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

The Walkers make the best of it at the bar. Don’t they always? Tommy is showing Kitty pics of Lizzie on his phone, and Kevin and Sarah trade tequila shots. Kevin is in a sour mood because his boyfriend is on his way to Malaysia.

Enter Holly. Rebecca turns tail and runs as does Saul, who joins the rest of the Walker siblings at the bar. Which makes you wonder: Who the hell does Holly talk to at all these Walker family functions she crashes? Tommy muses aloud if maybe they are “overhating” Holly.

Kevin: No, we hate her just right.
Sarah: You hate everyone.
Kevin: Oh, I’m sorry. I didn’t get a quickie on the spin cycle to put me in a good mood.

Sarah, for no earthly reason that I can see, gets mad at Tommy and storms off.

Tommy: What? Since when are we not allowed to blab?

That’s right Tommy, I agree.

Kitty and Sarah meet up in the bathroom, and Kitty has brought along her margarita. Isn’t that a little unsanitary? What’s next? Complimentary nachos sitting on the commode lids?

Kitty happily sips away and gets on the subject of Rebecca

Kitty: The girl hardly even knows me and yet somehow she manages to plan my birthday party. I don’t even like Mexican food.

Just then a toilet flushes and out pops Rebecca. Apparently, Mexican food doesn’t agree with her, either.

Sarah slinks out. Rebecca washes her hands and has it out with Kitty.

Rebecca: Stop pretending to be nice – or whatever it is you’re doing – and just tell me. What did I ever do to you?
Kitty: Well, for starters you moved my shoes.

But the shoes are mere pretext. What’s bothering Kitty is how, in the space of two months Rebecca went from home wrecker to Nora’s new favorite.

Okay, side note here, but speaking of Rebecca’s role as home wrecker – one wonders if she ever came clean to Sarah about actually being the instigator in the kiss between her and Joe? Remember in the season one finale she told Justin the truth before he left for Iraq? He told her to confess to Sarah. I’m thinking that she hasn’t come clean yet.

We switch scenes to the bar outside where Kevin continues to drown his sorrows in tequila shots. Gosh, I hope he didn’t drive himself there because he’s getting sloppy drunk. He turns to Nora seated next to him.

Kevin: It’s all your fault. You made me watch The Thornbirds with you as a kid. Richard Chamberlain in his cute little collar and a love that’s taboo and irresistible.

I guess it’s a good thing she didn’t make Kevin watch the Thunderbirds with her. Else he’d have a thing for string puppets.

Kitty wants to call it a night – they are obviously never going to get a table, but Nora tells her she’s being selfish and storms off. That leaves Kevin all alone at the bar – he really looks like he’s going to fall off his stool. Saul walks up.

Kevin: Uncle Saul, you have the right idea you know that? No ties. No commitments. If you want to do nothing the entire weekend except watch porn in bed and doing the New York Times crossword, would anyone stop you?
Saul: Shut up Kevin. Just please shut up now.
Kevin: I’m trying to pay you a compliment
Saul: You are so oblivious. Do you have any idea how blessed you are?

And at last we get to this week’s patented Walker family poly-symphonic squabble with all the cast yelling at one another. The group argument rises to a piercing crescendo, cut short only when Senator McAllister walks in.

He asks where Nora is. She’s over at the big table haranguing the guests who won’t leave. Frankly, she’s behaving like a loon. I wouldn’t give her the table either.

The Senator tells Nora that Justin is all right. Turns out he was on a two-week assignment but is just now heading back to base.

The gang heads back to the mansion to celebrate the good news. Much to Tommy’s surprise, Julia shows up with cabbage and she looks a bit more like her old self – showered and dressed and everything.

While Nora fawns over baby cabbage, Kitty pulls Rebecca aside and apologizes for being such an ass earlier.

Kitty: You shouldn’t be the only one trying.
Rebecca: I’m really sorry about your dad’s present.

Hey note to Rebecca: Your dad too, remember?

Kitty: Don’t worry about it. I guess I was just saving it for sometime when I really needed it.