Brothers and Sisters S04E15 'A Valued Family'

Bit of a bla episode really. Nothing terribly exciting happened. I don’t know if it’s the cynic in me (and lets be honest, it most definitely is) but I always seem to like episodes where the whole family is almost at war – more than the ones that they’re for each other. I know the whole show is based on the premise that these people share this intimate bond with each other, but sometimes it almost seems like it is TOO much like fiction. The fighting Walker’s seem a little bit more based in reality.


This episode we finally got to Kitty announcing her candidacy. She hired campaign manager, Buffy, who has also done a little digging into her background. She found Alec Tyler, the guy Kitty nearly had an affair with in the previous season. And while she sees this as merely being thorough, Robert sees it as almost an invasion of privacy and gives her quite a serving. I think these two characters (Robert and Buffy) share quite an interesting dynamic. Who knows ... maybe he’ll run off with her at the end of the season.
Just on a sidenote to this storyline, we almost saw Robert forgive Alec for his almost indiscretion with Kitty. Although he did make sure he didn’t sleep with her, even though Kitty has been adamant in the past that they didn’t. Alec somewhat humanised himself to Robert when he mentioned his wife dying of cancer, something Robert was so obviously afraid of having to go through when Kitty was sick. And in the end Robert did (sortve) thank him. He admitted they were in a bad place at the time Kitty and Alec met, and having to work through that drama set them back on course. (Although it could be said it’s obviously about to be derailed... If you look at Rob Lowe’s departure as an avenue for the writers to make Kitty single again)

Rebecca and Justin made a return to the series as well. Rebecca lost the baby, and they are both obviously grieving for their loss. I’ve never really liked them as a couple, and while it was emotional and you did feel their loss, I couldn’t help but remembering Justin’s admission – that he is just not at the point in his life to be a father. Perhaps that will get brought back up.

It was also revealed that Holly did not sell her shares to Dennis York, even though we were led to believe that she did throughout most of the episode. Her talk with Nora obviously had an impact in the hospital waiting room when they were both mourning the loss of their unborn grandchild. Nora referred to her as family, and you do actually see that remark register on Holly’s face. Later Holly does divulge the name of the potential buyer, which seems to resonate with Nora – and will no doubt be explored in meticulous detail in future episodes.

And my favourite storyline of the week. Sarah and Luke. It was pretty obvious from the episode prior to this that things with Sarah and Roy weren’t going to work out. She still had feelings for Luke, and although it was clear that she believed that staying with Roy was the much wiser choice, her heart just wasn’t in it. He acknowledges that there just isn’t a spark – and they break up on Valentines Day. However, in a very soap opera twist, the painting she so admired at the gallery they were all at (that Roy bought for her for V day) turned out to be Luke’s.... It was a corny, yet sweet twist. I think Sarah has probably had the most unhappiness in the four seasons of the show when it comes to love (although this could be debated, they have all had their fair share of bad times) and it was nice to finally see her happy with a development in her love life.

FURTHER THOUGHTS

- Just as soon as one couple comes back, Justin and Rebecca, another one (Scotty and Kevin) all but disappear
- This is going to sound horribly critical and little bit catty, but the red suit that Kitty wore to her candidacy announcing, looked a little off. She looked more like she was about to sell people houses than policy ...
- Will be interesting to see the development with Dennis Yorke. It has been touched on that he had been sent to prison for something that involved William Walker, while he walked away relatively clean. Nora should be able to elaborate on the circumstances as she clearly knew exactly who he was.

QUOTABLE QUOTES

“I’m sick of cleaning up dad’s messes.” Sarah (Isn’t cleaning up his messes the whole premise of the series??)
“You have to let me in. Cry. Punch a wall, punch me. Something. But just let me help you” Justin
“I’ve been trying to get my heart to follow my head.” Sarah
“What part of make it happen, do you not understand.” Kitty
“Whoever said you can have it all, is a big fat liar.” Sarah







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Brothers and Sisters S04E14 'The Pasadena Primary'

Discarding the fact that there really aren’t that many families in existence that are as tight knit as the Walkers, the program exists to show how strong the bonds of family can be. How important family members are in sharing both the highs and lows that life inevitably throws at you. And as previously discussed in the last entry about Brothers and Sisters, the Walkers have certainly had their share of lows, littered with a few highs to balance things out a little bit.

This episode had one major story line involving Kitty, who if you’ve been following entertainment news at all, you will know that she’s going to be appearing in the show less in the following season. The most reasonable explanation for this would be for her to get elected, and simply not have as much time for her family. However, the political campaign will take up the remainder of season four – and we established in the previous episode that she was going to aim her sights a little higher, and run for Robert’s senate seat, which he will be vacating. In this episode, she tells her family about her intentions. And of course, as most families usually do, they take a vote on the matter. This seemed a little over the top to me, as Kitty is a grown adult who is clearly not only capable of making her own decisions, but taking responsibility for them. Of course, somebody notes no to everyone elses yes, and Nora immediately gets the blame.

This story arc continues on in the episode, as Robert and Nora help Scotty out with a celebrity cook night at this failing restaurant. They argue the whole time, which they usually seem to do when they are together anyhow. But this time it’s about Nora not supporting Kitty’s ambition. And although she maintains that the no vote was not hers, which is later revealed to be true, she admits to Robert that she doesn’t particularly want her to run for the senate. It makes perfect sense for her to worry, as Kitty has only just recovered from cancer, and worrying is what Nora seems to do best.

The other major story line of the episode was Kevin going back to his high school reunion, with Kitty as his date. Although it has been revealed before that Kevin didn’t have the fondest high school experience, with this storyline it is evident to see how much pain it has caused him. This is an interesting insight to the character, as not much seems to phase him, but he genuinely didn’t want to go. However, once he’s there, he feels the need to somewhat big note himself and his success. He claims that he and his husband are having a child through surrogacy, even though he hasn’t been informed as to whether the pregnancy has taken yet. And as in all good dramas, he finds out merely minutes later, that the pregnancy did not in fact take. It seems like a general nuance with Kevin, that he needs to make himself more important than he is, although when you look at the success he has had in his career and personal life – there really isn’t any need for it.

We also find out Kevin, and his ‘frenemy’ Brad Lewinski, rigged the high school presidential election, essentially meaning the Kitty would have won. In a nice moment which showed the viewers how much she does care for her brother, she tells Brad with a deadpan face that she will have him killed if he ever again calls Kevin a fag. That was a nice touch, as it not only revealed her innate need to protect her younger brother, but also let us know she wasn’t mad at him for the actions he took all those years ago. But for a woman who seems to have trouble letting things go, she forgives Kevin almost instantaneously, and tells Brad off for using Kevin. She knew he only did it because he wanted to fit in at high school, and thought that it might help, which it inevitably didn’t. Kevin also admits to Kitty that he was the one that voted no, because he just didn’t know if he had it in him to still be involved in politics; meaning more or less, that he is going to have to look for another job.

Sarah finally has sex with Roy, after a month of dating. They discuss the merits of waiting to see if they are right for one another, which seems reasonable enough, as there are kids involved on both sides of the relationship. Although, about five seconds of screen time after that conversation, they jump each others bones, and decide to take it to a motel. Classy.
After the deed, Sarah gets a text from Luc, the Frenchman, saying the he misses her. This is obviously a set up for future episodes also.

And after a long time of deciding whether she should hold her shares, to see why Dennis believes them to be so valuable, Holly declares at the end of the episode that she will sell them. And who could blame her? After a very creepy business meeting with Dennis, where he claims they should be partners, only so long as he got the same ‘benefits’ as William got. Some advice: coercion doesn’t usually turn women on. Oh, and it has been a couple of weeks since anyone got married, so it would only make sense for Holly and David to tie the knot.

FURTHER THOUGHTS

- Both Kevin and Scotty’s careers seem to be a little in limbo. Kevin no longer wants to be involved in politics, and the restaurant where Scotty is head chef is failing. Can they even afford children at this point? Will Kevin have to rejoin corporate America?
- It’s ironic that it was only last week that Rob Lowe announced he would be leaving the show, as he is not utilised enough. However, I think this episode he got the most screen time he’s had for a long time.
- Is Justin only a background character now? Even Rebecca got more screen time than him, and that character isn’t even interesting.
- Will Luc come back for Sarah? I hope it causes some tension, he was a great character, and would love to see him back on the show.
- Maybe families actually do do this, but it seems to me like they are just a little too eager to talk about, or the lack thereof, of Sarah’s sex life.

QUOTABLE QUOTES

“What about you? With the high heels and push up bra. You knew it was sexy time.” Robert
“Are you all tracking my sex life?” Sarah
“Motel sex is fabulous.” Nora (Four words you never want to hear your mum say)
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Brothers and Sisters S04E13 'Run Baby Run'

Okay, I know it’s a little unorthodox to start reviewing a show when it’s already half way through the season, but I solemnly swear that if there’s reason for it, I will go back to the start of season four and make things right. So, what is there to say in a way of introduction about this show. In some ways, it’s very real. It looks at issues that a lot of people are facing. The only thing is, that as a family, they are facing almost every single problem that the writers can think of.
Let’s just examine some of the things that have happened to the Walker’s up to this point in time.

- Father dies in the first episode
- Discover his infidelities
- Discover a secret love child in Rebecca
- Weddings
- Surrogacy
- War
- Cancer
- Heart attack
- Coming out
- Finding out about even more infidelities
- Discovering a second secret love child in Ryan
- Separation
- Divorce
- Kidnap
- Juvenile diabetes
- Drug addiction
- Embezzlement
- Spirituality
- Transplant
- Death of an infant
- Pregnancy
- Miscarriage
- Custody battles
- Depression

And that’s just what comes to me on the top of my head. I wonder how many other families have had to deal with all of these issues within the last four years. So back to episode thirteen of this show. There are a few storylines that are getting quite a bit of attention this episode, none more so than Kitty and her evolving story arc of finally running for a congressional seat. This initially came up one or two episodes ago, when she was battling lymphoma, and she realised that she’s never realised one of her dreams.

However, a roadblock was thrown in her way this episode, as before she ever had a chance to tell Robert of her plans, he announced that he wanted to get out of politics altogether. After all the painstaking election campaigns, the anguish and heartache it had caused on their marriage, not to mention the massive heart attack he had suffered – he wanted to get out. I wonder what tipped him over the edge?
This makes it difficult for Kitty to tell him she wants to run for congress, and he finds out by overhearing a conversation she is having with Saul and her mother. Initially upset, it takes him about two minutes of screen time to come around to the idea – and suggests that she should aim higher, and run for his own seat in the senate that he is vacating. In fairness to the writers though, they did bring up the irony of Kitty questioning her and Robert’s marriage when she found out he was running for governor when he was recovering from his bypass. And it seems that the action she so despised Robert for doing, is one that she turned around and did herself. There still seems to be a double standard to this, but I’ll let it go for now. This seems to be a story line that is going to play out for the rest of the season.

Kevin and Scotty have also got a lot on their plate. They’re moving full steam ahead with the surrogacy, with the help (and womb) of Scotty’s good friend that nobody had ever heard of until it was necessary to the storyline, Michelle. On top of this, although it is barely mentioned, Kevin knows he is no longer going to be working with Robert in the political arena. So is he worried about job security? Or are they setting him up to work with Kitty?After Michelle has been implanted, it’s advised she be on bed rest for at least a day – but how are the writers going to involve her in the storyline if all the action is at Sarah’s on the pretence of a family dinner? Answer is: a gas leak, of course. Michelle has to conveniently relocate to Sarah’s, for at least the night, and be subjected to the very overbearing Kevin. Some of the points he made were valid, but when he told her he doesn’t wanting her watching scary movies, I started to worry for the embryo. Is he not going to be the most overprotective father ever? This story arc has been set up for some conflict/laughs, with Kevin and Scotty finding out Michelle has a younger boyfriend. The nineteen year old also comes to Sarah’s, because why wouldn’t he? Anyhow, the audience also finds out Michelle isn’t supposed to have sex for sixteen weeks, something Kevin likes to remind her of once or twice, and you sometimes get the impression that he’s a little ungrateful of what Michelle is doing for them, as he is treating her like she is a child (though of course, the writers have again covered their tracks on this and given a ‘you know i’m grateful’ throw away line in there).

To the last major storyline that took place in this episode. Unlucky in love Sarah. She has met and bonded with a single dad at a science fair in the previous episode. The opening shot is of them sharing coffee and trading war stories of their tweens. She then invites him to a family dinner, but later as they fight about their children’s civil rights in relation to backpack searches at school, she assumes that he no longer will be joining her. But Roy does make an appearance, and makes a point of saying that they don’t need to agree on everything. A lesson, you might have thought, she would have learnt by now.

A minor storyline in this episode, centres around the underutilised Saul. The long suffering uncle, who is alone and all he really has is his work. He has joined an online dating agency, which he ultimately hopes will add some meaning to his life, which sees him more or less playing surrogate father to five grown children who constantly find themselves in new sorts of trouble every week.

Further Thoughts

- Where was Justin and Rebecca? They were in one scene and didn’t even make it to the family dinner at all? It’s gone from being a show almost centred around their relationship, to them barely getting a look in.
- Why would Sarah actually think inviting Roy to dinner would be a good idea, particularly for a first date? When has a Walker family dinner actually went well?
- I may be wrong on this, but it seems every family dinner they have, at least one person leaves before they eat. In this case it seemed as though everybody did. Under appreciative guests.
- Does anyone else think that Scotty deserves more screen time? He is probably the most redeeming character on that show, and perhaps for that reason, he is subjected to the background.
- I found it interesting that not only did Robert McCallister know who Shakira was, he always knew where she came from. He didn’t always strike me as the type that would know anything about pop music.

Quotable Quotes

- “So is this your first Walker dinner party? Good luck.” Robert
- “You can’t tell what’s in a kids backpack unless you check it.” Roy (Thankyou for stating the obvious)
- “‘We’re still here, so I think we have to go for it” Kitty

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