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« Brothers and Sisters
Is He? Or Isn’t He?
Justin's been injured, but how bad off is he? Brothers & Sisters by Scott Garfield/ABC
Episode Recap: "An American Family"
Welcome home, Justin! Yes, while the show was still great last week, having you back this week makes us realize how much we missed you. And what a return! With a busted knee and some scrapes, Justin is due for a full recovery, but it's going to be a long haul for him since — as a recovering addict — he has refused to take any pain meds. Justin's physical pain may rival that of his journey of re-entry into a non-combat zone existence. On a good day the Walkers can be overwhelming — imagine that on top of coming home from war and this time, as Justin reminds us, he's not stoned.
It's a good thing we have the perfect senator around to provide the support that Justin may not be able to find in his immediate family. The relationship between these two men has become one of my favorites on the show. It makes sense that they have bonded, given the senator's own military history. Without that closeness, though, I'm sure I would have smirked when Justin looked into Rob Lowe's baby blues and said of Kitty, "I know she's kinda stoked about being a McAllister, but I'm kinda glad you're going to become a Walker." Instead, it hit me right there.
I'm not surprised, though, that the episode managed to make me both weepy and giggly, because every week Brothers & Sisters manages to strike the right balance between comedy and drama. In the midst of their trip to retrieve their war-wounded brother, Kitty, Kevin and Nora pull off the road to phone into a talk radio pundit who has personally insulted their family. Was it any surprise that their on-air response did nothing more than make them look ridiculous? They outed Abe Lincoln, for crying out loud! It may be time for Kitty to step down from the senator's staff. I've yet to see her invaluable abilities as communications officer, and I suspect that the fact that they've brought up her irresponsibility on the job when it comes to her family is a sign that she'll soon be faced with having to do just that.
She may not be the only Walker having to make a choice in the near future. I smell a situation coming up for Tommy and his new office manager, Lena. Call it my Spidey Sense, but I think this friend of Rebecca's may steal one or two of her friend's moves. Julia and Tommy are having that rough patch… And how about Lena offering up a female or male date for Saul? The writers are not being subtle at all here with his response when explaining his bachelorhood: "The great irony of my life is that I love women as well." Mm-hmm.
Joe also loves the women. I didn't think they could ruin his character more, but then they had him cavalierly inform Sarah that he'd taken off his wedding ring a month ago and then admit that he'd been seeing his ex-wife Paula. Why, oh why? I'm so disappointed. So, again Sarah gets kicked in the stomach with this news from her husband (who, by the way, is still claiming to be family) and then has to hear Rebecca's confession that she had actually come on to Joe a few month's ago. That's O.K., Rebecca. That was only news that could have saved Sarah's marriage! At least we got to see a little bit of that edge that Sarah's been missing lately — loved Sarah describing Rebecca as the "dear deflowered little girl." I guess their truce is over.
The drama will continue, as always, for the Walkers, but I am so looking forward to Justin and Nora's story as these two go through his recovery together. I was touched by Kevin's tears when he first saw Justin, but the final scene with Justin in agony, finally turning to – actually clutching – his mother for comfort pushed me over the edge. So, again I say: Justin, welcome home.
Thoughts on tonight's show and the incredible chemistry between Sally Field and David Annable? Were you savvy enough not to fall for ABC's misleading previews last week featuring a military funeral?
Check out footage of Brothers and Sisters on our Online Video Guide.
Find out what the staff writers of Brothers & Sisters had to say about this episode in TV Guide's exclusive celebrity blog.
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Oct 8, 2007 12:24 AM
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This was a great episode. I'm not sure Rebecca's confession would have helped save Sarah's marriage- it seems like Joe was a little too eager to have an out.
As for Saul, I agree that they're kind of bashing us over the head, but I'm wondering if there's some sort of twist because the writers seem more savvy than that.
Which brings me to the constant misleading promos. I had a feeling that last weeks promos were for a funeral McCallister was attending, and in the past ABC has done their best to mislead the viewers, so I'm guessing that next weeks promos are incredibly misleading once again.
I wonder how much Sally Field is like Nora. Her speech in the car seemed to resemble her Emmy speech, which makes me want to hear more interviews with Sally Field and see what she's like.
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Oct 8, 2007 1:27 AM
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I have come to love this show more and more each episode. Tonight's show was icing on the cake for me because the writers, director(s), and actors were able to balance comedy and drama perfectly. The final scene made me want to cry and do a standing ovation at the same time. Sally and David did this scene justice on so many levels!! I smell another Emmy nomination  . I loved the aftermath radio scene with Kitty and how Nora & Kevin left her once they saw it was Robert who was calling..it was priceless. On another note I liked Robert's publicist(I assume) because he brings some comedy to the whole campaign and shows Kitty's humor.
Yet, I find myself a bit disappointed in how the writers have changed Joe from a stay at home dad to now a selfish individual who is dating his exwife while still being married to Sarah. It seems they want people to feel really sorry for Sarah and make Joe an evil guy. He is completely different from first season Joe. There divorce will be ugly because Sarah is hurt and pissed off. Like the old saying "hell hath no fury like a woman scorned". ![]<img border=](http://community.tvguide.com/images/emoticons/devil.gif) ">
I hope that Tommy and Julia do not end up like his dad, Nora, and Holly by having him start an affair with Lena. It will ruin Tommy's character in him being the most stable siblings out of them all. On the flip side, I find myself not liking Julia more and more this season because of the way she treats Tommy who to me is the ideal husband. He is caring and attentive to his wife & child. Hopefully, things will look up and there won't be 2 couples divorcing this season.
Does anyone know if Justin's old gf is coming back or whatever happened to their relationship because I really liked her character?
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Oct 8, 2007 1:33 AM
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I KNEW it wasn't Justin's funeral because there is NO way, NO WAY, that Nora would wear sleeveless, OR deep V-neck to a funeral, ANY funeral, much less her son's. It just wouldn't be done. So I was calm, completely, that it wasn't Justin. But Tommy is going to have his hands full with the new girl. Sarah needs to get a grip and realize that she is no blameless soul in the break of her marriage, she did her best job at whacking Joe off at the knees, though of course he isn't blameless either. And I don't think I've liked Rob Lowe this much in years. He's delightful in this role.
Yay!
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Oct 8, 2007 2:23 AM
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another great episode the justin stuff was so heartbreaking but i'm mad at joe seems like they will not get back together
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Oct 8, 2007 3:15 AM
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Harris4, I so agree, they have changed Joe too much, to soon..
I suspect they just wanted to get rid of that actor as a regular (and open up Sarah to date?) so I find this quickie divorce very contrived.
It doesn't ring true to the Joe character developed last year at all.
Otherwise, I enjoyed this episode. All the whitty banter jammed into every episode is unbeatable, like the Kevin-Kitty-Nora car scene, it was great..and the aftermath...classic Walker.
I also thought, from spoilers, that Justin would have a head injury..but I'm glad he doesn't.
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Oct 8, 2007 3:15 AM
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Nora leaning out the car window yelling, "You tell him, Kitty!" was a classic example of why this show is so freaking great. And the hug at the end with Justin and Nora? God they know how to tug those heartstrings!
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Oct 8, 2007 4:11 AM
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I loved the scene in the beginning with Kevin and Sarah each receiving a phone call that Justin's coming home, then switching. Laughed out loud!
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Oct 8, 2007 6:26 AM
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Yay for another great episode. This show is one of my favorites & a must-see during the week. Justin is my favorite character (Dave Annable does a great job!), so while I knew they weren't going to kill him off, I'm glad he wasn't more seriously injured...although it sure doesn't look like it's gonna be an easy recovery by any means. In any case, so glad he's back.
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Oct 8, 2007 9:25 AM
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Great write-up, Rhoda!
I agree the Kevin and Sarah on-the-phone scene is what the show does best. Also, Kitty and Nora just smiling cracks me up.
I couldn't take my eyes off of Justin's forehead scar. Do you think it will go away once he's "better"?
I suppose Joe will be going away and didn't like his going-back-to-his-ex explanation. And even if Julia is around less she won't go far since she has a baby Walker.
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Oct 8, 2007 9:59 AM
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I completely agree about Sally Field's chemistry with Dave Annable. I didn't think he was a very good actor on Reunion, but he has thoroughly proved me wrong on this show. He is one of my favorite reason to watch!
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Oct 8, 2007 10:02 AM
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I think this show's liberal writers are being too obvious... They brought us a conservative talk show host (hummmm initials are LR.... gee Rush is RL....) and in typical liberal fashion are way over the top as to what happens on these shows... a caricature of what really happens... and of course Kitty spouts words that the liberals think conservatives should say... but that withstanding another fine episode...
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Oct 8, 2007 10:30 AM
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Love this show more with every episode! Great Recap, Rhonda! I, too, think that scene b/t Justin and Nora was incredible and look forward to their storyline together! And I don't think ABC was fooling anybody with the funeral promos. It felt a little too much like a cheap shot- which I think took some of the power out of the purpose of the scene. Also, I know that Julia's character isn't anybody's favorite right now, but I think her portrayal absolutely rings true. Julia not only had to go through a lot of stress to get pregnant, but then lost one of her babies when she and Tommy decided not to get the surgery for William. To a parent, I am sure she felt they were choosing one child over the other. I think she likely blames herself and Tommy for William's death as well as going through some post-portem issues of depression. Grief can divide even the healthiest of couples. So the scenes where Julia is not happy with Tommy no matter what he does really seemed very accurate to me. I have witnessed that exact scenerio with alot of new moms and dads.
And Rhoda- i think you are right. I think they are setting up for Tommy to follow in his dad's footsteps and be tempted by Lena. It will definitely be interesting to see if we can still feel sorry for Tommy if he has an affair after the way the show has vilified Joe and father William for the same thing....sounds like good complicated tv to me! Personally, I am hoping for much more Justin storyline to come!
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Oct 8, 2007 11:06 AM
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another great episode; but isn't Rob Lowe overdoing the eyeliner?
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Oct 8, 2007 11:07 AM
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I noticed the eyeliner, too! They must have just misjudged the lighting for that scene. ANYWAY!
Awesome epi. And, to address the issue about "liberals" writing this show - well, I'm a conservative who hates the way a certain conservative talkshow host has hijacked the party and I was applauding both Kitty's phone call and McCallister's interview. But the aftermath when Robert called - that scene and the cell phone scene others have mentioned had me laughing so hard I was crying. But then again I startd crying when Robert told Kitty at the funeral that Justin was coming home. I come from a very close, albeit conservative, family, but I can so ID with the Walker clan.
One thing, though - did I miss some kind of fall out between Rebecca and the Walkers over her admission to Sarah? Or was she just being hard on herself (justifiably so) in that scene with Holly?
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Oct 8, 2007 12:27 PM
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