"Brothers & Sisters" Episode 208 Recap: “Something New”

Stan tells Nora to take a closer look at the building, and she realizes it used to be a music hall.

Nora: We saw Dylan here!

And then apparently the two had sex in the back of Stan’s dad’s Cutlass.

Nora: It was my first time.
Stan: It was our first time. I lied. I don’t want you to think I didn’t know what I was doing.

Nora cuts to the chase and asks Stan to explain why he ran off to Canada (other than the obvious draft-dodging.)

Stan says he “wasn’t enough” for Nora. She needed a challenge and he wasn’t ever going to measure up.

Nora: I wasn’t looking for a challenge!
Stan: Weren’t you?
Nora: No.
Stan: You marry a rich Republican. Someone you can always argue with.
Nora: Oh.
Stan: We're different. I don’t like to fight. I’m committed to the cause!

What “cause?” Is he referring to traditional liberal causes? (pro-choice, gay rights, etc.) And if he doesn’t like to fight then, hey, I’d argue he’s not very committed to them

Nora is inspired to invite this sad sack to Kitty’s wedding. Boo hiss.

Okay, maybe I’m being too hard here. I may not care much for the character, but Chevy Chase isn’t half bad playing him.

Cut to early the next morning at Tommy’s house. Julia is still in bed and Tommy is getting into a business suit. The phone rings, and it’s Lena. Tommy instantly gets paranoid thinking that Lena is stalking him. Turns out she’s only calling to tell him his morning appointment got cancelled. He sheepishly apologizes.

Lena: Just relax, Tommy. I’m not gonna make personal calls to you at home.

…But I’m totally willing to diddle you in the office supply closet at work.

Cut to that afternoon. Lena is having coffee with Justin. If you ask me, this girl moves pretty damn quick. Also, she really needs to touch up her roots.

She notices Justin is only drinking a half caff.

Lena: Funny, after the other night at the bar I would’ve figured you for a double shot guy.

Justin explains he is in recovery, and there won’t be any more incidents like that boozy make-out session in the bar bathroom line.

This should be Lena’s cue to yell “Check please!” But instead, she tells him she’s a bit of a screw up herself. She just recently dated a married man and then was surprised when she got dumped.

Justin tells her he may not be the best “rebound guy” and runs through a list of various character flaws. Out of work, living at home, etc. The only one that would give me pause is that his knee is still pretty gnarly from his injury. I am so shallow.

Lena seems perfectly willing to overlook the gnarly knee, and the two agree to try casual dating.

Cut to the dance studio where Kitty and McAllister and Travis (!) are in the middle of a waltz lesson. Kitty is trying to concentrate on her dance steps but she keeps getting distracted by Travis, who literally looks like he’s trying to cut in.

Kitty: Maybe you guys should have the first dance together.

Travis and McAllister look at one another like that’s not a half bad idea.