'Brothers & Sisters' season finale: Highway to destiny

The question we have all been pondering for the last five months -- exactly how Rob Lowe's character Robert McCallister was going to exit the show -- was finally answered on last night's "Brothers & Sisters" season finale. The beloved senator met his demise on a stretch of highway with Kitty by his side after a big rig lost control and collided into their SUV. My and many viewers' assumption that he would die by heart attack proved too obvious. The show acknowledged the theory by giving him an arrhythmia scare the night before the accident, but it was a sharp metal beam that crashed into his driver's side window that finally did him in.

Even though we knew Robert's moment was coming, it didn't keep those last dramatic five minutes from being any less shocking. It was the first time we'd really seen any of the Walkers in grave physical danger and the initial sight of Kevin, Scotty, Saul and Holly bleeding and hurt was pretty startling. From the moment Justin and Rebecca pulled up to the wreckage, the camera seemed to stretch their (and our) feeling of dread as they encountered each mangled car and began to heard screams from familiar voices. They came upon Saul's overturned car first. Scotty sat up dazed while Kevin pulled shattered glass from his hand. Saul stood a few feet with a gash across his forehead, a reminder of his new reality (more about that later). Sarah and Nora emerged shaken but unhurt as they rushed to get more help for Holly, who sat unconscious in her car. Then came Robert's and Kitty's SUV, nestled against the belly of a big rig.

Robert's last minutes were brief and so, so sad. The jutting beam and a giant bloody head wound kept him still as he recalled his fears on the day that Evan was born. Kitty's strength quelled his fears back then and as he sat dying, and while she pleaded for him to hold on and keep talking, the light went out from his blue eyes. If there was one thing Robert consistently stood by during his time on the show, it was his dedication to his family, so it was fitting that the comforting memory took him through his last breaths.

To dramatize the ending, most of the episode kept a relatively mellow pace except for the revelation of two big pieces of news that will inform some of the stories next season. The first was Saul's discovery that he has HIV/AIDS. While preparing the menu for his and Scotty's upcoming restaurant, the subject of getting tested came up after a man from Saul's past requested his friendship on Facebook. He learned that the man was currently an AIDS activist living with the disease, which set off alarms that he should finally get tested after all these years of being in the closet. Scared and still reeling from a lifetime of shame and hiding, Saul lied to Nora when he first got the test results. But the news sank in at the sight of his own blood after the accident -- the results were positive and he and the Walkers would be facing a whole new challenge come Season 5.

The other piece of news was the breakthrough at Narrow Lake, which after the closing of Ojai Foods now belonged to Sarah, Nora and Holly. Never one to give up on a good mystery, Nora continued to fund more digging with the hopes of finding the land's true value. Her efforts paid off. Narrow Lake contained an aquifer, a body of rock capable of yielding groundwater -- a gold mine in a state that frequently suffers from water shortage. Their financial future was secured at that moment, and as the ladies danced in the geyser, one of the season's big mysteries was finally resolved.

Since the show plans to flash forward a year during Season 5, the questions raised in the finale set the stage for the time jump. Kitty will grieve over Robert's death and we'll find out whether she won the election. Justin will volunteer in Haiti while Rebecca stays behind to take on a new job, leaving their relationship vulnerable. Kevin and Scotty will be new parents, and Saul will fight a new battle. It's yet to be seen what injuries Holly will sustain from the accident, but it'll probably affect her somehow. Sarah and Luc will explore their relationship further and Nora will continue to be the rock holding it all together. I think flashing forward is a brilliant move for the show. After a lackluster third season, "Brothers & Sisters" proved its mettle with the fourth, and this new perspective will give viewers even more incentive to watch. Rob Lowe will be sorely missed, but the Walkers will trudge through as these startling new events leave the future precariously and excitedly open with possibilities.

What are your thoughts on the season finale? Feel free to chime in below!

-- Enid Portuguez

Photo: Rob Lowe in his final episode as Robert McCallister on "Brothers & Sisters." Credit: ABC

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Comments

[Roxy]

I agree with all the Rob Lowe’s character being the only source of sanity in this over the top family ( except for Scotty who is always calm). Hated to see his character leave as it makes the dynamic too unbalanced. Maybe they can find a way to stop shouting and start listening to each other....
but then, it wouldn’t be Hollywired then I guess.
(I also had hoped it was Holly leaving, didn’t know Lowe was through this year)

[Sue]

That was absolutely the hokiest script ever . . . . wow, how all the family ended up in a big pile . . . dang, I could have written a better show!

[Pattie Healey]

I AM GOING TO MISS ROB LOWE I THINK HE SHOULD CHANGE HIS MIND AND WHEN SEASON 5 COMES HAVE KITTY OR NORA WAKING UP FROM A HORRIC DREAM WHAT DO YOU GUYS THINK OUT THERE?

[Lizzie Smith]

I will probably not watch this show anymore. Rob Lowe is a fantastic actor, I can't believe he's not on the show anymore. Hopefully, he will pick up a new show, and I will watch that. With any luck, the show will air at the same time as Brothers and Sisters- Ha! He needs to star in a movie!!!

[Sara]

Rob Low chose to leave the show - he was not written out. He felt like CBS wasn't given him enough "face time" and he left for another show called Parks and Recreation on NBC.

[Barb]

Rob Lowe wanted off the show and asked they he be written out so his death was just part of the solution. He is already on Parks and Recreation and looking forward to new adventures. Yes, I will truly miss that gorgeous face.

[Marianne]

Does anyone think the accident was a set up? Trying to get to Kitty and Robert?

[Beyonce]

I AM SOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO upset that Rob Lowe will not be back on the show for the next season he was one of my favorite starts of the show. I thought him dying would make me not want to watch it anymore but it's one of my favorite shows so i must tune in for next season. Was a great way to end the season

[Terri]

R9b Lowe will be missed. Do you think it is possible that the accident was on purpose to eliminate him???

[DA]

Don't want Rob Lowe to leave...love his character...some of it seems like it will be boring. Doesn't sound like an exciting season to come.

[Maureen Graham]

Robe Lowe is hot and will be missed. What a dramatic ending! The AID'S result was a bit unreal. You don't get told that over the phone. Look forward to the rest of the story..................

[Bosschick!]

I was so sad when Robert died I cant believe he's gone and poor saul he really does have Hiv he lied to his sister at first but the truth was revealed and all in all it was a good finale with the exception of some key moments!p.s why would they kill Robert off when Kitty's cancer could come back and their son could lose both parents its so sad.

[daley]

I'm very sad to see Robert leave the show. I do hope this upcoming season will bring Saul some good news, it seems he is always unhappy. I think the Hawaii wedding should be Luc and Sarah's. I'm very excited for next season to start. This is one of my favorite shows on TV.

[Nataliya]

Oh how I will miss Rob Lowe and his gorgeous blue eyes....

[losangelbear]

Great show, great episode. I just wish it had been that loud selfish bossy bitch, Sara who was killed off.

Ann, grow up. We've been watching your intimate details on screen all our lives. Gay people exist, get over it.

The Beagle would be doing his girlfriend a favor by leaving!

[Jill Sarven]

I will miss Rob from the show he did a great job and added alot to the show...even being a distant cousin from Ohio our folks were cousins...i will follow him whereever he goes well i don't know about his latest venture..hmmmmm not into that show...Rock on Rob you passed with grace and dignity .....

[CP]

After hearing that Rob Lowe had requested to leave the show, I figured his character would be killed off at some point...if not in an earlier show, then definitely in the season finale. We knew there was going to be an accident because of previews shown last week, but I definitely wasn't expecting it to turn out the way it did. The sight of Kevin struggling to get out of the car was what really got me because as you've said, we've never really seen any of the Walkers in any real danger. The news about Saul is hearbreaking, especially the way it's revealed because we know he lied to protect Nora.

I like the fact that the accident wasn't shown as it happened... We already knew it was coming and when the call with Holly eneded unexpedtedly you could safely assume why... We saw the accident as Rebecca and Justin did. I think the writers did a great job with the finale. I can't wait until next season.

[Autumn Pickle]

Having had no idea that Rob Lowe was leaving the show, I was shocked that he died. I do think that it's a good idea for the show to flash forward a year.

[steve naus]

Althought this show has good actors, the stories are dull. This is BAD TV!

[travel]

I agree with Peggy - the Holly character acts way too much - no one really talks like that!

And, I guess, I am the only one who will not miss Rob Lowe. I have never really cared for him, although I think this is the best role he has done. I saw him on a made-for-TV movie a few years ago and have never seen such poor acting (except by the Holly character).