'Brothers & Sisters': A onetime brother and sister find romance

The Season 2 finale of “Brothers & Sisters” added another layer of meaning to the show’s title: Two characters in the ABC drama recently thought to be brother and sister shared a romantic kiss in Sunday night’s episode.

A DNA test had revealed in previous weeks that they — Justin (Dave Annable) and Rebecca (Emily VanCamp) — were not biologically related. But by then, they had grown close as siblings: Rebecca was brought into the Walker family when they thought she was their long-lost sister, the product of an affair between their late father and Rebecca’s mother.

As the story line has unfolded in recent episodes — first with hints and flirtation, then with confessions — fan reaction has been divided between yay and ick.

“I don’t want people to feel that we’re not sensitive to the issue of incest,” said Alison Schapker, the executive producer who runs “Brothers & Sisters” with Monica Owusu-Breen.

“We look at this story as two people falling in love,” Breen said. “And they aren’t related. Our minds are wrapped around that, so we’re looking at this as a love story?” she added in up-speak. “With complications.”

Perhaps surprisingly, given that part of last season and much of this one involved integrating Rebecca into the Walker clan, Schapker said that the romance had been in the works for “an awfully long time,” and the writers “actually have a big plan for Justin and Rebecca that involves the series as a whole.”

Still, jokes are inevitable. “We do reference ‘Flowers in the Attic’ from time to time,” Breen said, citing the famously and bizarrely pro-incest V.C. Andrews Gothic novel.

The Rebecca-Justin coupledom will roll out in Season 3 in the fall, and Breen and Schapker said the writers would be mindful of the audience as it does. “As far as some of the more strident criticism of it, my hope is that we’re having a big old Walker fight with our fans,” Schapker said, referencing the messy-but-loving fictional family at the center of “Brothers & Sisters.” She laughed, sounding slightly nervous. “Just the way this family can get into some knock-down-drag-outs and yet come back together, I’m hoping we tell the story in such a way that everybody can get on board with it. That’s kind of my fantasy.”

-- Kate Aurthur

Comments

[Kelly]

Great article. Dave Annable and Emily Vancamp have the best chemistry in primetime. It's too sizzling for siblings. I'm glad they de Walkered Rebecca since to me it made the most sense and Rebecca and Justin played as best friends with the potential for true love instead of siblings from the get go. I can not wait to see this pair in season three.

[Diane]

I missed last nights' episode!!! Will it be replaying any time soon???

[Chris]

Sign me up as one of the creeped out ones, esp bc there's no good reason for it. A lot of relationships on this show either flounder or die (Sarah/Joe, Graham; Tommy/Julia, Lena; Kitty/Jonathan, Warren, McAlister; Nora/David Morton, Mark August, Issac Marshall, ; Kevin/Scotty, Chad, Jason, Scotty; Justin/Fawn, Tyler, Lena, and now Rebecca? and goddess knows who I missed.) Really, no one has this many relationships in two years!

The only people who seem to have a healthy relationship now are Kevin and Kitty and goddess knows how long THAT will last till the writers and producers need an obvious idea.

[Kimmi]

Diane, abc.com has a full episode player...

Myself, I'm not sure what I think yet... Justin is by far the most annoying character on this show in my opinion, so even tho I'm ok with the idea now, I'm sure the plot will start to annoy me.

[Jennifer]

The chemistry between Justin and Rebecca is undeniable and sizzles onscreen. I enjoyed their scenes in the season finale. I think the writers have handled the storyline very well so far. I just hope they continue to let their relationship slowly progress and keep Rebecca interacting with the other Walkers. I am looking forward to seeing more of Justin and Rebecca next season.

[Anita]

I love that the show is going down this road, the chemistry between Justin and Rebecca cannot be ignored. They have never come across as siblings to me and a romantic relationship makes more sense than familial one. I cannot understand the uproar and wish people would just let it play out. Looking forward to seeing them as a couple in Season 3.