IMHO "Brothers & Sisters" (3.16 & 3.17): "Troubled Waters"

They promised us a death in this episode! Then they pulled the old "well he technically dies for about ten seconds, so it counts". NO, it doesn't! Damn Defibrillation!

This was a really dull 2 hours for me.  I was happy Scotty was seen outside a kitchen, and Nora fed him a meal he didn't have to cook himself (on a complete tangent, I swear it's Luke MacFarlane in a new Verizon Wireless commercial as a nutrition coach for the dumb jock naming his calling circle).

The high point of the episode, I supposed, is that it really did manage to do a plot advance for us.  The baby is there, Kitty and Robert are disintegrating (didn't they cast a new love interest for Kitty?), Tommy and the embezzlement moves forward, and we get Ryan.  I seems we're ready to start a new chapter for the Walkers, and I'll raise a glass in hope that it's gayer, and more interesting than these storylines they've been forcing on us.

When Rob Lowe (hasn't he aged extremely well?) was on The View last week, he hinted to something about the death that kind of let you know that it was probably a fake out of some sort like this.  It reminded me on The View that while Robert the character is boring as hell, Rob the actor is pretty funny. 

I was offended that the only significant scene we get with Scotty and Kevin in the whole two hours is Kevin crying over Robert.   I have NEVER bought this 'Kevin works for Robert' storyline and I really don't buy that Kevin now sees Robert like a brother.  Exactly when did this happen?  That storyline has always rang false and it was no more evident than last night.  The writers are forcing this relationship and having Kevin be so upset over Robert is saying 'hey, if the gays can be upset over his Republician dude, he must be okay'  Hated it, hated it.

And the whole life and death thing. Wow, how original.

LOVED seeing Tommy get his.  LOVED it in the preview where his wife tells him not to come home.  And gee, what do you think Rebecca standing between Ryan and Justin means?

It was an okay two hours and pretty much kept my attention, but the Robert/Kevin thing just bugs me.  And I will never believe that Robert and Kitty are okay with adopting a black child and it's not something that they wouldn't at least discuss.  But I don't recall them ever even mentioning it.  Now that is one of the most unreal things I've ever seen on this show.  And that's saying something.

Why couldn't it have been an angry Fred Phelps follower shooting Robert in the parking lot?  That way it would be over and I could rejoice this terrible job for Kevin would be so over!  And what was with that hug between Kevin and Scotty during his crying scene?  For such an intimate moment, to have just a light hug makes me sick of this show.  Yet, I keep watching because I don't have anything better to be watching... 

P.S. Kitty and Robert having sex... MY EYES!!!!

I think Matthew Rhys acted his heart out in that scene, and it was the only part of the episode that really registered any emotion for me, but like the rest of you, I don't buy their wonderful friendship/brotherhood bonding for a second.  I HATE HATE HATE the storyline of Kevin working for Robert, and as much as the writers want to TELL us that they're great buddies working together for a common political good, I sure haven't SEEN it.  I'd like to think his emotional reaction has more to do with being present while someone was having a heart attack and less to do with the fact that that someone was Robert.

But it was nice to see Scotty again!  And I'm happy that Justin has a career goal now.

I loved the episode, and thought it was overall very well done.  But then again, I'm the guy on AfterElton who actually LIKES this show... :-)

This was classic family drama.  Yeah, we were misled by the whole death thing (I was SO looking forward to watching Senator Douchebag go DOWN!)  But it (hopefully) opened the door to Kitty reclaiming her soul and kicking him to the curb.

I totally agree with critics who felt the Kevin-Wubs-Robert scenes to be OUTRAGEOUSLY out of character.  When did this so-called bond form?  Between scenes of Robert lambasting Kevin for being a Democrat and bullying him into keeping secrets from his family?  Yeah, not buying it.  Didn't look like Scotty did, either.

The best part of this episode (for me) was the tension.  I kept waiting for the show to sideline into Dynasty-antics (is Holly gonna shoot Julia???  Is Tommy gonna shoot himself??? Where's Saul?  OMG, did he get in a car accident?  Did someone poison Robert's ubiquitous water bottle?  OMG!!!!!!1111!!!!)  The writers managed to keep me on the edge of my seat without losing sight of what the show is about.

Seeing self-righteous Tommy get brought down by Holly made me smile.  I LOVE Holly.  She's a perfect counterpoint to Nora's wholesomeness, and it looks like this storyline might be what finally re-pairs those two as rivals.  It's Karen Mackenzie vs Abby Cunningham all over again!

Overall, the show didn't disappoint me.  I honestly thought for a moment Robert was gonna be martyred and we were all supposed to forget what a douche he is, but I like this better.  He lives and Kitty's starting to see through the facade.

Oh, and it was nice to see Michele Green from LA Law acting again.  She's aged well.  And watching Robert rip into her in a threatening way was the first genuine Republican thing he's done since coming on the show.  (Aside from being a general douche, that is.)

So I agree mostly with zanefan, esp. the tension thing, I really was waiting for Holly and/or Tommy to shoot somebody. But I kind of hate Tommy and have since episode one so good ridence(sp?) to him.

I'm pretty sure Kitty will be leaving Robert pretty soon since she was holding her baby and telling him that it's just going to be them from now on. 

So I'm going to disagree with everyone here and say that I can kind of understand the Kevin/Robert thing. So I'm in a Fraternity(hence the username) and there are brothers of mine that I disagree with politically 100% of the time, yet I still respect them and care about them and it's the same for them to me. Albeit I don't really like Robert, but i can see how that relationship could be formed, esp. with the amount of trust Robert gives Kevin. And with that I think there's going to be some problems in Kevin/Scotty land due to Scotty's looks when Kevin was giving that press briefing.

So yeah that's my two cents, take it or leave it...

I actually liked this episode too. The whole not having a real death was kind of missing leading, but I still liked this episode.

I still don't get why Kevin works with Robert. I would think he makes more money as a lawyer. I did like the scene with him and Scotty, even if it was alittle weird that it was just alittle hug after all the emotion Kevin had about Robert.

Is it just me or did the writers forget that Kitty and Robert's baby is mixed? I could be wrong, but I thought Tish had said that the father of the baby was white. So wouldn't that make him little lighter skined? I not saying it's wrong that he looks more African American then white, but having friends that are mixed they aren't that dark.

I can't wait for next week when Nora slaps Tommy at the family dinner. (As to what the preview showed)

Eh.  I didn't hate it either.  Not really up to the hype of the TWO HOUE EVENT, but if you take that away, it was basically serviceable but uninspiring work.  For me, the biggest disappointment was when Holly babysat for Elizabeth.  I thought we were going to see some interaction there that would make Holly feel conflicted even as she acted in self-defense, so I thought that was a missed opportunity.  Okay, so maybe "interaction" is a bit strong given Elizabeth's age, but you get the idea.

I actually like Tommy, but I still really like this storyline.  Just because I like a character doesn't mean I think they're smart or ethical, and I love watching characters I like get their comeuppance, even when it means the end (or reduction) of their role in the story.  Give me a good exit rather than overstaying your welcome, any day.  I just wish we'd see a bit more clearly how Holly brought this on herself, as well.

I also have no trouble with Kevin and Robert becoming close.  I just wish they'd handled it a little differently.  Instead of Robert giving them the gratuitous bonding scene, they should have kept their relationship as it was, and let the accident make them both realize how close they'd grown without even noticing it.  I do like the idea of Kevin growing closer just as Kitty grows apart.

I'm a little confused; was Kitty's comment to Evan at the end that "it's just us now" signal her intent to leave Robert, or just her feeling of isolation?  I realize that no one here can answer this, unless you've got spoilers I don't want to hear anyway.

I thought it was "Fix You".

I didn't like or dislike this one either.  I knew that Robert was supposed to "die" from the commercials but after that opening with Nora running in slo-mo I kept hoping they were going to pull a switcheroonie on us and that it was really Tommy on the table there on the brink of death, from Holly's gunshot wound.  THAT would have been satisfying, and dramatic and totally wicked!  I kept hoping that right up until it became undeniable that it wasn't Tommy.

Holly makes a lot of the drama, I find her interesting.  I am sad she didn't get more threatening, but I'm interested to see where this new road and the arrest will lead.

It doesn't surprise me a bit that this hyped episode was just so-so....they usually are.  But as stated above the episode did advance the storyline and it looks like the next few will be juicier.   Tension between Kitty and Robert is very welcome....I have hated their storyline lately....such a waste of two good actors.   And I was surprised how reserved Scotty was when Kevin was crying about Robert....I agree as Kevin's husband he should have been more emotionally involved with what Kevin was feeling.  I blame the writers for not allowing Scotty and Kevin to play out their parts with more real emotions.  I applaud B and S for having a married gay couple, but their relationship still feels sterile to me. 

Hopefully the rest of the season's episodes will provide more interest and build and leave us wanting a Season 4.

 

Since no one else is commenting on it, I was pretty satisfied that the mopey-aimless-"I'm a loser" storyline for Justin seems to be wrapping up with the kid finally figuring out what he wants to do with his life. It was telegraphed and obvious throughout the episode, but at least it will open his character up to new storylines that aren't about his girlfriend or his addiction.

Jere

...when two opposite points of view are expressed with equal intensity, the truth does not necessarily lie exactly halfway between them. It is possible for one side to be simply wrong.
--Richard Dawkins

Thanks, Matthew's acting in that scene was the only moment I got a tear to my eye. Even if I didn't buy it, Matthew was just terrific. AND he totally upstaged Kitty's reaction. Or anyone else's.

Thanks T.W. I had the same thought. It must be more a reaction on everything that happened, (maybe even a reminder of William's death, who died of a heart-attack) and I too have to believe that, because it cannot really be about Robert only. I found it amazing that he let himself go like that and I think it is because he's with Scotty and CAN actually be himself.

I don't know if she decides she should leave him, but it sure is the moment that she realizes, that Robert cannot be trusted, is NOT going to put her and their child first and basically is total denial about his health too. I think it is the last time he fooled her with his pretty words.

Which, unfortunately, also means that Kevin will still be the only Walker available to tie in with Robert's story-line, so we have not seen the end of this nonsense for now.

OH.MY.GOD the cliches' were just pouring out of the television screen on this one!

I mean this was like every single Lifetime movie ever made crammed into one two-hour television episode!  My eyes were rolling like one of those Felix the Cat clocks during the whole "life and death" montage.

Now, I take heart here.  Robert could still die on us.  That may well be the case if Robert's political career stalls because nobody will elect a governor with a heart condition.  It would be good for Kevin to have a reason to get another job.

Speaking of which, he and Kevin were very cute in this one.  They didn't do much that was meaningful but they were cute.

Ryan is nowhere near as butch as Rebecca, so he better watch himself or she'll kick his ass. I'm not sure how I feel about the "heroin chic" look.

I thought last nights show was quite enjoyable. The timeline was bit off. There is no way Robert would be out of open heart surgery that fast, nor would he be that coherrent. I still hate the fact that Kevin works for Robert. When Kevin told Kitty "Now I love two Republicans" I thought - yeah Kitty and Tommy or did he stop loving one in replace of Robert.

I loved the whole Tommy-Holly-Justin-Rebecca-Saul-Sara backstory. I have been waiting very patiently for this to go down. Maybe that is why I liked this episode so much. I can't wait to see next week's episode.

I am tired of the Ryan storyline. Can the writers beat a dead horse anymore?

When the New Young Walker Bastard showed up at the door, did anyone else think: "Careful! He's one of those vegetarian vampires!" I guess I'm sick of the "Twilight" look already.

I can't believe that people say how out of character Kevin's cry was... and yet, those same people think for Luke from ATWT it is perfectly normal to fly off at the drop of a hat into a rage or tears!

Come on people. Maybe I am a sap, but I loved that scene between Kevin and Scotty. I thought they both played it very well. I will not say I loved the episode, but what do you expect from an evening slop opera?! Lots of drama, forced scenes and storylines and moments of genius all rolled into one.

The only thing worse than this episode was Sheri fawning all over Senator Boytoy on The View last week predicting he would win an Emmy!  I am sick to death of it and don't even bother Tyvoing it anymore.  Writers get paid for something so cliche-riddden?  And Sally Field should sue for the way she looks in high def.

I guess I'm in the minority but I rather enjoyed this episode, which is strange, because it's essentially a continuation of the last episode which I hated. And yep, they're still dealing with the storylines of the three characters to whom I'm most indifferent (Tommy, Rebecca and Robert). So what's the difference here?

I suppose it's the presence of all the other characters and their interactions with each other, from Kevin & Scotty to Kitty and Nora with Trish in the birthing room, Sarah, Justin and Saul, even Julia, Holly and David. Plus, the pacing was excellent and the dialogue meshed the storylines together quite well, which is thanks in large part to the episode director Ken Olin and the writers for this screenplay.

Yeah, I agree Kevin's weepy reaction to Robert's collapse made little sense because the series has never set the groundwork for them being close but Matthew Rhys' great acting was able to convince me at that moment that Kevin was really feeling those emotions.