"Brothers & Sisters" Episode 205 Recap: “Domestic Issues"

The episode opens at Sarah’s house. She is getting the kids ready for school and may I say, there is way too much elementary school art on the walls. Bad aesthetics aside, it’s also a bit of a fire hazard — all that loose paper and dried tempera paint so close to the toaster oven? Note to Sarah, we know you want the kids to feel loved and secure through this whole divorce thing, but it’s okay to throw out some of their art class crap every once in a while.

And hey, while we’re on the subject of bad aesthetics, what’s with the candy corn tablecloth? I know it is Halloween and all, but Sarah, this is so not you.

Sarah is trying to be some sort of supermommy all of a sudden, and it’s a role that doesn’t really suit her. She pours Paige fresh squeezed orange juice. (Hello, diabetic remember? I hope you cut that stuff with water.) Then she fills out a field trip permission slip for Cooper and sets it on the kitchen counter.

Cooper comes racing in wearing a pirate costume complete with sword, eye patch and stuffed parrot. Is it me, or is he really working those poofy sleeves?

Paige: Mom! I can’t be seen with him.

He does seem to have over-accessorized a bit. I’d lose the parrot if I were him. And enough with the TV Halloween costumes. No one’s costumes are ever this cool in real life. I’m lucky if the kids who trick-or-treat in my neighborhood can be bothered to throw a sheet on before extorting me for their sugar fix.

From outside we hear a car honk. Joe has come to take the kids to school.

Sarah bustles the kids out but forgets to pick up Cooper’s field trip permission slip.

She has an awkward moment with Joe at the door when they agree to see one another at 2:00 for a meeting with their divorce lawyers.

Cut to Senator McAllister in the middle of a presidential debate — only the camera pulls back and you realize that the other “candidates” are his campaign manager Travis, Kitty, and a few other staffers. And here I thought the real roster of Republican Presidential candidates was tragic.

Kitty tries to impersonate one of McAllister’s opponents, but she gets distracted by the fishy smell emanating some shrimp-topped pizza left over from lunch. Don’t worry Kitty, happens to Rudy Giuliani all the time

They ignore her, at their peril, because a minute later she throws up in a wastebasket. Presidential debates have that effect on me as well.

Cut to later in Kitty’s office. She has her feet up on the couch with a cold compress on her head. She’s on the phone with Nora explaining her adverse reaction to lunch.

Nora: Did the shrimp smell bad?
Kitty: Oh yeah, the whole room reeked.

Nora has her hand down the top of a pumpkin when it hits her — Maybe Kitty is pregnant.

Nora asks Kitty when she last had her period. Kitty can’t remember (My guess? Sometime during the Eisenhower administration.) Nora tells her to get a pregnancy test and Kitty agrees, but she really doesn’t think she’s pregnant. Nora hangs up and silently cheers. She’s either excited about being a grandmother again or she still resents Kitty for her political beliefs.