Character Check-Up: Baby William
Continuing on in a series of posts on the characters of Brothers & Sisters — where they’ve been, where they’re at, and where we’d like them to go — let’s continue with Tommy’s family and the little boy lost.
Origins: Baby William died shortly after his birth, going to keep company with his grandfather William in … well, Tommy made like both Williams would be going to the same place, but he’s an optimist.
Progress: Though Lizzie’s brother never came home from the hospital, he sure managed to cause some trouble on the home front, with his mother’s mourning causing a rift between his parents. Julia felt that the death of a baby trumped Nora’s worries over Justin, and stayed away from the Walkers because seeing all those brothers and sisters made her think of Lizzie’s missing brother. Finally, she outright blamed Tommy for William’s death and left him.
Current Status: Tommy and Julia and Lizzie are back together now, but there’s not been much mention of the missing little family member.
Concerns: I wish they’d never gone the twin route if they were just going to kill one of them off — it just seems like a cheap way to make a birth dramatic but still have a healthy baby at the end of it. Since they did go there, I have mixed emotions. It would be disrespectful of families who’ve gone through a similar tragedy to just forget Baby William ever existed. But they can’t let him hijack the plot again. Not that mourning was inappropriate in this situation, but Julia’s accusation that Tommy was responsible for William’s death came out of nowhere, and seems to have gone back there. This is something that needs to be talked out, in counseling most likely, and made peace with, in a way that William can be remembered in the future without being a constant marital sore spot.
Prognosis: As Colleen mentioned in the comments on Lizzie’s check-up, there’s a scene ahead marking the youngest Walker’s birthday, and most likely a remembrance of her brother’s death. Perhaps some tradition can be established as a way to commemorate William’s life each year, even if he’s not mentioned much in between. Let’s hope it doesn’t include Kitty naming a boy child after both Williams, though; that name’s jinxed.
Second Opinion: Sylviane thought Julia’s anger at Tommy about William’s death didn’t come so out-of-nowhere after all. What are your thoughts about William? Share them in the comments.
Photo: ABC.com
Brothers and Sisters, ABC, William
March 21st, 2008 at 10:15 pm
I’m with you, Terry, I was shocked by the depth of Julia’s anger.
I have no inside scoop (though I wish I did), so “birthday scene” is a guess. And while happy because Lizzie is healthy, there will also be the thought that “William would have been 1.” I wonder if they will visit the cemetery, as Nora and Tommy did for William Sr.
I think they should plant a tree in their garden in Little Will’s memory. I like living, growing memorials like this. In Washington, DC there is a special cherry tree on the banks of the Potomac that is planted in memory of all infants who died. It’s not part of the Cherry Blossom Festival area, so one can always visit and have privacy.
March 22nd, 2008 at 4:19 pm
“….but Julia’s accusation that Tommy was responsible for William’s death came out of nowhere, ….”
I cannot speak for Julia, but when I had my depression, I wasn’t logical. My emotions were mixed up and all over the place. I could be happy one moment, but 5 minutes later I’d be on the kitchenfloor crying because I couldn’t handle anything. All my emotions seemed enhanced somehow. If I spilled a glass of milk I wouldn’t be annoyed, I would be DEVASTATED, like the world was in some conspiracy against me. I could no longer see things in perspective.
And I guess that to Julia, alone in the house, Tommy working, baby often crying, bad sleeping, being very tired and constantly rehashing in her mind everything that happened … The question popping up, IF there hadn’t been that opening…because Tommy wanted….and leading up to Tommy being responsible… In all it’s paranoia, it makes sense to me.
I can understand her illogic behaviour and getting away from the house was a good decision.
I liked Colleen’s idea of a tree in their garden as a memorial. I think that Little Will’s name should be occassionally mentioned, but not dwelled upon too long. But the series will not have time for that anyway.
March 22nd, 2008 at 4:27 pm
Sylviane, thanks so much for sharing that. I’m glad you got through it. I agree there should be some mention of Will, especially right now when the memories are most painful. We had a daughter born dead. (On April 15. Death and taxes.) The first anniversary was really hard, as was seeing girls the age she would be. I heard Elizabeth Edwards say she would burst into tears when she saw her son’s favorite soda, and I got that. Now I tell my son he has a big sis who’s his guardian angel. That’s how I think of my Tara.