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Brothers & Sisters' Rebecca Problem
Emily VanCamp in Brothers & Sisters by Randy Holmes/ABC
We saw it coming. We dreaded it happening. And now it’s official—or as much as anything can be in the world of TV soap opera, in this case ABC's Brothers & Sisters. Rebecca is not a blood relation to the Walkers. So says her DNA. And her reaction to this genetic shocker was predictably unhappy—so much so that it prompted her biological daddy to split for the other coast, leaving poor Holly once again bereft. Compounding the misery: Rebecca is now lying about it to Justin, the Walker who matters most. As if the surfing lesson that ended the episode wouldn’t have had enough queasily sensual subtext as is.
All of which leads me to this week’s critical quandary. Is it possible to hate a storyline and still love the actors caught up in it? (This also struck me watching last week’s Ugly Betty, with Henry succumbing to pregnant Charlie’s manipulations and sadly letting birthday-girl Betty down in every way possible. Christopher Gorham deserves better material, and fast.)
The moment Rebecca got the news in Sunday’s episode of Brothers & Sisters, my cringing began. But there’s no denying that Emily VanCamp hit it out of the park. “I fell in love with that family,” she cried. “I was happy.” There goes this year’s Mother’s Day celebration. The awkward scenes that followed with Dave Annable’s Justin were excruciating, and not just because of the implications of her new Big Lie. Or the ickiness of the moment when he attaches the ankle strap to her leg as they go surfing the next morning. The sexual attraction has always been unmistakable, but the bonding has already gone deeper into the complicated emotional waters that bind siblings for life. To backtrack now and play out the romance would be distasteful.
Still, I’m looking forward to Rebecca’s inevitable big scenes with her two moms, Holly and Nora (Sally Field’s reaction is going to be priceless), and to the inevitable showdown when the truth finally comes out to Justin. I’m not thrilled the show took us to this tiresomely contrived point, but I trust the actors to get us through it. And for Rebecca and the Walkers to find a way to redefine the rules of family once again.
All in all, it was quite the pivotal episode as the show crunches a lot of story into these last weeks (only two to go before the season wraps). Kitty acts like a petulant brat as Robert works out issues of political ambition and professional pride. The Ojai food company is again on the brink of collapse (could I care less?). Kevin and Scotty discuss domestic partnership for insurance reasons, which Scotty rejects for being more practical than romantic. (Hello? Real world calling!)
Even having a love-hate relationship with a show is healthier than not really caring, which has been my general response to the most recent episodes of Desperate Housewives since its return—although on balance, still a much-improved season. A literal bitch fight between the unbearable Gaby and Carlos’ seeing-eye dog? Desperate for cheap laughs, if you ask me. Talk about storylines I can’t wait to be over. Love the dog, though.
That said, how satisfying was Lynette’s discovery that her enfant terribles twins and not her husband set the restaurant fire? And Gary Cole as Dylan’s lurking daddy, maybe the most sinister traffic cop since the opening reel of Psycho, offering pie and sympathy to his daughter while Katherine remains oblivious? So creepy and twisted.
For Cheers & Jeers' reaction to Housewives (Bruce and I disagree about Gaby), go here.
For a full recap of Sunday's pivotal Brothers & Sisters, go here.
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Apr 28, 2008 1:09 PM
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The sexual attraction has always been unmistakable, but the bonding has already gone deeper into the complicated emotional waters that bind siblings for life. To backtrack now and play out the romance would be distasteful.
See - I disagree with this. I am a moral person who would normally be disgusted at the thought of a brother/sister romantic tryst, but this situation is anything but normal. Both Justin and Rebecca are trying to find themselves, and their relationship with each other is very important. We have all had that long lost cousin who we were attracted to for some reason, and I just don't see this situation as being much different. They did not know each other a year ago, so it cannot be compared to growing up with a sister and a brother. I just don't find a relationship between these two as "distasteful".
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Apr 28, 2008 1:47 PM
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Right on Ranger. I agree. This should take the show on another new path though. Love it lots.
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Apr 28, 2008 1:53 PM
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I can see how some people would find it "distasteful" in terms of how to tell a good story--not the fact that the characters are attracted to each other. Rebecca's "de-Walkering" pisses on most of the first season. I hope when the writers were discussing this twist, they felt they knew what they were doing. I hope it wasn't all done just to have Rebecca and Justin get together. Personally, I am disappointed by this, but I'm not going to stop watching. I will give things a chance. Plus, it helps that the actors, particularly Emily Van Camp, have been so good. And she and Dave Annable do have on-screen charisma. I also can't wait to see Nora's reaction and the words she will have for Holly. So much for a truce!
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Apr 28, 2008 1:58 PM
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Finally! A critic who doesn't have his head up his @ss or lips puckered and stuck to the B&S producers butts, who isn't afraid to say how much this storyline sucks. I agree with you completely Matt and I'm happy you wrote this article to make your opinion known. For the record, you aren't alone. There are plenty of us B&S fans who feel the same way and can't believe they did something so monumentally stupid and contrived or that they really think this is good storytelling.
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Apr 28, 2008 2:14 PM
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What about Sarah's reaction to this news? She would still be with her husband and kids if Rebecca wasn't being spiteful and manipulative.
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Apr 28, 2008 2:34 PM
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Is this the reason that Jon Robin Baitz quit the show?
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Apr 28, 2008 2:43 PM
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I just hate that we were led down a path and convinced to invest in a storyline that now seems defunct- what is the point of Holly now? And if they do explore this romance between Rebecca and Justin- what about when it inevitably ends? Or they don't explore it (doesn't seem likely) but then she's exposed as a liar? So sad, too bad, don't let the door hit you on your shapely posterior on your way out? So-why did I care so much about this character and for what reason? Clearly they are paving the way for Saul to leave the show, and now I think Holly probably must be leaving as well...and unless they do some creative dancing, I don't see Rebecca being able to stick around long term either.
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Apr 28, 2008 2:54 PM
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Matt - I'm with you all the way about Gaby (Desperate Housewives). She's unbearable to me too (especally last week with the handicapped parking issue--I have a handicapped placard, so not funny). I did enjoy last night's comedy with the dog, however--but only because the dog got the upper hand in the end. I only enjoy Gaby's scenes when she's on the losing end.
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Apr 28, 2008 3:42 PM
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I'm glad I stopped watching brothers & sisters.
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Apr 28, 2008 7:35 PM
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Matt wrote: " ... this week’s critical quandary. Is it possible to hate a storyline and still love the actors caught up in it?"
I think the answer to that is simple and not a quandry at all. With few exceptions, actors are not responsible for their material. Writers put it on the page, actors put in on the stage.
When they work in concert, the results are magnificent (most weeks of Lost & BSG, for example).
When the writing is off, great actors can take up the slack (Eva Longoria practically carried all of Desperate Housewives season 2).
When the writing is terrific, subpar acting can drag it down (Women's Murder Club, I'm looking at you).
And then there is House of Payne.
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Apr 28, 2008 9:25 PM
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This whole storyline is too stupid. First we get invested in poor Rebecca the love child of the Walker patriarch only to find out now that she isn't. They are basically chucking a large number of storylines to have her and Justin hookup. She still hasn't bonded with her other sisters and brothers that could have led to several storylines instead of now being stuck to one.
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Apr 29, 2008 1:34 AM
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Emily Van Kamp as the sixth sibling was perfect. She is such a fine actor that I really wanted her to be part of the family. I love B&S,but now that the writers have decided to "surprise" us with the news that Rebecca is not a Walker, I can't help but wonder what's next. Except for the "will they or won't they storyline," and the big lie that will soon come out, she serves no purpose. If she is not a Walker, she is just a nice young woman without any real reason to be in the show. I don't think she will end up married into the family. It's still just too ickky. The same goes for her mother. She will just be a business partner, with no real attachment to the family. What wasted talent. I recently gave up on Grey's Anatomy because it became too predictable. I would hate to have to remove B&S from my Tivo as well.
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Apr 29, 2008 7:55 AM
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I like this show, and this story twist is awkward, but it's just a show, people. So they decided to shift course. I might be mistaken, but I don't really think this will cause the world to stop turning or anything.
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Apr 29, 2008 8:03 AM
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Not happy with the Rebecca-is-not-a-Walker storyline but you're right, the actors are doing their best to sell the material they're given. And the Walkers are most fun to watch when crises arise. [And I still prefer it to the Sarah lets libido trump her business sense and where's she stashing her kids? story that Rachel Griffiths is stuck with.]
But I don't agree with your reality-trumps-romance scenario between Scotty and Kevin. Yes, Scotty is seemingly being impractical but as he pointed out to Kevin, a domestic partnership is the closest thing to a marriage that two gay men can currently have--and he would rather 'marry' for love than money. Something wrong with that?
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Apr 29, 2008 9:22 AM
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