"Brothers & Sisters" Finale Recap: “Prior Commitments”

Walker Manse. Nora is hectoring Kevin for a guest count. He insists they’re keeping it small, just family, some people from his firm, and “a couple of Scotty’s friends.” Uh oh. I hope that’s not going to be the crowd Dennis so memorably described in his recap as a “motley bunch of pearl-clutchers.” If we’re lucky, they’ll all be too busy arranging flowers, grooming dogs, trying on women’s clothing, murdering people, and any other number of time-consuming stereotypes to be able to make the wedding.

But then again, at least Scotty has friends. All Kevin’s got is a very long line of very hot ex-boyfriends, most of whom I’m hoping show up at the wedding.

Nora is stunned that Scotty’s parents aren’t coming. Kevin tells her, “Not every parent joins PFLAG when their kid comes out.” Heck, in Nora’s case, I wouldn’t be surprised if she joined before she even had kids, “just in case.” Kevin says Scotty expected this, and Nora, as usual right on the money, responds, “Even if you expect the worst from your parents, that doesn’t mean it doesn’t hurt when it happens.”

Nora advises Kevin not to give up on Scotty’s folks, reminding him that his own father took a while to come around on the coming out.

Tommy comes in bearing extra chafing dishes, and even though he claims Scotty asked for them, the sight is enough to get Kevin all alarmed, either because it’s looking to be a larger scale event than he’d wanted or because he can’t imagine what Scotty’s preparing that will be at all edible sitting around on sterno all night.

And why is Scotty doing all the cooking for his own wedding, anyway? Is he also expected to park the cars and hand out towelettes in the men’s room? Jeez, who knew Kevin was such a cheapskate? I’m hoping he isn’t planning on making Scotty do everything himself on the honeymoon, if you get my meaning.

Kevin’s internal alarm system goes from defcon four to high alert when Justin next comes in saying plans are all set for that night. Turns out the bros are planning a bachelor party for him! Woo-hoo!!!

I’m incredibly psyched by this plot development, because the only bachelor parties I’ve suffered through have been for straight friends, during which I’ve had to watch a bunch of extremely hetero guys salivating over some pole-dancer, while I’m sitting around thinking, “That bustier is so unflattering for her figure,” and “What’s with that hair?” and most especially, “THERE’S NOT ENOUGH ALCOHOL OR IRONY IN THE WORLD TO GET ME THROUGH THIS.”

So I’m thrilled at the thought of actually getting to see a gay bachelor party. I’m hoping we get an all-out male stripper bash for Kevin and that, with any luck, one of the strippers winds up being Jason McCallister, leading a secret double life as the famed “Randy Reverend.” I wasn’t a big fan of his character, but I wouldn’t mind this season closing out with just one more shot of a shirtless Eric Winter.

The fun comes to a fast, awkward end when Rebecca comes in, leading Justin to hightail it out. But Kevin and Tommy seem totally fine with her, and Kevin even asks for her assurance she’ll be at the wedding.

I’m thinking the writer’s strike and shortened season meant having to skip past the episodes where the Walker siblings and Nora get all tied up in emotional knots over what to do about Rebecca and we’re just going right to the acceptance/status quo part. And I’m fine with that; if we’re going to have to have this storyline, I’d just as soon it move along quickly and painlessly.

Rebecca confides in Nora that she thinks Justin’s having a big problem with her recent revelation. Nora tells her that he’s just a bit hurt and confused, as she’s sure Rebecca is as well. There’s a lovely moment here where Nora tells her how glad she is to have Rebecca in her life. Personally, I want a Nora in my life. How amazing a woman is she? Is there another character on television who is more open-minded, wise, and compassionate? And how amazing an actress is Sally Field that when she says this to Rebecca, you absolutely believe she means it?

Nora: There’s more to family than just DNA.

Given how many gay people form close-knit friendships that function for all intents and purposes as surrogate families, all I can say is, “Amen to that, Mama Walker.”