“Brothers & Sisters” Episode 212 Recap: "Compromises"

Strange that Kitty doesn’t know this already, but then she’s only the campaign’s communications director.

Commercial break: Which I’m strangely finding more interesting than the show. First up is an ad for Valtrex, the “only medication proven to reduce the risk of spreading genital herpes. Disclaimer: Proven only in heterosexual couples.” Given that disclaimer one wonders why the drug company is running this ad during Brothers & Sisters. I mean, surely they know that half the audience is gay. What, do they think the other half has herpes?

Second up, an ad for Bruno vs. Carrie Ann: Dance Wars. Now I have seen the horrors of Dance Wars. Dance Wars is hell. Dance Wars changes you. Someone needs to equip both Bruno and Carrie Ann with nuclear warheads so mutual destruction can be assured. Bring the dance troops home!

Finally, a preview ad for Oprah’s Big Give. For some perverse reason I'm imagining that "Give" is a euphemism for "bowel movement." What with Oprah's midas touch no doubt she can make a successful show out of even that. More seriously, the ad goes on for sixty seconds and somehow never once shows its host, openly gay Nate Berkus. What is up with that?

Brothers & Sisters starts up again and we’re at the Michigan state fair or something. Everyone is in a parka, hat, and mittens, which is what you have to do when you hold your State Fair in the middle of winter! In Michigan. I mean puhlease!

While playing subzero ring toss, Kitty suggests that Isaac hightail it back to California because she doesn’t want any confrontation between him and Jason. No doubt he’s happy to escape Michigan’s frozen tundra for the warmer climes of So Cal.

Travis gets lost in a snow drift somewhere on his way for a funnel cake, but Jason and the kids manage to make if back to Robert and Kitty at base camp 3 after riding the ferris wheel. Unsurprisingly, the kids start getting sick, so Jason and Kitty volunteer to take them back to the hotel.

Cut back to sunny California, where Saul has stopped by the Walker mansion to have lunch with Nora. He’s brought takeout. Thank goodness for Applebees Express curbside service.

He asks about Isaac, and Nora tells him they’re taking it very slow. Saul grins mischievously.

Saul: I can’t help thinking how much fun it would be to tell Mother about your new boyfriend.
Nora: Oh yeah? Well consider how fun it would be to tell Mom you’re a big ole’ poofter!

Okay, she didn’t say that. Although she really should’ve used the opportunity to yank his chain a little. What she does instead is try to reassure him that she’s a supportive sister and would want to hear about his love life — if he actually had one. Saul keeps mum.

Nora: I am your sister. I love you in a very non-judgmental way. If there’s ever anything you want to talk to me about.

He doesn’t take the bait and tells her to eat her Applebees.

Cut to a bungalow in Venice Beach. Rebecca has dropped by to get photography instruction from David (Ken Olin). As you may remember from previous episodes, David showed up unannounced, and Holly seemed like she was in a big hurry to send him packing. This has prompted Rebecca to wonder if he might in fact be her father.