"Brothers & Sisters" Episode 202 Recap: “An American Family”

Kitty: Travis, I get that Robert’s campaign might need at least one mercenary who is absent a soul. I just wish that mercenary was less predictable and charmless. It so damages what little credibility you have. Maybe you should go home one night and tuck your children in. You know. Before you ever dare call me irresponsible again. Ta Ta.

At that, Kitty scoops up her soapbox (she’s going to need it on the ride down to San Diego) and exits with a dramatic flourish.

McAllister has a bemused smile. Though why he should be bemused is beyond me. Did you not just hear the woman? She actually said “Ta ta!”

Cut to later in the minivan. Kevin is driving, Kitty is riding shotgun, and Momma Nora is passing out the beef jerky they just bought from a convenience store. Better lay off the jerky folks. It’s a long drive to San Diego, and that stuff will give you serious gas.

Nora: Will you please drive faster? You’re driving like somebody’s grandmother.
Kevin: Somebody’s hot grandmother. Did you notice that mechanic back there was cruising me?
Nora: You guys never look at each other. You’re always cruising.

Cut to Tommy’s house. Sad sack Julia walks in and complains that she smells something burning. Maybe Tommy’s gotten into the beef jerky too. Nope, turns out Tommy forgot to put water in the baby’s bottle sterilizer and “kind of melted it.” Julia gets all pissy. Boy, is it just me or are they are going out of their way to make Julia seem like a total raving byeotch these days? I guess they are in a hurry to get Tommy involved with someone else. The question is, who will he cheat with?

We cut across town to the Walker mansion where Rebecca, who has the house to herself at the moment, is giving her cute, blond friend “Lena” a tour.

At first I’m confused. Who is this new Lena person and why is she being introduced? Is she a good witch or a bad witch? But then she mentions that she’s desperate for a job, and Rebecca suggests she interview for the office manager position at Holly and Tommy’s winery. Looks like Lena might be Tommy’s new love interest. As for the job interview – something tells me she’s got the inside track

Cut to the road trip. The minivan only gets AM stations apparently because they are listening to a conservative radio talk show. The host, Luther Reeves, is talking about Senator McAllister’s presidential campaign, and he starts insulting the Senator’s future in-laws.

Luther: No no, I’m sorry but I draw the line at those brothers doing the gay fandango in the Lincoln bedroom.

The gay fandango? What is that? Never heard of it, but wondering if they have a class for it at Arthur Murray.

Everyone in the car is outraged and Nora and Kevin want to call in immediately to the talk show, but Kitty wrestles the phone away from them. She’s going to handle this herself. (Thank goodness she brought that soapbox along for the trip.)

Cut to an outdoor café. The one everyone in this family uses to give and receive bad news. Call it the Bad News Café. Today, Sarah’s the one to stop by for the blue plate special. She’s there to meet Joe to give him his mail.

She finds him scribbling away in his journal. He says he’s “working on some lyrics,” but my guess is he’s devising a list of marital property and calculating how much alimony he might be eligible for.

Sarah asks if maybe they are moving too fast towards divorce. They owe it to themselves to ”take some time.” Then she notices he’s not wearing his wedding ring. He tells her he’s been seeing his ex-wife, Paula.

Well look on the bright side Sarah, maybe when the thing with Paula peters out he’ll come back to you. The man likes to double-dip apparently.

Sarah: I loved you Joe. I really loved you. But you could never love yourself. If I’d known that I wouldn’t have wasted my time.
Joe: It is exactly because I do love myself that I’m admitting this relationship is over. I’m sorry if you think it was a waste of time.

Joe marches off, conveniently sticking Sarah with the check for lunch.

Cut back to the highway road side. Uh, you take the 405 freeway south from LA to get to San Diego. Whatever picturesque strip of roadside they’re on right now, I can tell you it’s definitely not the 405.