IMHO: "Brothers & Sisters" (3.05): "You Get What You Need" and that includes Scotty finally showing up

Did you see last night's Brothers & Sisters? Scotty (Luke Macfarlane) showed up! In more than one scene! And he was eating the food — not serving it! Can you believe it? 

Okay, I'm being rather sarcastic, but the presence of Scotty is just part of the reason I'm giving this episoe an up-arrow. To find out the rest my reasons, click through the jump! (And if that isn't enough reason, I'm posting more pics of Kevin and Scotty from the episode where they visited a nudist camp. Hey, I know what sells!)

***(SPOILER ALERT)***

This episode picks up Kevin's work storyline from episode 3.03: "Tug of War" with Kevin's boss, AKA Agent Skinner, inviting him to a cocktail party where, it is implied, the big announcement will be made that Kevin has made partner.

Agent Skinner: "Now that I know how this storyline finishes, I wish I'd gone for the part of Saul's boyfriend instead.  I hear Rifkin is a pretty good kisser."

As in partner in the law firm, not Scotty's partner. If you have to ask why the firm isn't celebrating Kevin's civil union, then you haven't been paying enough attention.

But Kevin isn't the only with a storyline tonight as Scotty's less-than-tolerant parents, Bertha and Wally Wandell, have driven over from Arizona to visit their son and the lawyer/sodomite who seduced him into the gay lifestyle.

Scotty's mom: "I can't believe I'm missing my Touched by an Angel marathon for this!"

Scotty's dad: "Hmm, you know Kevin might just be a hotter guy than my wife is a woman. Way to go, Scotty!"

In order to make it to the cocktail party where it will be announced he's made partner, Kevin has to reschedule dinner for 9 PM instead of 7 PM which is very off-putting to Scotty's parents as apparently only the French and queers eat after seven at night. In order to mollify them, Kevin shanghais Kitty and Robert into coming to dinner. Turns out they are heroes to Scotty's winger parents. Frankly, I pegged them more as Rush Limbaugh/Newt Gingrich Republicans.

Kitty: "I can't believe I'm missing my Ally McBeal marathon for this!"

Robert: "I am SO the prettiest thing at this table! Hell, I'm the prettiest thing in the restaurant!"

Naturally, Kevin is late forcing Kitty and Robert to make small talk with the sort of folks who actually support their polices. Awkward! In this scene, poor Scotty looks like a damsel strapped to the railroad tracks as an out-of-control train hurtling toward him.

And that train happens to be named Kevin!

Presuming his sweetie pie has been named partner, Scotty has the champagne ready to go to toast Kevin when he finally arrives. Of course, this leads to mucho grande awkwardness on Kevin's part. Matthew Rhys really rocked this scene. His embarrassment and anger here are palpable. 

Scotty: "Kevin is the only Walker here, so there won't be any yelling, right? Right?" 

Kevin: "I can't believe I'm missing my All Things Wine marathon for this."

Being a Walker, Kevin is naturally prone to wearing his emotions on his sleeve, but Scotty's mom behaves like such a beyotch — making digs about how approrpriate it is for Robert and Kitty to adopt but looking horrified when it's suggested Kevin and Scotty might and whining how they were supposed to be seated on the patio — that Kevin finally loses it and tells her off as well as annnouncing he turned down being partner and is now going to work for ... Robert!

Personally, I loved the moment he told Scotty's mom off even though it was wildly inappropriate. I've spent too much time with folks behaving exactly like this to not enjoy watching her get her comeuppance. 

The Wandell's storm off just as Scotty realizes Kevin forgot to book them a hotel. (Which raises the question, where has their stuff been all this time? They spent the day sightseeing with Scotty and have definitely changed clothes. Where? The restaurant bathroom?) 

The storyline wraps up with Kevin coming home to find Scotty sitting on the couch fuming. Kevin immediately starts with the mea culpas (which I think is Latin for "Is there anymore wine around?). At first, Scotty doesn't soften, but when Kevin tells him that he didn't get the partnership and that all he wanted was to look into Scotty's eyes and get a hug, Scotty softens and puts down the baseball bat he'd been hiding behind his back. 

The next day, we see Kevin dropping by Kitty and Robert's to — surprise, surprise! — take the job for real. 

All in all, I found the episode very solid Kevin and Scotty-wise. First, it was nice to see so much Scotty and not just gliding around in the background. I also very much enjoyed seeing them as a couple with all the issues couples face — bitchy inlaws, job problems, general personality conflicts.

The writers promised us that Kevin and Scotty would face issues other Kevin's commitment problems and it is nice to see them follow through. I also thought it was an especially nice contrast in comparison to Justin and Rebecca's storyline about finally getting it on. See gay people aren't just all about sex! With the vote on Proposition 8's anti-gay constitutional amendment just a week away, I think it's great for Middle America to see Kevin and Scotty having some of the exact same sorts of problems they do. 

Of course, that's just IMHO.

Who else watched the episode? Thoughts?