'Brothers & Sisters': Trapped in the (corporate) closet
Oct 13, 2008, 11:58 AM | by Michael Slezak
Categories: 'Brothers & Sisters', About Last Night
There are times when Brothers & Sisters can be as subtle as a rock to the head -- which doesn't mean I love it any less -- but Kevin's struggle with the corporate closet on last night's episode was as nuanced as it was devastating. I thought we were headed for a fairly standard (and pat) storyline: Kevin pretends to be straight to land major client. Kevin realizes that returning to the closet is depressing. Kevin stands up to boss and gets promoted to partner anyway.
And after that adorable chat with adorable Scotty, it appeared my hunch was right. I mean, the tone was lightening considerably as the episode drew to a close. There was Tivo'd Olympic diving in the background. There was Kevin wryly explaining that "in a moment of Faustian proportions, I pretended to be straight." And there was Scotty offering a trick proposal that he'd be fine if his spouse kept lying (with no more complaint) or if he drew a line in the sand with his law firm, then admitting that Door No. 1 wasn't really an acceptable option. Which made it all the more devastating when Kevin succumbed to the lure of making partner and -- just like he did during the client dinner -- spoke volumes by saying nothing at all.
Mitch Pileggi and Matthew Rhys (pictured) played out their pas de deux perfectly, the older attorney hinting again at the promise of a promotion (while somehow managing to come off as slightly menacing), and the younger man willing himself to believe he'd do more good from a corner office in the future than standing his ground and fighting in the present. What made the conundrum interesting is the fact that, as Robert pointed out earlier, "you can live a principled life and not do a damn bit of good for anybody." The writers (thankfully) didn't provide any easy answers, and I'm hoping the preview in which Robert invites Kevin to be his communications director isn't an indicator that they're not interested in exploring a very real (and very intriguing) story arc over the coming weeks.
Thematically, the idea of "courage" also played out in Sarah, Saul, and Justin's plotlines, but not quite as successfully. The parking-lot scene between Sarah and Saul -- Her: "Stay and fight for this family!" Him: "I can't, Sarah. I just can't." -- seemed painfully underwritten for actors the caliber of Rachel Griffiths and Ron Rifkin. Let's all raise a big glass of vino to the idea that their sudden departures from Ojai will lead to more fruitful dramatic scenarios (and better dialogue).
Justin's almost detour from sobriety, meanwhile, was far more interesting, particularly in the context of an Iraq veteran finding himself in the role of reluctant military recruiter, but I didn't really think it worked as fodder for advancing his relationship with Rebecca. (Especially not his decision to abandon his girlfriend without a car in a stranger's house. Awkward!)
What did you think of last night's episode? Did you find it amusing that Kevin and Nora both referenced Robert's blowup during last week's adoption-dinner blowup? Did anyone else feel like the bulk of Robert's showdown with the neighborhood beekeepers got left on the editing room floor? And how hilarious was Sarah's response ("Oh no, I can't eat. I can drink!") to her mother's offer to cook for her to help her deal with unemployment?
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