life, so I don’t know, but I don’t think that is a very healthy way to deal with it! What a brat!
Am I the only one that still doesn’t latch on to this baby freak out story line? It’s not like Rebecca and Justin are 15. She has a great job, he’s in school and they already know they love each other and want to get married, (yeah, he’s failing – he could be a great EMT). I know that everyone is different, but seriously – this level of a freak out? Is Justin secretly becoming a full-blown addict again? Has Nora disowned him? Is Rebecca really a waitress losing her job? I really liked Studio 60, but I understand when it was pulled because the plotlines dealt with wealthy people having wealthy people problems.
I agree with you about Justin being an EMT. It fits so much better with his personality and experience.
I’m bored with the implication that adorable semi-frumpy grandma Nora has an easier time landing one cute beau after another in Southern California than does many a real-life movie star! That said, a good episode. I especially liked the way that the sometimes-annoying Robert really stepped up with healthy input, helpful gestures, and his poignant advice to Justin.
I haven’t watched this show in more than a year, and what an awesome episode to fall back into! I loved loved and terribly missed the phone trees and sibling banter. Loved sarahs line: “since when do you have to be thirsty to drink wine?” Its like I never stopped watching. The right balance of drama and comedy. This show would actually make a better pairing to greys anatomy than private practice
bet he is researching his own cancer!
ooh good theory!!
I liked Robert and Sarah’s arcs last night. I agree, Simon may have something to hide professionally, but I don’t see how that would impact a relatinoship with Nora (unless he is in cahoots with Ryan and vengeful felon) to destroy everything William Walker loved (company and family). I don’t think that is likely though. As for Justin and Rebecca I belive a miscarriage is probably in the cards, but the secret of his grades also has to come out soon.
Yeah, Rebecca is only 7 weeks preggers, she should have told Justin and waited to tell everyone when they make sure they were having the baby.
Mandi, “Northridge” is one word…great line, tho! I agree with posters, B & S getting too soapy. Baby drama? No! And, I thought Simon was going to start hitting on Sarah when they had their “chat”!
simon’s a golddigger or wants to use nora for funding??? scotty’s so freakin adoborable!!!
This was a terrific episode – all the Walker siblings at their best. I thought Rob Lowe did an awesome job in the episode. Also loved the great one liners and the interaction between Scotty and Kevin. Can’t wait until next week!!!
I loved the episode and I’m betting on a miscarriage at the wedding next week too. Seriously can we just let Tommy go? I’ve been over him since the first season.
I love when Saul gets a good scene. His pep talk with Justin brought out excellent acting. Saul is the patriarch of the family and needs to be featured more. Would love to have Saul and Nora have a heart-to-heart about finding love later in life. Also enjoyed Holly fretting to Nora about becoming a grandmother. It’s always great when the writers show Holly’s human side.
Reality check–you can find out in five minutes on the internet if a doctor has his/her license or not (at least in MN).
Yeah, that occurred to me too. I guess Sarah isn’t as internet savvy as we thought… and it looks as if Kevin isn’t much of a legal researcher either!
Same in Illinis, and I’m sure California, too. (Maybe I’ll try it right now.) It wouldn’t be the first time the writers have ignored reality for the drama of a plot line.
I like Simon and Nora. I hope the writers just let her be happy for a while.
Justin can’t confide in Rebecca, and she can’t confide in him? That really seems like a great marriage. I hope at least we are done with the Justin-wants-to-be-a-doctor storyline. I like Justin but he’s not that smart. Med school was never believable.
Agreed…Justin should be an EMT or nurse…he’s got the field experience and the courses are less taxing than med-school…AND he’d actually get to spend time with his family.
I just hope the Simon thing is not a swindle-Nora-out-of-her-money storyline. That is so tired.