'Brothers & Sisters': Brothers and secrets

Things did not look good for Tommy Walker on Sunday night's episode of "Brothers & Sisters." I suppose no happy ending comes out of embezzling money from the family business, but the real wrath comes when you don't tell your own mother about it.

After Tommy's arrest and arraignment, it's a little difficult to believe Nora could be in the dark for that long. Nora's part of the Ojai Foods board of directors -- wouldn't she have at least gotten a call from a fellow board member? But that's besides the point. How about that slap! It was well deserved if you ask me. It's one thing to keep a secret from Nora Walker but another to have it revealed by the newly anointed illegitimate son, Ryan, during a party she worked hard to plan.

While Tommy bore the brunt of Nora's anger, it was Saul who disappointed her most. I enjoy watching Sally Field and Ron Rifkin's scenes together because the show's title not only refers to the relationships among the Walker siblings, it also refers to Nora and Saul's. Their relationship is complicated -- he's often acted as a confidante to her late husband as well as her children in situations where she's kept ignorant -- but you can also rely on them to remain supportive of each other despite this, much like the Walkers. 

Tommy's troubles also wreaked havoc on Justin and Rebecca's relationship, which seemed doomed from the start. As much as the writers tried to make this couple sweet and palatable, it was hard to shake the creepy incestuous aspect of it. There was also no way they were going to maintain neutrality or escape the Tommy-Holly conflict unscathed. While I wasn't a big fan of Justin and Rebecca's relationship, I don't know if I can co-sign on a Ryan-Rebecca union either. Last night was a pre-cursor to the classic (and predictable) torn-between-two-brothers storyline, which takes the incestuousness even further when you factor in Rebecca's former half-sister status. The only way this story could get interesting is if they have Justin, Ryan and Rebecca throwing chairs at each other on "Jerry Springer." 

Meanwhile, Kitty and Robert's marriage continues to strain even after his discharge from the hospital. His reluctance to tell his kids about his condition annoys Kitty, who's becoming more of a nag than a solid support system. Robert's stubbornness isn't helping either, but his heartbreaking cry showed Kitty's not the only one suffering.

What are your thoughts? Are you happy or bummed about Justin and Rebecca's break-up? Do you approve of the impending Ryan-Justin-Rebecca love triangle?

-- Enid Portuguez

Comments

[kimi]

i agree that the justin-rebecca-ryan thing is just too creepy ... in a way, i'm for tommy saving the company for the walkers ... let's not forget, ojai should be a walker company ... it's really unimaginable for me that my dad's mistress would be a part of the family company ... this just couldn't really exist in real life ... i would have done what tommy was planning but maybe in a legal way ... holly should be booted out of ojai asap! ...

[jj]

The show is spiralling out of control. Ryan is clearly bait for the young girls who like the androgynous "Twilight" type males. The deal with Robert and Kitty is just off the rails. The writers are just doing crazy crap for no real reason to drive the story - it's just chaos for the sake of chaos. They better get back to basics - how many freakin' love children did William Walker sire? The bastard children storyline is being overdone.

[evie]

What the hell is "illegitimate" about another human being? Please don't use language from the 19th century to describe a a person with biological parents who did not happen to be married at the time of his or her birth.

[January]

Doesn't anyone think that Holly should be held accountable for what she did to the Walker's and how she lied her way into the company. Holly never had any right to be in the company but that is never addressed. I am sick of Holly just floating through all of this with no consequences for what she does, she always wins. How many "I am an actress,model" types in LA end up running a hugh company with no experience and just suddenly become so successful.

[Yolanda]

Although Justin Walker is/was my favorite character of the show, I was absolutely horrified at the idea that he and his "half" sister would be thrown into a relationship that has evollved into this weird, lovey dovey thing that I keep seeing so far this season. I can't get my mind around the fact that the writers have decided not to give him another (normal) girlfriend that has nothing to do with the family. Also, why are there no African American, Asian, Latino characters on the show? I love this show and I always will, but I was just wondering about that. Thanks!

[Pam]

It should be Holly that must booted out of Ojai and not Tommy. In the real world, the Holly character cannot exist, it is too good to be true that a mistress will become a majority owner of a company set up by your father while the educated children just agree without any legal fight.
Getting Ryan into the love triangle is another plot that cannot happen in the real world....i agree it is too incestous to be true and Ryan is too young for Rebecca...come on writers dont go into that path....make the plot more realistic.

[Cyndy]

I'm very into this show- it's my favorite right now. However, I can't understand why Robert would want to be married to Kitty. She is so nonsupportive of him and so over-focused on herself. He ran for president and she could only think about herself, and now Governor. She's everything I would NOT want to be as a wife. Rob Lowe is such a babe, I love watching him. And I love Justin. Rebecca does seem too old for Ryan but they're both kind of lost souls so maybe they will work together. I'm plugging for Justin - go be a doctor - yes!