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'Brothers & Sisters': I'm gonna need just about two hours to feel like crap
Good lord, Brothers & Sisters can be brutal. Not in a "who told him/her/he/she could write/direct/act" sense, but in a "who came up with this compelling, beautifully acted, emotionally devastating storyline and twisted the knife the precise number of times to make me get all wibbly?" sort of way. Rick failed to mention the potential for tears when I won the "show-off" in the most recent Zap2It blogger's poker game. (I knew I should have been suspicious when he fell for that bluff!)
Hi, my name is Sarah and I'll be your spoiler.
The minor traumas
Kitty calls in a favor to bring in Isaac (the glorious Danny Glover), a cutthroat political operative who specializes in handling crises and destroying opponents, out of retirement so he can deal with the inevitable hay-making that will come in the wake of Kitty's pregnancy. Fie upon the writers for deftly torpedoing my "and he was only two weeks from retirement!" joke in the first minute he's on screen!
Isaac advises Kitty to get hitched as soon as and unobtrusively as possible. Kitty's disappointed, but she sees the wisdom in this. Nora, however, flips out. Sally Fields plays it to the hilt -- this isn't about her, it's about making sure her daughter doesn't someday regret not having the wedding of her dreams! Yeah, right. Isaac tells her to go ahead, throw the wedding of "Kitty's" dreams -- so long as she gets it done by Sunday.
Kevin tracks down Scotty, discovers Scotty is basically homeless after falling behind on student loans and such, and invites Scotty to stay with him for a while. This just reeks of a potential complication in the Kevin/Jason relationship down the road, since I really, really hope Jason will be back now that his casino has folded. Also, Scotty brings "Glitter" into the household, and is therefore either insane or evil. Possibly both.
The bigger traumas
Paige is acting out now that Sarah and Joe's divorce is getting messy. She's pulling fire alarms, sulking, sassing, and generally behaving like a kid whose world is falling apart. She goes so far as to run way from home (to grandma's) to register her displeasure. While that was completely terrifying for Sarah and Joe -- and gave Joe an opportunity to act like an ass again -- that particular cry for help did eventually get Joe to realize that his schmucklike ways were hurting his kids, and agree to joint custody.
Holly gives Rebecca a hard time for putting her life on hold to minister to the Walkers. Rebecca denies this is so ... but discovers that's exactly what's been happening, and Justin doesn't actually appreciate it. Even worse, she figures out that Justin is using again, and there's nothing she can do to stop it. She confronts him, and it's heartbreaking to see her realize that the addiction is stronger than all of her good intentions. (It's pretty darn heartbreaking to see Justin descending into that trouble again, when he knows in his heart what he's doing, but it looks like we'll be getting a major dose of that particular trauma next week, so I'll just leave it at this: Dave Annable is amazing.)
We discover why Robert has such a visceral hatred for Isaac: Long ago, when Isaac was working for one of Robert's opponents, he leaked the news that Jason was gay -- long before Jason himself was ready to have that particular bit of knowledge become public. It nearly destroyed the family, and Robert seriously thought about leaving politics. Isaac takes that in -- and then basically tells Robert to suck it up and catch up with the rest of the political world when it comes to opposition search-and-destroy tactics, or he'll never win anything. Ouch.
The big bad trauma
At Kitty's first fetal ultrasound, things get bad -- there's no heartbeat. Kitty has had a "missed miscarriage": the fetus is dead, but remains in the womb. Kitty needs to have a D&C -- basically, she needs to have an abortion for a child that would never be born. This raises all sort of sticky political questions -- are Robert's opponents going to crucify him for this, make it sound like he got his pregnant girlfriend to get an abortion before the election? -- but it's the human reactions that are absolutely devastating.
All of the actors make their reactions painfully real and raw: Nora wanting to do something, anything to help, Kitty holding it together until Nora leaves, then sobbing uncontrollably by her lonesome, only to put on her game face when Robert gets back later that evening. It hurt to watch her reassure him -- first trying to joke ("I guess we're not going to have a puppy," referring to their code name for the situation), then breaking into cold efficiency ("This is just natures way of ending a potential problem.") Oh, Kitty.
Robert's reaction is similarly heart-rending. When Isaac suggests he prepare for his opposition to use this whole sorry tale to their own advantage, Robert lets his own torment out in a rush: He didn't want this baby. He thought he was through with having kids. But he didn't tell Kitty, and he damn well can't tell her now. Now, he says, he doesn't know "if God is giving me what I want or punishing me or both." Before he starts thinking about spin, he says, "I'm gonna need just about two hours to feel like crap." Oh, Robert.
The joy of Isaac
- I loved Danny Glover's take on Isaac. Rather than being a rant-and-rave type arrogant operative, he's unfailingly polite (as he plans things that could destroy lives) and speaks barely above a whisper, forcing even a shrieking Kitty and Nora to take notice of him.
- Kitty is amazed that Isaac "folded like an origami swan" about Nora and wedding plans. "You know me -- I don't fight battles I can't win," he replies. Very wise choice.
- Did anyone else find it ominous that Isaac gave Robert plans for damage control "if the story leaks"? I'm almost afraid he's going to be paid to leak it. God, I hope not -- that would be a horrifying betrayal for Kitty and Robert. And while it's gracious of Isaac to offer his services to Robert, I can't help but wonder if that's the sort of devil's bargain that would kill Robert's soul.
- What did you think of Isaac's opposition research find? On the one hand, it's a very private tragedy for Robert's opponent to have a severely developmentally disabled child; on the other hand, said opponent seems like a bit of a hypocritical schmuck to vote against Special Ed funding and Americans with Disabilities Act protections. I kind of think the hypocrisy trumps privacy in that case, but it's a tough call.
Other odds and ends
- Does anyone else think "deboning quail" sounds like some sort of sexual euphemism? Just me? Never mind.
- Oh, how I adore Travis and his righteous indignation about everything Kitty or Isaac says.
- Hi, Tommy! Gee, it's nice to see you -- maybe next week you'll be on screen for more than two minutes! Oh, and sorry about your illicit girlfriend almost screwing around with your pill-popping brother. That's got to be awkward.
Kitty and Robert pushing up their wedding should have been obvious to everyone there was no need to bring Isaac out of retirment to say that! But I did read (on Zap2it's TV news)that Danny Glover was going to be on as a love interest for Nora so maybe he won't leak anything or him leaking something will be what breaks them up!
I'm beginning to think the reason's Tommy's in an affair is because the writers haven't got a decent plot for him - without the affair he's not on at all!
I was so looking forward to seeing Calista Flockhart in a pregnancy suit with a bit more meat on her bones too.
I was actually stunned to hear Robert say he didn't want more children. He's marrying a young woman who hasn't been married before - you'd think they might have strategized about THAT!
I'm furious at Justin - he didn't have to do this. He isn't popping those pills because he feels the NEED, he's doing it because he CAN and it infuriates me. Especially when the "doctor's" name on the bottle was Jose Suarez???
Tommy can STAY off until he straightens his act out - I'm upset at him for doing this and Lena is OBVIOUSLY going to be REALLY bad news.
This is such a great show - I'm so glad I FINALLY discovered it!
Jan | Nov 5, 2007 6:40:08 AM | #Comments to Jan
-Kitty isn't "young" she is clearly over 40 and there are many women who just don't want kids and Kitty used to be the perfect candidate for that. I wouldn't have thought she wanted kids either, though they clearly should have discussed that. But they needed a reason for them to break up, because Kitty can't be the first lady, that isn't what this show is about.
-Justin is an addict. It's what they do. Also, the pills are probably prescribed to a Jose Suarez, not that he is the doctor.
On another note... the Lena character makes no sense. Either she should be a mature young woman falling for an older man, or a crazy young woman just on the prowl. She can't be both.
And who didn't see the start of an Issac/Norah thing?
I can't stand the whole Tommy/Lena story. I don't understand how in one episode he's Mr "I Love My Wife and Family" and then in the very next one he's Mr "I'm Ready to Throw Everything I Love Away". How did he react when he found out about his father's affair?
William | Nov 5, 2007 7:49:17 AM | #Comment to William
Tommy isn't throwing everything away. Julia did that when she moved home with Mommy and Daddy because it was too hard.
I am not saying I like the storyline all that much either but everyone is making it out like he is an awful guy when really at this point he is a seperated guy having a fling. Everyone does it.
Courtney,
I don't think everyone does it. It didn't seem to me that Tommy was the kind of person who would do it, that's all. Especially not that quickly, I would think.
William | Nov 5, 2007 9:46:46 AM | #Yes Julia was the one who walked away but that is no excuse for him to go from "You are the love of my life" to sleeping with the office manager. Everyone doesn't do it. Some men actually remain faithful and fight for their families.
I am glad to see Paige acting out. Maybe that is actually what it will take to knock Joe down a few pegs. He has fastly become my least favorite person on the show. He has become a colosal jerk.
I wish they had drawn Kitty's pregnancy out longer. It seemed rushed. It is a shame that Robert doesn't want more children but i think that will change.
Justin being back on drugs is not a big surprise. He is in a lot of pain. But i do hate the way he has been treating Rebecca. Glad the intervention is coming next week.
I hope they do not screw up Kevin's relationship with Jason by bringing Scotty back into the picture. Kevin and Jason make such a good couple. But something tells me Kevin and Scotty will soon be hitting the sheets and thus perpetuating the notion that gay men are not capable of being faithful. Bring Jason back SOON!!
Courtney -- "Everybody does it"? Remind me never to get involved in a relationship with you.
Yowza. His wife, the mother of his child, left him in one episode (saying that with a little space, hopefully all would be well again) and he was getting naughty with a blonde cutie within an episode? That's not even *trying* to remain faithful. There's like one woman in his life who isn't a blood relation or his dad's former mistress, so he sleeps with her.
-Gavin
Gavin | Nov 5, 2007 10:58:29 AM | #The episode was okay. I'm actually getting a little sick of the show though.
One thing that shocked me was the poor grammar. I understand airhead Rob Lowe being an idiot, but you'd think the writers would know better. "...spin what's happened to Kitty and I?" I mean, duh!
Put me in the camp that hates Tommy's affair; it was telegraphed the moment Lena came on the show and was quite predictable and rather uniteresting to me. Though not a fan of his wife's character, it's just a sad attempt to spice up Tommy's plotline.
At first I thought I would be tired of Justin's downward spiral again into drugs, but then I thought about it and realized how realistic this actually is - addicts relapse. I don't mean this disparagingly, but it's true - it's really hard to kick drugs. One often fails on the first or second attempt.
I first suspected that Sarah and Joe's marriage would end somewhere early in season 1 when she had lunch with (I think his name was) Noah. I've been waiting patiently for his return, because I love the actor, Michael Beach, who played him...
Brother's & Sisters has become very involving; I like this show a lot.
While I'm so on board with the "I Hate Tommy's storyline" team, I have to focus my appreciation of Calista Flockhart in this episode. She's always been great at comical stuff but she had great dramatic moments in this episode. Her breakdown after Nora leaves her was just so heartbreaking. And the not having puppy thing, oh...
Rebecca has her first "big" fight with another Walker. I'm glad she called Justin on his (crop). Next, she needs to tell Lena to leave the show altogether.
I wanna thank Scotty for bringing "Glitter" back into the limelight. The movie may not have been the best but surely Mariah puts out the best songs. I'm just saying.
Ritchie | Nov 5, 2007 12:54:08 PM | #Lena's like a daytime soap character, working her way around the Walker brothers. I nearly choked with laughing when she said "Stop, you're Rebecca's brother!" who does she think Tommy is then? She's definately up to something too, she's so reckless. She took one of Justin's drugs then drank, probably called Tommy again and whined.
I did like the way the writers showed how awful an affair was - Tommy can't take her out in public and didn't stay the night, then they hammered it home during the night out by referring to her booty boyfriend.
I'm worried that Scotty might be the one to leak Kitty's "abortion" to the press. For an attorney, Kevin was being very indiscrete discussing it in front of his broke and desperate roommate.
I can't help feeling there's something more to Joe's bombardment of Sarah - he seems to hate her for some reason and he's the one that left! Just because he's given back joint custody, I can't believe this is over.
Once again, as I've said before, partners keep making choices for their significant others without letting them in on the deal and after all the crap Robert put poor Kitty through last week for not telling him she was pregnant he can't see the irony of him not telling her that he didn't want any more children as something she might need to know?! How is that not lying ? And he wants to become president on his integrity?? Good Luck!! It's beginning to look like what his ex-wife said to Kitty is true.
Flockhart rocked it again. I think it might be her turn for the Emmy.
graeme | Nov 5, 2007 6:22:55 PM | #I'm so torn. On the one hand I love Danny Glover in all his gorgeous whispering glory and could listen to him read the phonebook. On the other hand, what Isaac did to Jason was beyond shitty. I know it's politics and it's sleazy and all, but if you're a 20 year old kid trying to pluck up the courage to tell your family you're gay, having it plastered all over the press certainly can't help.
I didn't mind Scotty because at least we got another acknowlegement that Kevin loves and misses Jason so as long as it stays a friendship and nothing more, i'm fine with it.
Comment to Mandy -
I'm 61 - to me 40 IS a young woman, and while she may not have wanted children BEFORE, he didn't KNOW her then, did he? You are obviously NOT over 40.
That's what addicts DO? He IS an addict and I understand that. I think he's just ENJOYING it too much.
Jan | Nov 6, 2007 8:54:19 PM | #"Kitty isn't "young" she is clearly over 40"
She's actually 39, which is obviously close to forty, but not "clearly over." 39 is still a suitable age to have children. Given, it might be strange to be twenty and have 60 year old parents, but meh. The world is an ever changing place!
Drew | Nov 11, 2007 3:33:16 PM | #
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