'Brothers & Sisters': Smitten
Brothers & Sisters is back, and this week it's all about the many loves and entanglements of the Walker clan. What with the affairs, mistresses, addictions, flirtations, bitter exes, jealous lovers, and unlikely love blooming in the middle of a presidential campaign, it's amazing anything else gets done.
Love, sex and spoilers follow.
Tommy is determined to make things work with Julia, but, well, he's still Tommy. That means he's ever so eager to rub Julia's nose in her transgressions while looking offended that anyone would bring up his own. Unfortunately, Lena is still working for him, so that sort of erodes his position on the moral high ground.
Things get ugly when Julia joins Tommy for lunch at the office -- awkward! Afterwards, Tommy and Lena commiserate about how uncomfortable things are, and Lena tries to kiss Tommy. Doh! Tommy, to his credit, finally gets it together: I love Julia, he tells Lena. Then, at home, he agrees to go to a counselor with Julia. We'll see how that works.
Lena is also in the orbit of another Walker brother: Justin is happily, hungrily involved with her, spending all the time he can with her -- preferably naked. He doesn't think anything of it until a guy at his veteran's group talks about replacing his addiction to pills with an addiction to his wife, and the sex he has with her. Something finally clicks in Justin's head, and he realizes what's going on. That means he's willing to let Lena go when she confesses about trying to kiss Tommy.
And that's not even the stickiest Walker love triangle! Nope, that honor goes to Kevin, who is balancing his seemingly happy, successful relationship with Scotty with the news that Jason (Robert's brother, who Kevin broke up with via phone after Jason spent several months not calling him) is back from Malaysia. Jason wants to talk, and Kevin wants to make sure it's ok with Scotty. Sure! Scotty says -- but he engineers it so he can crash that little tête-à -tête. Yipe.
After many angry words are exchanged (Jason blames Kevin for breaking up with him, Kevin blames Jason for not talking to him, and Scotty fears Kevin is still in love with Jason), Scotty and Kevin fight, and Scotty storms off -- to sleep in his car. Kevin finds him and tells him no, really, you're the one I want to be with. Scotty asks him not to see Jason again if he can help it (family obligations being what they are.) Kevin agrees. Again, we'll see how that works out.
Sarah is continuing her quasi-flirtation with Graham, who continues to be smooth and delectable. When a deal with a Chinese distributor goes spectacularly well, Sarah starts to unbend a bit. Too bad Graham is meeting another woman for dinner. Ouch. Sarah's back to icy politeness the next time she sees him.
Really, the only one having a relatively uncomplicated time is Nora, who finally gets to go on a real date with Isaac. She's adorable, he's fabulous, and both are smitten. Awwww. I can't wait to see what the writers are going to throw at them to screw this up. Because God forbid the Walkers should be happy.
Highlights, thoughts and odds and ends:
- Kitty talks to Nora from the car. Nora complains that Isaac hasn't called her. Kitty explains that maybe Isaac has been a wee bit distracted: "It turns out that presidential campaigns are kind of time consuming." Hee!
- Nora tells Kitty that Lena is still sleeping with Justin -- what could she be thinking? "Maybe she was hoping that Kevin was straight so she could go for the whole Walker trifecta," Kitty replies. Hee, again.
- Now that Lena has quit and she's no longer seeing Justin, do you think she's gone from the show? I like the actress, but I won't be sorry to see the character go.
- I'm kind of loving Holly as she walks the tightrope between Lena and Tommy. She's looking out for the business, but she also understands what it's like to be a Walker family mistress. I loved the way she talked with Lena as she was quitting. Great job by Patricia Wettig.
- I love the way Isaac's face lights up whenever he sees Nora. It's so sweet. I'm completely buying that puppy-love, feeling-thing-out, start-of-a-relationship energy that both Danny Glover and Sally Field are giving off.
- My favorite moment between Isaac and Nora: Isaac asks Nora how she is. Nora responds with news about her children. "Nora -- I asked how are you, not your kids." "Oh," Nora responds. "How am I." She pauses. "I have no idea." You can tell it's been years since she even thought of someone asked her that.
- I like Scotty. I really do. But Scotty and Kevin making out doesn't generate even half the heat of Kevin and Jason looking at each other across a coffee table. That's why the whole Kevin/Scotty relationship doesn't gel with me. "I don't think you get how much I want us to be together," Kevin says. I sure don't -- and I don't get why.
Call me un-PC all you like (and I have a number of gay friends) but I was never really able to watch two men kissing until Kevin and Jason got it together in Nora's pantry during Kitty's engagement party - the heat those two generated has totally cured me. I have totally been looking forward to having Kevin and Jason in the same room again - Scotty and Kevin don't have the chemisty I'm afraid but Kevin and Jason - hubba hubba!
My favorite thing about the same-sex kissing that's (finally) being seen on TV nowadays is that people who are grossed out by it are finally getting to experience what some gay people have been putting up with their entire lives. Though it isn't seeing straight couples kissing that really bothers me--it's all the macho crap that they have to show straight male characters doing in order to make sure we know they're straight.
I gotta say it breaks my heart just seeing how much Jason loves Kevin and how Kevin hides behind it to protect himself through using Scotty as his out. I can completely relate to this situation and its obvious Scotty and Kevin are not destined to be together. The pain and the love are obviously their and denying that is a sin itself. It's really too bad because Scotty is a great guy, he's just not up to par for Kevin and Kevin wants to be his "daddy" whereas Jason just wants to be his equal and easily is. Everytime I see Kevin and Jason you feel what they are and that what makes a great couple, where everyone can relate and Scotty sees right through it. His comment about seeing Kevin and Jason together just proves his insecurity and the facts of their feelings. I wanted to scream and cry watching the triplet dinner scene as it was so apparent Kevin couldn't deal by constantly looking down. All Jason wanted was for him to stand up to the truth and admit to himself how he feels.
I think we will soon see a turnaround and next week's episode called "Comprimises" kinda hints about the stories to come. Jason will need Kevin more than what he first realizes after his brothers harsh words about him being gay. Ahh I love and life of a beautiful gay couple, WRITERS CAN WE HONESTLY JUST KEEP THESE PPL TOGETHER? WE WANT A WEDDING, NOT ALWAYS HARD TIMES ARE NEEDED TO KEEP US ENTERTAINED. When you love a show you love it for who the people are, not always the bad dramas that entangle them.
I am so mad...I didn't think there were anymore episodes because of the writer's strike, and I had not heard anything about it, so I didn't know to watch last night! But good thing I come to zap2it every morning, and I could read the recap!!!
Craig- you can also watch the episode for free now at abc.com
there is also a new episode next sunday, just a heads up
I used to love the Scotty-Kevin relationship, but I will admit, the heat isn't there. I agree with Chadley, Kevin has to take care of Scotty, and while he is adorable, Kevin needs an equal and Jason is it.
Just looking at Kevin and Jason u can see they still have a lot of feelings for each other inside. The way they kept looking at each other u could still see the love there.
I think when it comes down to it that Kevin is scared of being in a stable relationship with someone like Jason. With Scotty Kevin knows something always happens to come between them and he is hoping it happens this time as well. That way he is not a jerk for walking away.
I was glad that Jason reminded Kevin of his promise to wait for him and then the first chance Kevin got he dumped Jason. I know Kevin may have been a little lonely but he should not have made a promise he had no intention on keeping.
Mentally and emotionally Jason and Kevin are perfect for each other. Scotty is just a childish brat who stomps out anytime he doesn't get his way.
I hope the writers come to their senses and put Kevin and Jason back together. If i have to put up with Scotty' s whining and childishness any longer i will start fast forwarding thru any scene he is in. That is unless Jason is in it, lol.
GET KEVIN AND JASON BACK TOGETHER!!!!
I think I can relate so much in this situation it seems a friend of mine is in this exact situation and watching it makes me cry. So sad to be with someone who you down on but are too scared to commit to the 'good guys' in fear they could hurt you more than you've ever been hurt.
Risk is great if you don't know the outcome and I think Kevin isn't ready to know that he can and would commit to Jason fully. Kevin can risk anything with Scotty because he's like a pillow you can beat up over and over cause he loves strong men to be by his side, but no one wants a daddy they want a strong man, hence why Kevin should be with Jason and vice versa.
I absolutely love how most of the comments so far have centered on the gay love triangle!
I do like Scotty (more than I like the character of Kevin actually) and I also agree that they don't work nearly as well together which is a shame, because he'll be ultimately written out. When his character was first brought back, it was suggested that he'd become a good friend to Kevin, which would have been entertaining and would ring true, as I know many guys who briefly dated and then became friends - myself included. It would be nice to see these characters moderately happy - just seeing them negotiate a steady relationship would be interesting I think. But I fear there will always be drama for Kevin.
I went to college with Greg Berlanti; I just wish I was still in touch and had some pull or at least advance storylines...
I read somewhere that Rob Lowe had actually suggested that Jason be played by out actor John Barrowman (who I love). But that he turned down the part because of Torchood (Doctor Who spin off). I'm kinda curious about what that pairing would have been like...
But have you watched Torchwood Varris? There are just as many gay relationships as straight ones in that series and they are really hot! Rumour has it that James Marsters, Spike from Buffy and Angel is going to be in Torchwood as a love interest for John Barrowman - now wouldn't you love to see that hookup? I'm very proud of the BBC!