“Brothers & Sisters” Episode 201 Recap: “Home Front”

ABC’s parent company is doing a little cross promotion here, I think – must be time for the Disney vault to yet again disgorge The Little Mermaid for a re-release. Too soon you say? Not at all. When Disney says their animated classics will be released only “once in a generation,” they don’t specify human generation. They might as easily be referring to the fruit fly. Oh, wait — I just remembered Disney is about to unleash The Little Mermaid as a musical.

Nora has no opinion on the Ariel/fish dress at all. Kitty tries on another gown and when she next steps out from behind the curtains, she’s wearing a ghastly, pouffy-sleeved number. Kitty knows it is hideous – she’s merely trying to get a reaction from Nora. All her mom says is, “That’s nice, dear.”

Kitty asks her mom to come out with it – what’s bothering her. Nora finally drops the Blackberry and lets loose with a diatribe about how Kitty and Robert have been trotting out Justin during interviews as a way to garner votes. Nora and Kitty basically scream at each other until the store clerk wolf whistles and points to a guy who’s filming them on his cell phone camera. Okay, funny, but what is a guy doing in the lady’s dressing room? Unless he was the one trying on the size 13 pumps? It’s a mystery.

Cut to Kevin’s bathroom. He’s brushing his teeth vigorously. Really vigorously. He’s just asking for a case of bleeding gums. Jason is in the shower.

Kevin: You want some company in there?

Oh yes, please. Just when I thought Kevin and Jason had become a staid, boring old couple, here is a hint of life. Unfortunately, Jason doesn’t have time. He has important, priestly matters to attend to.

Jason: Sorry, the Bishop wants to see me.
Kevin: Are you in trouble?

Jason: Why would I be in trouble?

Oh, I don’t know. Maybe the Bishop heard you were taking liberties with the traditional Episcopalian service? Your congregation doesn’t mind that you’re gay but takes issue with your habit of offering Cheez Whiz with the communion wafers. (True, those things can be awfully dry — if they are the body of Christ, then he really needs to moisturize.)

Jason isn’t sure why the Bishop wants to see him but tells Kevin not to worry.

Cut to Senator McAllister’s private jet. How much you want to bet there’s an onboard tanning bed? The Senator is in front of his laptop watching a YouTube video of Kitty and Nora’s bridal shop fight. He’s on the phone with Kitty.

McAllister:Why didn’t you just tell your Mom you already asked me about Justin, and I said no?
Kitty: Well because my mom has to love me. She’s my mother. But you, not so much.

Good line and interesting dynamic. I had been wondering why Kitty hadn’t asked him to find out where Justin was and was totally on Nora’s side for the bridal shop fight. Kitty asks McAllister yet again to find out if Justin is all right. Again, McAllister refuses. Oh come on. It’s not like your fiancée is asking for state secrets.

We get an establishing shot of Ojai Foods loading dock. We’ve seen this same stock footage hundreds of times. Either that or someone needs to talk to that loading dock employee on the left, as he’s been pushing the same dolly of orange crates for over a year now.

Inside, we find Tommy packing up his office. He’s on the phone with Julia and she’s bugging him about baby cabbage stuff which he clearly doesn’t have time for. Sarah walks in and she’s all aglow from her recent spin cycle.

She tells Tommy about the afternoon sex with Joe, but he really doesn’t want to listen and curtly cuts her off. He has problems of his own. Sarah is hurt and retreats.

Meanwhile, back at the Walker mansion Rebecca is in her room (previously Kitty’s room). She has her clothes spread out on the bed trying to decide what to wear. Kitty comes in for her shoes and makes a snide comment about how messy the room is.