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IMHO "Brothers & Sisters" Episode 308: “Going Once ... Going Twice” or Dinner and a show!

Last night's episode of Brothers & Sisters was probably the gayest of the season thus far and not only gave us plenty of Kevin and Scotty, but two Kevin and Scotty kisses. And that's only part of the reason I'm giving this week's episode an IMHO arrow up!

Read more after the jump!

Even with this show's problems — and there definitely are some — except for As the World Turns (even more problematic!) no other program currently on American television even comes close to B&S when the topic is portraying real, three-dimensional gay couples. In fact, only Ugly Betty and Greek have even had gay characters with relationships of late and we all know how much little screen time those pairings have received.

Scotty (to self): I'm going to kill you, fry you up in olive oil and feed you to the alley cats.

So even though Kevin's behavior can be arrogant, controlling and borderline nutso (buying a house without discussing it with Scotty! Seriously?) I still love watching him and Scotty because they do seem like a real couple dealing with real issues. Frankly, I think this week's episode did far more than last week's "Prop 8" episode in terms of showing gay people as just people to which the straight audience can relate. 

What is equally amazing is that the show not only had the whole Kevin/Scotty relationship issue, but featured a secondary storyline involving Justin setting up Uncle Saul on a disastrous date with Paul (Dave Foley).  Two gay storylines on a single episode of television? Why do I suddenly feel like I'm living in Canada. 

Here are two clips from last night — Kevin dropping his little bombshell and Kevin apologizing, after first being a jerk again.

And I just love Sally Field as Nora. Best. Thing. On. Show.



I guess we actually had three kisses when you count Scotty kissing Kevin's hand. Very sweet. So what did you think of the episode?

 

AdamO's picture

Sold!

Yes, I'm sold on this episode, that's for sure.  I've been underwhelmed by B&S recently, annoyed, even, but last night's solid show sure put things back on track for me. 

I have to say my favorite non-Scotty/Kevin moment (which themselves are all favorites) was when Paul was meeting Saul, and Paul said, "Well this is quite a road to Damascus moment," to which Saul, a Jew, responded, more or less, "Huh?"  A small throwaway line, but I laughed.  My religious upbringing came in handy for a change!

H's picture

I'm so happy - finally a

I'm so happy - finally a good BaS episode. And it wasn't just good, it was really good. Best episode this season, I laughed so much and I loved the Scotty/Kevin scenes, they have great chemistry and they feel like a real couple (compared to Justin and Rebecca and Robert and Kitty). They even had a real storyline that felt realistic, okay, maybe not the part were Kevin bought a really expensive house, but it was still very typical Kevin, something he would to. I'm glad someone (Nora and then Scotty) talked to him about this and made him understand.
Knickie's picture

I agree. I kept thinking -

I agree. I kept thinking - "Who wrote this episode? It can't be the same people who have written all the others!"
smuchshypush's picture

four kisses!

Twice in bed at the beginning and one at the end.  Four if the hand kiss counts.  Go ABC! 
Joseph's picture

Definitely, best ep so far this season

Although last night's episode certainly had its flaws, they were minimal and for the most part this ep was clearly vastly superior to any broadcast so far this season.

Good to finally not only see Scotty again, but to have he and Kevin's relationship be the focus of the story. (Of course, I feel the show should uniformly balanced, but if they're going to do Robert-Kitty centric eps, then a Kevin-Scotty centric ep is only fair; oh, and don't tell anyone, but I am SO glad Rob Lowe was barely there last night.)

Do we know who Saul is dating? Why do I think he was flirting with Will McCormack's character in the last episode?

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LgH's picture

Scotty will appear in the

Scotty will appear in the next THREE!! eps. Even better.. something will occur in 310 hetetofore unseen between he and his Husband...

Sauls new love interest is indeed known.. And it's not Will. Think of someone Saul's/Ron's age, Out, and a perfect casting choice.

 

Janet's picture

Could it be...

...the old love interest from years earlier? Maybe they will bring him back. I loved this episode. I thought maybe Scotty forgave Kevin a little too easily, but it made for a great kiss at the end. I grinned throughout  most of the show. I loved the phone sequence from Kevin's office and how the family dinner yet again, was a complete disaster. I come to expect these things. I also loved how Paul was an idiot and how Saul delt with it. The show seems to have finally gotten to where it was headed from the beginning.

 

 

 

 

 

I say we take the warning labels off everything and let nature take it's course.

atweaver's picture

Way to go, Scotty

was the only thing I could think when he told Kevin off.

I wondered, though, why if it was a 'family' dinner, where were Julia and Robert?

 

Brent Hartinger's picture

Again, I acknowledge this isn't my show

and I wouldn't watch it if Michael (my partner) didn't make me. But doesn't it bother anyone that Kevin is such an a**hole? I mean, he's such a jerk in every episode! I so agree that it's great how "gay" the show it, but Kevin is even more of a prick than the rest of the Walkers, which is saying something.

 

 

 

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the herald's picture

All the Walker children

are pretty caustic, I think.  Except maybe Justin.  I don't think Kevin's any worse than anyone else.  And clearly he's trying to do good, just like the others are.  None of them are irredeemable a**holes in my opinion.  Their love for one another always shines through, even when they're being jerks.  It's the Walker kid's struggles to go against their first selfish/neurotic instincts is what makes the show dramatically interesting.  As long as that struggle is there I will keep watching and will forgive them when they stumble.

 

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kevinfan's picture

Re: All the Walker children

I agree with the above.  To each their own, but the reason I like the Walkers is not because they don't stumble.  Or even stumble badly on occasion.  I like them because they usually have their hearts in the right place and at the end of the day are fundamentally decent people.  And they are not too proud to apologize when they do stumble.

Hell, two of my favorite characters (Kevin and Sarah) certainly have their flaws on ample display throughout the series.  But so too their strengths and their support for others.  And last night, as inconsiderate as Kevin was regarding the house bombshell, he was unbelievably sweet at the end when he surprised Scotty with the trip to the bank -- to open their joint account and become financial equals.  The kiss at the end was a beautiful ending.

Brent Hartinger's picture

I think my issue with the Walkers in general...

isn't that they're all a**holes, but rather than the characters change from episode to episode, being a**holes when the scene calls from "drama," and then being completely different an episide or two later. In the last three episodes, they've done this with Kitty, and Nora (saintly one episode, borderline insane the next). But Kevin and Sarah seem consistently jerkish.

 

 

 

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AddisonDewitt's picture

Why don't we have more episodes like this?

Why doesn't LOGO or HERE! invest in a full blown drama that dramatizes a family like Scotty and Kevin but with kids maybe and how job, parents, neighbors, et al interact with their lives. It doesn't have to be preachy, just showing that we deal with all the normal things in life with a few exceptions. How great was it that they dealt head on with an issue many gay men have, the competion over who the bread winner is! Can we just make Luke McFarlane one of the husbands and find him a less annoying partner? I see a central couple, maybe one is married before and has kids or had a previous kid with a lesbian couple. They have friends who are either couples or single. One could even be a pastor of the local gay church! Just think about all the implications of building a drama around a gay couple that might fall in the same vein as Once & Again maybe?! If well written and well acted, I bet it would be worth the expense.
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AddisonDewitt's picture

Drinking games and missing spouses

Did anyone notice that Scotty must be getting great press and notice because he even is beating out Robert (Rob Lowe) sometimes with face time. And I had to laugh when Tommy showed up yet again without Julia... without much explantion. And I had to giggle at Holly's twirling mustache routine about Justin's fix up for Saul... absolutely delicious fun!

And I so want to start a drinking game with this show, but I would be passed out under the table by the end and have to watch it all over again.... I had to laugh again when Tommy showed up with TWO CASES of wine for the dinner.

j U d E's picture

A tad..

..yes, I find Kevin a tad annoying.. it's irritating. That's why I am so much more looking forward to what they have in store with Saul! If it's a love interest from earlier and the same age as Saul/Ron, then it can only be Michael Nouri, no? 

----------------------------------------------------- 

  • R.I.P. - Heath Ledger [1979 - 22 January 2008]
  • R.I.P. - Sayif [2006 - 12 June 2008] - my cat, run over by a car..
inanna's picture

No not him. There are

No not him. There are confirmed spoiler as to the identity of the actor - which is why he's known - but he's never been on the show before.

j U d E's picture

For Saul..

inanna wrote:

No not him. There are confirmed spoiler as to the identity of the actor - which is why he's known - but he's never been on the show before.

..oh ok. Then I don't know.

Still anxiously looking forward to Saul's storyline! :o))

----------------------------------------------------- 

  • R.I.P. - Heath Ledger [1979 - 22 January 2008]
  • R.I.P. - Sayif [2006 - 12 June 2008] - my cat, run over by a car..
Alfred's picture

Amongst "swinging a cat", "3some", "group sex" and "safe word".

I was totally pleasantly euphorically made happy by this episode. Couldn't stop grinning throughout, squeel at times and just feeling satisfied.

Of course, whenever they start the show with Scovin in bed is always a good start. Not to mention how they end things - another BIG FAT kiss in the public.

Then we have Paul for Saul. No matter how you permutate and combine, PAUL + SAUL will eventually come to PAUL + SAUL!!! So not fun! And Paul is past his twink phase! I have tried as much as possible not to use the G word, but this episode is just so gay. LOL. Holly appears for a matter of moments but her wishing the Walker dinna a disaster is totally an up arrow!

Also good that we don't have so much of Kibert. This is our gay episode! Dave Foley plays Paul incredibly well and funny. The way he blubbers about "hot burning sensation" and shakes Nora's hand with his finger-licking-good hand - then he delivers the punch line of "A dinna and a show" - sums it up pretty neatly.

I have to say, I have always enjoyed the Walker tele-conference and dinna. They are always explosive and gossipy.

Our heroes, Scovin, did us justice. I am not totally happy with Scotty letting Kevin off the hook so easily! I'm with you Paul - feathered and dead. But when Kevin says,  I'm sorry, I just I guess I just wanted to prove that I could do that, that I could take care of you. And if I couldn't, why would you even love me. And Scotty says, It wouldn't make sense because you are the reason I am who I am now. I just cried. Damn you, writers!

Going once already - hopefully the next few episodes will be the twice and thrice! We want good, delicious, meaningful, less Kibert, more Saul-Nora-Sarah B&S.

Scovin in bed

LgH's picture

TWO things of Minor Interest..

alfchuah wrote:

IOf course, whenever they start the show with Scovin in bed is always a good start. Not to mention how they end things - another BIG FAT kiss in the public.

Scovin in bed

1) This screen cap is from 310.... The first time Scovin has ever been seen in bed together... Finally..!!

2) The final kissing scene in the parking lot was edited. The full scene had the person passing behind them saying 'Get a Room!' ..To which Scovin replies 'Can't. It's too small for both of us' ... Or words to that effect. As it was the scene cut off rather abruptly, I thought, about two seconds into the kiss...

nordic balance's picture

Unedited Kiss

Hey LgH

Is there a longer version of the parking lot scene with Kevin and Scotty posted somewhere?

I don't recall the "Get a Room!" part either. I also thought the scene cut off abruptly.

 


"Heterosexuality is not normal, it's just common." (Dorothy Parker)

Anthony D. Langford's picture

Very Good Episode....

.... it was a reminder of why I have enjoyed this show so much and not just because we got a lot of Scotty and Kevin.  I've honestly never really been sold on this couple, but the show has committed to them so I have to give them that.  And the actors do have chemistry, that's for sure.  I liked that they dealt with a very real issue that probably pops up in a lot of gay relationship, finances and who makes the most and stuff like that and the competition that can undoubtedly arise from it.  But I liked everything here, another stellar performance by Sally Field, some really nice scenes between Sarah and Kitty, the subplot about Saul was fun and the scenes with he and Justin were great.  And we saw very little of Tommy and Robert, my two least favorite characters.  I missed Holly though... I love her.  Great episode after faltering so badly as of late.  It's too bad the show isn't on next week to continue the momentum.
Alfred's picture

Replying to LgH

Thanks for that info - I thought it was only me (I download the shows as I live in Australia) who thought that something was wrong with the last scene. Why was it cut!!! Damn it. I would never complain about excessive sweetness from Scovin.
Mia's picture

Loved this episode!

The Kevin and Scotty storyline was great. Kevin being a jerk as always at the table, Scotty being as sweet and amazing as always in that make-up scene. And this line almost broke my heart, "I guess I wanted to still prove that I could do that, that I could take care of you, and if I couldn't, then why would you even love me?" Just very genuine, real and sincere. Overall a very good episode IMO.
Marea67's picture

I'd better enjoy Kevin/Scotty while I can

I loved the episode. It took me 7 re-runs of the first 2 minutes before I could go on watching the rest of the show. I couldn't believe my eyes!

The episode was great. And I guess, I'd better enjoy the few precious moments they did get, for the board at ABC is right now 'flooded' with people who just sign up (yes most likely trolls) because they just found out that Kevin is gay (after 2 and half season the poor man still isn't 'saved' by some church) and are suddenly 'appalled' by the amount of 'gay sex' between them (which makes me wonder: why do I always get 'the censored version only' when I download?) and pushing 'the gay agenda' down their throats. Of course they now will no longer watch the show (if they ever did in the first place!)

If this is all the reaction the people at ABC will see, they will probably tone down what little intimacy K/S have once again. :-(

And I can only imagine what their reaction will be after 3.10 (which they shouldn't have been watching since they quit at 3.08, but, you know, 'evil' draws you in.)

http://abc.go.com/primetime/brothersandsisters/index?pn=mb&cat=30907