In This Section
|
« Brothers & Sisters
May 13, 2007: Matriarchy
The birth of Tommy and Julia’s twins has been anticipated by the Walkers all season long. Sadly, what should have been the happiest moment in Tommy and Julia’s lives turned out to be one of the most difficult. I can’t imagine how awful they must have felt, trying to decide whether or not their daughter should be a kidney donor for their son. Although he’s usually not a very emotional person, you could really see Tommy’s anguish when he told Nora that he was afraid when he saw his daughter that he wouldn’t be able to ask her to give her kidney, especially knowing how much she had been through. And although we haven’t seen much of Julia this season, Sarah Jane Morris really shone tonight in her portrayal of a mother saying goodbye to her son. I thought it was especially sad when the doctor asked Tommy and Julia if there were any final things they wanted to do, and Julia said she wanted to hold the baby.
The other central story line tonight involved the Senator’s marriage proposal to Kitty. And their engagement was beautiful, at least visually. But at the same time I found myself annoyed when they switched from Tommy and Julia’s last minutes with Baby William to Kitty and the Senator. I definitely felt more invested in the Tommy/Julia story line tonight and would have liked to see more of it. Unfortunately, Kitty’s engagement wasn’t quite the happy moment she and the Senator anticipated, as she found out the news about Baby William’s death just moments after she accepted the Senator’s proposal.
Another moving moment occurred when the Walkers, who have become so well-known for their gossipy phone chains, had to call each other with the sad news of Baby William’s death. I liked that we couldn’t hear what they were saying. Just watching their faces react to the news was enough to convey their devastation.
For Sarah, tonight also brought sadness about her marriage, as she and Joe decided to try a separation. Telling their children about it was, of course, a difficult moment. It was interesting to see how Paige and Cooper’s age difference affected their reactions. Cooper seemed very accepting, not really grasping the magnitude of what his parents were telling him, but you only had to look at Paige’s face to see she knew.
In addition to proposing to Kitty, the Senator played a role in two other story lines tonight. First, he was almost blackmailed by Daniel Cole, a fellow Gulf War veteran who was a witness to the Senator’s alleged heroic efforts. Luckily, Daniel had some pretty serious legal troubles of his own. I was wondering why, if he knew so much, Daniel hadn’t tried to blackmail the Senator before. I guess the debts that Kevin found out about were his main motivation. As a war veteran himself, the Senator also spent time with Justin at a veteran’s hospital, helping Justin deal with his fears about going to Iraq and to realize the importance of his skills as a medic.
Rebecca had only a small role tonight, sharing a cup of tea and conversation in the kitchen with Nora. But this week Rebecca’s character was portrayed in a much more sympathetic light than last week, when we heard Holly warning Nora about having Rebecca in the Walker home. Interesting that Rebecca appeared at the window with the rest of the Walker siblings when they went to see baby Elizabeth, although we didn’t actually get to see anyone discuss Rebecca’s presence. Some of the best moments tonight really didn't need words: They were in what we saw, in watching facial expressions and in noting who was present for important family-only moments.
|
TVGuide Links:
|
|
|
|
May 14, 2007 12:52 AM
|
So sad. I thought they made the right choice, but I expect there will be two sides of this in the discussion. How can there be a right choice, actually? They're both difficult.
I'm sooooooooooo tired of the Kitty/Senator storyline. Very boring.
I'm usually not a fan of Kevin's, but enjoyed him as the lawyer out-bamboozling the would-be blackmailer.
|
|
May 14, 2007 1:04 AM
|
|
Tonight's episode was beautiful. Is there anyone in episodic TV today any greater than Sally Field? I didn't think so. Her performances this year are emmy worthy. This episode really ripped your heart to shreds.
|
|
May 14, 2007 1:05 AM
|
The baby storyline really was heartbreaking. I wouldnt have known what to do myself so I give props to Tommy for being able to even make a decision. Whether it was right or wrong, well thats up to debate but he was strong enough to make a decision and that alone warrants admiration, cuz God knows I wouldnt have been able to.
Kevin, i feel, shines the brightest when he's in lawyer mode. He comes out as this cocky, know-it-all lawyer whenver he gets like that and thats when you really can't help but love him. Or at least I cant.
|
|
May 14, 2007 7:19 AM
|
It was awkwardly weird to see Rebecca at the window with the rest of the Walker's, especially Sarah.
It was good to see Balthazar Getty get more screen time last night. He has been so underused so far. Plus he is so damn sexy. Very sad storyline but I am glad they didn't drag it out.
|
|
May 14, 2007 7:45 AM
|
What I loved about this week's episode was how real it felt as if we were peeking into real lives we shouldn't be eavesdropping on. I found it very true to heart that Tommy would encourage everyone to leave but then ask his mother to stay behind. Everyone needs their mother at one point or another. Sally Field was amazing last night. She just proves why she's an academy award winner over and over again. If last night wasn't emmy-worthy I don't know what is.
Sarah and Joe's breaking the news to the kids was heart-breaking. You could tell Sarah was trying not to cry in front of them as she realized that her marriage was really ending.
And I loved Kevin in his full-fledged, fierce lawyer mode. I would hire him any day.
Ps While I like Calista Flockhart (Kitty) and Rob Lowe (the Senator) in their respective roles, I'm so glad to see over the season, that they are -not- the main storyline in any way or form. This is a strong cast with so much to offer from all angles.
|
|
May 14, 2007 8:15 AM
|
It figures when the boringest brother's story finally has something mildly interesting happen, it will be unpleasantly depressing. Baltazar Getty is in a race with Rob Blow for Statue of the Year.
P.S. confidential to MK: no apostrophé in plurals.
|
|
May 14, 2007 9:23 AM
|
|
I will probably be in the minority here, but I thought this epi, which should have been very moving, was boring. The baby storyline was somewhat stirring, but I personally don't feel any real connection to Julia. It was sort of cliqued in my book. Or maybe I just wasn't in the mood. Senator and Kitty -- don't care. I still cannot understand how Sarah can't help but feel hurt/angry that Rebecca has moved into her "base" home. How hospitable of Nora, but having your husband's "other" daughter in the middle of everything just seems too too awkward to me. But guess it makes for the drama. Again, maybe I just wasn't in the mood for all of this. Sorry to be such a downer on this one.
|
|
May 14, 2007 10:05 AM
|
I would also like to chime in on Sally Field's performance last night. Geez, the moment when Tommy asks Nora to stay, you first see the gratitude of "yes, I'm still needed and important" quickly dissolve into "OMG, if I'm needed something must be really wrong." You can see all of that in a split second. Brilliant.
I also loved Saul's talk with Tommy. I have to admit I'm kinda crushin' on Ron Rifkin 
|
|
May 14, 2007 10:13 AM
|
I really like this show much more than Desperate Housewives, and the only reason I'm still watching DH is so I don't have to remember to change the channel.
I love Sally Field, and I love Nora. We are the same age, and it's such a great change to see a real face, with real lines and creases (like mine) instead of the botoxed-to-death, facelifted smooth, expressionless faces of so many actresses and actors of a certain age.
I cried watching the new parents saying goodbye to their newborn son. I can't even imagine having to make the decision, but it was handled sensitively, as has everything from infertility on.
The show often brings out the voyeur in me. I'm not sure if that's good or bad, but the acting is so good that I sometimes want to look away and give them privacy.
|
|
May 14, 2007 10:13 AM
|
I agree last nite's episode was a heartbreaker and I too thought it was to be expected that Tommy would ask Nora to stay. Deciding what to do in this case has got to be the toughtest part of parenting. I'm glad that they agreed on what course to take. At least there wasn't a fight about it.
I happen to love Kevin and especially loved him last nite when Mr. Cole came to see him. I'm glad he changed his mind because I had to call him all kinds of petty names when he refused to help Kitty initially. I get that he doesn't approve of the Senator's politics but he's also been around him enough to see he's a good guy, and even his just-as-much-of-a-democrat-as-he-is mother loves Robert now. I'm glad that Justin told him that story about the VA hospital.
I felt so bad for poor Paige who was devastated. Thanks Gabe for giving her the heads up for divorce. 
I think they handled it well though. They said the things you're supposed to say, now comes the hard part.
I was able to like Rebecca last nite. I'm glad. It was however impossible to ignore that she didn't answer Nora's question about did something bad happen to her in Chicago. I'm glad she didn't leave. I think being exposed to Nora and her family is her best bet to growing as a person and hopefully putting all her perceived nonsense to bed.
|
|
May 14, 2007 10:15 AM
|
I love the Kitty/Senator story. Keep it coming. I'm not so hot with the Sarah/Joe story. He can go anytime!
Confidential to Staley: "Most boring" instead of boringest.
|
|
May 14, 2007 10:34 AM
|
I LOVE the Walker clan!!! This ep was very heartbreaking and there is no right decision in this case. You can't choose one child over another, but Tommy made the 'right' decision in my book. And Lizzie Walker -- LOVE IT!! It would've been nice (if allowed) to bring Paige & Cooper to the hospital to see their new cousin, but whatever, maybe it's just me.
And I'm in the minority but I actually like the senator & kitty! I really do. I think he's a calming influence on her and she pushes him when needed. Perfect balance!
|
|
May 14, 2007 11:23 AM
|
|
I really do love this show. My favorite scenes though are the ones with Rebecca. I think it's because I loved everwood so much. I loved the scene with nora and rebecca drinking tea. It was really sweet. And I was happy to see rebecca there with the rest of the walkers at the end.
|
|
May 14, 2007 11:29 AM
|
I keep wondering how the writers are going to manage the Kitty/Senator engagement since the man is supposed to be running a presidential campaign. Is she not going on the campaign trail? How are they going to have her interact with her family? It's distracting me from the "brothers & sisters" part of the show but I guess the same applies to Justin heading to Iraq--where will the writers pick up when the show returns in the fall?
Loved how Paige mentioned her stepbrother Gabe and that he's already been through a divorce and knows the score.
I usually enjoy Kevin's character but he can be very dogmatic and just what kind of law does he practice?
Love Ron Rifkin as much as Sally Field and how they interact with each other as well as the family--what terrific anchors for the "youngsters."
|
|
May 14, 2007 12:56 PM
|
|
|
