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Home » "Brothers & Sisters" Episode 204 Recap: “States of the Union”

"Brothers & Sisters" Episode 204 Recap: “States of the Union”

by
Dennis Ayers
, Associate Editor
October 23, 2007

I'm cheering for him to whip out his fountain pen and offer it to her, but McAllister tells her to shut up and they start kissing. Turns out he doesn’t want her to sign the prenup. Idiot.

Cut to Sarah’s house She calls Kevin and leaves a message. “I do need a lawyer. So call me.”

Cut to the Walker Rumpus room. Justin and Rebecca are enjoying multiple episodes of the faux Laguna Hills. (Or maybe it’s the real Laguna Hills – I don’t watch it, so would have trouble distinguishing the real show from a send-up.)

Rebecca goes to get a drink. As soon as she’s out of the room, Justin reaches into the couch cushions and pulls out a bottle of pills. The prescription label reads “Garrett Fernandez” – he was the injured vet who was high as a kite at the veteran’s hospital.

He pops a few pills and then quickly hides the bottle as Rebecca returns.

Justin: You’re right about the show, I can’t stop watching.
Rebecca: I know. It’s addictive, right?

Funny look from Justin. He just got totally busted by the irony police.

Episode 204 grade: B

While I found Nora, Kitty and Sarah’s spa squabbling a bit tiresome, the episode gets high marks for the two scenes between Kevin and Saul. I for one can’t wait to see how Saul’s coming out process unfolds. If it is indeed a “coming out.”

Brothers & Sisters returns next Sunday, October 28th.

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Submitted by
Dennis Ayers
on Mon, 2007-10-22 23:48.
TAGS :: 
Jon's picture

I don't see how Scotty is a caricature

Submitted by
Jon (2290 points) (467 posts)
on Tue, 2007-10-23 09:01.
This is what he has always been. A cater waiter who enjoy food. His first few episodes involved these elements. I prefer that to his later scenes of acting morally superior to Kevin and suffering nobly, tears clouding his eyes, as he walked out of a room.
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David Ehrenstein's picture

The Kevin/Saul scenes are phenomenal !

Submitted by
David Ehrenstein (7805 points) (1725 posts)
on Tue, 2007-10-23 09:38.
Not sure what you mean by Kevin putting pressure on Saul. it's inherent in the situation. Saul isn't being honest with Kevin, but it's clear he hasn't been honest with himself either. What happened to Saul? Not just with Milo but in his entire past? Were there other Milo's we don't know about? We shall soon see, I trust. At the moment it's fascinating to watch this intergenerational set-to. And quit dissing Scotty! I can't think of anyone who wouldn't want a drop-dead gorgeous boyfriend who could cook too! (That's a song cue for you show queens out there in cyberspace.)
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GayTVluver's picture

Who are these people?

Submitted by
GayTVluver (4431 points) (1016 posts)
on Tue, 2007-10-23 09:41.
Every episode I have what I call "Who are these people?" moment. This episode's came when Kitty showed up at Sarah's house to talk about the spa trip (page 2 "Cut to Sarah's house" in the recap above). Kitty walks in with a bottles of wine...that's not shocking other than the fact that I doubt there's ever a need to bring booze to a Walker home. There isn't one room in any Walker nest that doesn't have a wine rack in it...or at least a carry on mini-bottle of booze to help with the stress of walking across a room. No, this week's WATP? comes next...Kitty grabs a box of crackers and then Sarah goes to the fridge and pulls out a tray of cubed cheese. CUBED CHEESE ON A TRAY...WRAPPED! Who are these people? Who has a tray of cubed cheese just setting in their fridge when it isn't a party? LOL
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Griet's picture

Erm

Submitted by
Griet (552 points) (112 posts)
on Tue, 2007-10-23 10:19.
Could someone please refresh my memory. Did Saul have a thing with Holly in Season 1 or not?
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Richard's picture

Holly and Saul...

Submitted by
Richard (219 points) (42 posts)
on Tue, 2007-10-23 10:38.

There was something between these two during the first season. They went on some dates, though it never seemed to go well or lead to anything. Kevin even mentioned Saul/Holly in this episode when Scotty confronted him, claiming that those season 1 dates refuted Scotty's suggestion that Saul is gay. Obviously Kevin later came to the conclusion that they didn't, though, or he wouldn't have jumped down Saul's throat later in the episode.

My take on this is that Saul felt the need to comfort Holly after William's death because she was alone and he understood the pain of losing a love you've never even been able to tell anyone about. As one of the few people who knew about the affair, he was uniquely positioned to offer comfort. But claiming you're not gay isn't the same thing as being straight, as I'm sure we're going to find out in the coming episodes of this show!

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roni1133's picture

Noah's Arc connection

Submitted by
roni1133 (345 points) (76 posts)
on Tue, 2007-10-23 16:13.
FYI, Nora's "strapping young masseuse" was played by Benjamin Patterson, who played Guy on Noah's Arc.
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ilovemylife's picture

Season 1 and Saul's "Holly-courting"...

Submitted by
ilovemylife (70 points) (17 posts)
on Sun, 2007-10-28 00:47.

ilovemylife

http://ilovemylifebrothersandsisters.blogspot.com/

I remember the scene with (I think it was) Rebecca walking in the front door of her mother's house and out walks Saul in his white t-shirt and I think his boxers(?) from the hallway - it was clear he spent the night. I always found that scene a "turn-off".

 

Then there was another scene with Saul coming to Holly's house, she was working out in the yard and Saul initiates a kiss. That kiss always felt "off" to me...it seemed unnatural, forced in a "no-chemistry" between-these-two-way. Even Holly looked unmoved by the kiss - she looked like it was "acting"...an unbelievable kiss even though Holly was supposedly acquiescing and submitted, kicking up one of her legs in a cutsy, buy clumsy body language move.

 

Just some observations that stood out to me ... Saul is a mystery to me. I like his scenes with his sister...they appear natural. But scenes as a heterosexual - he gives me a feeling of "I can't believe him". Make any sense to anyone?

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Michael Jensen's picture

From our interviews with Ron Rifkin

Submitted by
Admin
Michael Jensen (2510 points) (7116 posts)
on Sun, 2007-10-28 09:48.
and other conversations I had with those on the show while at the Television Critics Association it's pretty clear they didn't know Saul was going to be gay when the show started. That was something that came about later to give his character more of an arc. I don't remember which episode the above moments happened in, but they may very well have been before the writers decided Saul is gay.
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