Brothers and Sisters - season 4

I've been watching all season. A really solidly made show with good performances. But...

I don't understand all the angst! Why can't Justin just tell Rebecca what's going on! He has to wait till the last minute! At least he worked out his issues and he almost married her. And poor Kitty, doesn't look good for her collapsing at the wedding. She's keeping stuff from her hubby. Justin and Rebecca just arn't getting a break. Neither is Sarah and her issues with men who drove her French boyfriend away.

At least Tommy has got a break after all this time.

I knew that doctor was going to take Nora's money and run off. 

But what the heck is with this side story of the illegitimate Walker kid and the former business rival trying to take down Harper. I guess that story will come back later this year.

Does it seem to anyone else there is so much angst and overly dramatic events and unhappiness going on in TV these days? This show, this season of Private Practice, or the ABC dramas have characters going through turmoil. Maybe it's reflecting what's going on in real life. People losing their savings to Madoff, health issues, and personal relationships going bad!

I agree too much angst.  I understand it is a primetime drama, but they might have taken it too far.  Cancer, Fraud, Multiple Money lost investment storylines, kidnapping, fraud...I have already started to lose my mind trying to list them.  Oh well hopefully things getting better in the new year.

The angst has doubled the last 2 seasons. 

 

Frankly, I hate the whole Justin/Rebecca relationship. 

They did have a little more politics in this episode than they have in a while.

I was glad to see they wrapped up Kitty's cancer last night.  I was fearing this was going to drag on for ages.  I know some would criticize it was too easy but we knew she would get better so why drag it out. 

 Yes, the cancer storyline was getting a bit of a downer. I guess we'll never know who the famous politician was.

I was sure the other Walker son was bolting and they'd have to drag out the cancer storyline a few more weeks.

... or Kevin's need to excell at sperm donation. I realize all relationships are different, and even people we love can have annoying habits, but I can't even imagine being in a lifelong relationship with someone who feels the need for this type of "competition".

 Why do they still continue to play Justin with so much angst, but then they show he may be dyslexic so I hope that drama is over! Glad they showed Sally Field/Nora show the loverboy the door!

 True, Pat!

This past Sunday's 2 hour episodes were pretty heavy! Well acted and a nice unexpected twist.

Glad to see that Tommy wasn't the one as everyone expected to have done something really bad. What a family secret to have! I liked the Thelma and Louise bit with the Walker women. Darn cliff hanger ending.

Seems like every ABC series this season is ending the season with deaths. Is this a desperate move to bump ratings? Or are actors wanting to quit.

 

The body count is pretty high so far, Private Practice, Desperate Housewives, not to mention the on going stuff on Lost, and now Brothers and Sisters.

 

 

Spoiler alert:

 

 

I already figured Robert was a goner when I heard Rob Lowe wanted to quit the show. But they sure threw in every red herring to make you think it could be Sol and then think it was Robert, but then he's okay, only to reveal that Sol is not okay and then Robert is the one. How can this family ensure so much!

No Patrick, I don't. I never heard of it! NBC is pretty much off my radar ever since the local NBC affiliate of some 40 years in San Francisco ended their relationship and went to another indie station in San Jose. Of course, most of the deaths I was mentioning are not major cast members. Parks and Recreation sounds like a lot of characters die!

Ah, I see. I knew he was quitting B&S. And I guess he felt he wasn't being used well there. Good luck to him then on P&R.

 

What's Kitty going to do now? I had thought they might kill their adopted baby too while they were at it.

 

Interesting now they've made Sol HIV positive. That sort of came out of nowhere.

Why give anyone AIDS on the show? Not all gay people have AIDS and surely they could have thought of something else for Saul to do.

A gay man dating in his 60's? Much more interesting than a Gay Man who has lived most of his life in the closet, finally comes out and finds out he gets AIDS. I expected more from Brothers and Sisters.

Just so I'm clear, does Saul have HIV or AIDS? Is there no longer a distinction? The way I understood it, HIV means you have the virus. AIDS means you're sick. The example I used to hear is Magic Johnson is HIV+, but he never had AIDS.

 

Anyway, I don't know how to answer the question posed other than to say it's a drama and dramas must find ways to milk the drama. Not all people who come home from war have PTSD. Not all people who get cancer lose their hair. Not all women who date younger men end up getting bilked by men who were only interested in them for money. The list goes on. But these are opportunities for drama the audience can quickly identify with, so they're what receives the writer's attention.

 

Add to that, it can be considered a kind of PSA, since I've seen news about the elderly having really increasing rates of various STD's. Not just the gay elderly, but all elderly.

 

Quote:

I'm right with you on that.  This storyline feels like a desperate shot in the dark to give Saul something meaningful to do more than to use as a springboard for better stories.

 

Frankly, I'm expecting next season to be the last for the show.  The fourth season was scattered in terms of plot and quality.  The finale was even worse, spending inordinate amounts of time with stories that aren't going to amount to a hill of beans next year.  And please don't get me started on the entire "accident" in the end.  Poorly written and terribly edited.