'Brothers & Sisters': The wedding that wasn't

From the very start of last night's episode of "Brothers & Sisters," Justin's and Rebecca's wedding looked destined for doom. Its original location, Hawaii, was in danger of being ravaged by a hurricane, forcing plans to be readjusted and postponed. Even when Rebecca decided to hold the ceremony on a beach in Malibu instead, their union was threatened by Justin's cold feet. However, the event that actually sent the whole thing crashing down -- Kitty's collapse -- took me by surprise.

The bulk of the episode focused on Justin's reluctance to walk down the aisle. His shortcomings at school plus his overall fears of being a suitable husband and father had placed an interminable frown on Justin's face for most of the hour, and David's presence during his AA confession didn't make things easier. Despite all this, I was never convinced that Justin wouldn't follow through with the wedding. Even when he finally admitted his doubts to Rebecca and then failed to appear at the rehearsal dinner, I knew that the reason for his absence would be justified and even become the catalyst for him to step up and be the man Rebecca needed him to be. If there's anything we've learned about Justin's character so far, it is that he's a resilient fighter. He gets knocked down fairly easily, but he manages to get back up when he's got the right support outside the ring.

Now that the bridegroom had regained his confidence, the wedding seemed like a go. The beachfront scene looked like it was ripped right out of a J.Crew catalog, and Rebecca running down the sandy aisle with Paige was one of the most joyful wedding entrances I've seen. It was unfortunate, then,  that while reading an e.e. cummings poem, Kitty would pause, stare blankly and collapse on a beach blanket. The day before, she had gotten the news that the chemotherapy hadn't shrunk her tumors, which had actually grown. It was a sad moment to see her fall so limply, especially after the beautiful scene that had occurred before. Her illness will undoubtedly stay in the show's forefront from here on out, but so far, things don't look very good.

Also not looking good is Nora's romance with Simon. We had seen signs last week that he may just be too good to be true, and last night, it was pretty obvious that Nora was about to get conned. As soon as Simon mentioned traveling to Portland to raise money for his research, I knew she'd offer to fork up the $100,000 he needed and we would probably never see him again. The look of disbelief on Nora's face when he called to flake on the wedding indicated she knew she had just been played.

While the fate of Kitty's health, Justin and Rebecca's nuptials and Nora's relationship hang in the balance, one Walker family issue got settled. Julia forgave Tommy even after his boneheaded decision to take Elizabeth to California without Julia's knowledge. Thanks to Scotty's sage advice, she agreed to bury the hatchet and place more trust in Tommy. After a move that could legally be defined as kidnapping, I don't know if he really deserves her trust just yet, but I'm glad Julia came out of it as the bigger person.

What were your favorite moments of the episode? Were you shocked by Kitty's collapse? Is Simon a con man or does he really have good intentions?

-- Enid Portuguez

Related:

'Brothers & Sisters': Justin's baby blues
'Brothers & Sisters': Nora gets her groove back
Complete 'Brothers & Sisters' coverage on Show Tracker

Photo: Rebecca (Emily Vancamp) with her parents Holly (Patricia Wettig) and David (Ken Olin) on "Brothers & Sisters." Credit: ABC

Comments

[Rachel]

This season has been so dreary! I wish just one of the characters had a positive storyline going on. They did a better job of balancing drama and happy times in previous seasons.

[MLA17]

I too was caught by surprise at Kitty's collapse. I was getting teary eyed while she recited the poem and wanted to hear the whole thing, I'm gonna have to look it up. And then when she fell, I was completely in tears.

I was definitely glad that Julia was able to bury the hatchet with Tommy, I just hope he won't try to pull a stunt like that again, hasn't he learned his lesson?

Ahh that Simon was too good to be true, it's a shame that Nora offered to be his investor. The kids are going to be so upset when they find out.

I was really glad Justin manned up to his responsibilites. The scene with Justin helping the little boy who was hit by the car was great. I loved how calm he was and how he knew what he was doing. It gave him the confidence he was seeking. The only thing that bothered me was,what was a little boy doing out at night riding his bike without a helmet?? But overall, last night's episode was great. When does it return?

[Kathy Buchanan]

Great episode but I really am tired of Rebecca and Justin's story line. Rebecca is just not a very good actress and doesn't seem believable. The best story lines involve Kitty and the other brothers and sisters. I love Ken Olin and Patricia Wettig though - reminds me of Thirtysomething and I would love more of Ken Olin especially!

[Rose]

I have always thought it a little creepy that Juatin & Rebecca are together anyway, since they thought they were half brother & Sister for a while. I think the Story line on Kitty is a must because Cancer is real. Nora is a fool. Let's ger her a man that does not have an utlerior motive.

[Terri Kravitz]

This is by far the best show on TV! I was waiting for something to happen at the wedding and knew it would be something with Kitty. I am hoping that Nora had the foresight to put a stop payment on that check!

[Carolyn Hopkins]

I was very upsent that Kitty collapsed during what should have been a happy time. Is Justin and Rebecca doomed to never marry? I really hope Kitty will not die off the show. Oh and it is so obvious that Nora is getting conned. I wish they would just get over with Justin and Rebecca's wedding. I actually had a dream last night that they went to the hospital with Kitty and she ended up being ok and Justin and rebecca got married in the hopital room. Wouldn't that have been a good ending?

[Kat]

i was honestly going insane for most of this ep....i have been really disappointed with justin and rebecca's wedding storyline. they made their issues seem so complex and take weeks to reveal, but then it took like 30 seconds for things to get patched up and be "all better", starting off with "is that blood?". i have been liking rebecca's dad, and the fact that he seems to be the ONLY voice of reason on the show, and i was sorry that he didn't seem to have a firmer stance on what happened in this week's episode. and rebecca's mother....uuuuuggggghhhhhhhhhhhh i have wanted to boot her off the show since the first time we saw her. she drives me INSANE! all the ulterior motives, etc. and never knowing just what is going to happen next is just odd.

and what's going on with all the "ryan is the out-of-wedlock-son" stuff?? he's barely on the show, and when he his, he's sneaking into offices or meeting some guy (his mother's husband?) in coffeeshops. what's the point of ryan if he's not actually around? and it's kind of odd that they built up the whole story of ryan and then he isn't even included in the wedding party........

wow. going to stop now....getting too chatty about this.

i'm not trying to offend the writers, cast, etc. i'm just sharing opinions

[Michael Stevens]

I wasn't at all surprised by Kitty's collapse. It seems epidemic on this show that there are several anti-climaxes that lead up to one big climax only to be followed by one big anti-climax - if one can follow that. When Kitty got the news and did not share it with Robert, it was obvious to me that that was going to be a new big storyline for the show - not just this season I suspect.

As for Simon, I think we will spend a few shows viewing him as a sure-fire villain and then he will come in bearing profits for Nora. But then the anti-climax will be that he will be so disappointed by her lack of faith that he will want nothing more to do with her. LOTS of drama will center around this from Kevin, Tommy, and Sarah - and Robert since he is a U.S. Senator.

There were two parts that left me hanging. What will happen with Tommy and Julia? She forgave Tommy but does that mean a relationship (marriage) is once again possible or will she continue to be a character on the edge of the show who makes appearances on and off. Even Tommy has done that so far this season missing from many of the shows.

Secondly is Sarah. I am yet to understand why we were introduced to this Frenchman boyfriend only to have him leave in a disappointing huff. For the record, why was it so disappointing when, in her memory a few shows back, we saw her return to find him kissing another woman. Was this just a loose end thrown in to throw us off? Was this a trial balloon to see how the audience would react to a new potential beau for Sarah? I just don't get this whole storyline.

The wedding - it was a given considering how Kitty so wanted her cancer to NOT be centerstage that it would indeed steal the show. Justin - it was a given that he would rise to the occasion. Nora - it was a given that should dole out the money to Simon when he dropped the hint. Nora's purse isn't infinite though and Holly has tapped the business so I can only imagine she'll soon be in the poor house if she doesn't start EARNING some money somehow. Would be a pity to see the flying nun become a destitute prostitute.

[Jason]

Of course they had to make kitty character faint at the end to make
you wait for the next episode! When does that air? Is it going on hiatus now?

Also that scene bugged me when Justin got back with blood on his shirt yet Rebecca forgave him and hugged him
and his bloody shirt with no second thought!

I think the writers need to start getting really creative now otherwise this show will start falling into all the expected cliches, they don't have to make it so damn dramatic every episode! I hope the show keeps interesting without failing like many other shows like this.

[KJ]

Oh my God, please. Could the producers have done anything more schmaltzy than have Kitty collapse at the wedding? This is probably scaring the hell out of people with cancer, and , even worse, because Flockhart is a mainstay of the show, they have no choice but to cure her at some point, which will send false hope to those with cancer. I thought the episode was contrived, and took a major wrong turn on most of the storylines. Are you sure this show shouldn't be on in the morning, and pitching soap?

[Gina]

does anybody know what e.e. cummings poem that was??>

[Enid Portuguez]

Gina, the name of the e.e. cummings poem is "i carry your heart with me"

[norma]

gina, the poem is

i carry your heart with me by E. E. Cummings

i carry your heart with me(i carry it in
my heart)i am never without it(anywhere
i go you go,my dear; and whatever is done
by only me is your doing,my darling)
i fear
no fate(for you are my fate,my sweet)i want
no world(for beautiful you are my world,my true)
and it's you are whatever a moon has always meant
and whatever a sun will always sing is you

here is the deepest secret nobody knows
(here is the root of the root and the bud of the bud
and the sky of the sky of a tree called life;which grows
higher than the soul can hope or mind can hide)
and this is the wonder that's keeping the stars apart

i carry your heart(i carry it in my heart)

[Louise Betancourt]

This show needs better technical advice. The mouth-to-mouth resuscitation that Justin tried on Kitty is no longer recommended. Any current med student would know that. He should have been doing fast chest compressions to get the blood circulating while waiting for medics.

[Cubie Cube]

There has been enough evidences making me believe that Simon is a con man. I would not blame Nora for supporting a man she is fond of, because that is Nora, a kind hearted and giving woman. I have been there. I trusted someone and I ended up losing money and getting hurt at the same time. It's just the real world that devils are really around us everywhere.
This is a great episode. There are many many good moments in this episode that I have had hard time picking just one to talk about. What surprised me the most was that Kevin and Scotty managed to convince Julia forgiving Tommy and letting her daughter stay for Rebecca and Justin's wedding. That act was totally driven by the kind of love for the family and friends that I don't see often at all in the reality nowadays.
I love this show because it can be very educational. It shows us a lot of long lost values and principles. It shows us the mistakes people can make everyday without realizing the considerable consequences. I do hope there will be more people watching this show and paying close attentions to the details. If we all can learn things from this show, I believe our world would be a better place for everyone.

[karen jordan]

I just love this show....especially miss the scenes of all the kids telephoning each other back and forth on the split screen....there is such a warmth in coming back ending a weekend with the Walker family.

So well cast, I see so many familiar aspects of being a mother, having a mother, brothers, children and in less dramatic ways seeing the bonds of a loving family...

Simply great tv.....yes, it is still television, and is not perfect, but what a great relief from all the reality tv and gossip sites....

Welcome back, dramatic tv, with humor, and character that make us care, feel good, and think about our own families and how much we love and appreciate them.

[Fleming N]

The BEST show on T.V. why do they not take more awards they should what great writers and thanks for not dropping out on us during holidays. Dancing with the stars ended Grey's did a half *** end for the holidays all in one night ! Sally Field is not the only great on this show but has been one of the best for years. Like MLA 17 I would like that poem and I do not think this season is Dreary it so like life around your own community. Things will get better soon these writers didn't let us down even thru the writers strike. I miss ELI STONE Love to all ....

[Diana]

You really summed the episode up very well! I was completely disappointed in the decision to have Kitty collapse at the wedding (not breathing??) The writing for this episode was excellent, back to the calibre I'd come to expect in the first few seasons (I notice I always like the show when Molly Newman is one of the writers.) But the collapse? It felt like a cheap manipulation, and everyone I've talked to about it felt disappointed that they chose to do that. Can ANYONE on that show have a HAPPY event? I mean.. seriously...

[Diana]

Oh, and in response to your question about Simon. I think that we're being led to believe that he's a bad guy, and he won't turn out to be one. However, I believe that the suspicion and mistrust is going to break them up in the end. It's too easy for them to write something so simplistic, having him call, it's going to be more complex than that.

I agree with others that this season has been incredibly dreary, and I long for the funny, and biting, dialogue, of season's past. I wish they'd bring back Kevin's catty comments and lightness, instead of putting Scotty in the role of scolding mother all the time. Kevin was able to graduate law school and get a great job, I wish he wasn't always portrayed so weakly now.

Oh, and why haven't the writers done the obvious? Justin should become a paramedic, not a doctor. That character has a much better personality and mindset for that type of immediate work.

[Jenn]

This show is incredible! This season has left me in tears at the end of each episode, but Sarah's Frenchman was frisky and fun...a definite plus to this season! Rebecca is not a good actress, get off their wedding and lets be done with that. Cancer is real and Kitty is great. I hope next episode her husband forgets his running for office and takes care of Kitty. Poor Nora, her whole life revolves around the kids, I wish that guy wasn't so shady, but it seems as he absolutely has conned her out of a lot of money. What the heck is Tommy's problem? He needs a dose of reality. I can't wait until the gay brother has a baby or something good happens to them- i love them! I want more of them- SCotty is such a wonderful guy too and they can act! Oh, I'm very glad that Justin manned up, its about time, i was beginning to think he was a total loser. Rebecca's Dad is awesome. HE does have a voice of reason when i wish he played a bigger part too. Hope it gets happier!!