First impressions: “Prior Commitments”
Remember how, last week, I wrote that it was smart of the writers to put all the frustrating business and paternity plots into the same episode as Kevin’s proposal, because when you’re swooning over the latter it’s easy to overlook the former?
Well, I’ll admit to having no perspective on this episode, because, as an adoptive parent, Kitty and Robert’s decision to adopt did that same thing to me this time around. I was frustrated last season when adoption was never really explored as an option for Tommy and Julia, and watching Kitty go through ever more invasive fertility treatments this season, the subject has been on my mind as well. My husband and I never went quite as far with IVF as the McCallisters, but we made our decision to pursue adoption for much the same reason, and so Sarah’s speech made me tear up: “Kitty, you remember the somersaults, I remember the heartburn, you know what Cooper remembers? Nothing. There are no guarantees. In the end, the only thing that matters is that there’s a child. And that lasts forever.”
I’m overjoyed that a show that has been so much about all the different ways there are to be a family is going to joyfully include this way, too. And so I was also happy to see the Walkers continue to consider Rebecca one of their own. And welcome Scotty into the family so resoundingly, even as his own parents (well, his mother, anyway) cut off any likelihood that Kevin would be considered a part of theirs. As for the possibility of there being an as-yet-unmet “R”-named Walker … I’m not going to jump to conclusions, and wish the Walkers wouldn’t either. The mystery plot was my least favorite part of Season 1, but in retrospect, I think Season 2 was weakened by not having that kind of major plot arc. So perhaps this is good news for Season 3.
Did Tommy make it back into my good graces? I was a little ticked at the way he talked to Sarah in the early scene with Holly, but I thought it was interesting that he was the one to ask Holly whether she knew about Rebecca’s paternity test before she made the deal, and I would have liked to have heard the conversation that would have followed had Sarah not burst in. I’m going to give the guy a pass for now just because the scenes with the three brothers were such a hoot. You want to talk about chemistry, I think Getty, Rhys and Annable have about the best on the show, and play off each other marvelously. You can sort of see years of teasing and tweaking behind every exchange.
The wedding was lovely, if a little anti-climactic. Saul’s coming out was more of a punchline than a dramatic highlight, and I think that’s appropriate for this show — with the spilling of secrets like your sister not being your sister, your brother lusting after your non-sister sister, and the possibility of an alternative alleged illegitimate sibling, your bachelor uncle being gay is good for an eyebrow raise but not much more. Saul, we’re so on to the next secret.
Last week, the order of scenes was shuffled to put the one perceived as the strongest — Kevin’s proposal — at the end. And last season, the finale ended not with the dramatic Sending of Justin to War, but with everybody leaping into the pool. So it’s interesting to see what was chosen as the end note to this episode, and to the season. Not the Ryan Reveal, but the Rebecca-Justin Kiss. Not the drama, but the romance. Not the past, but the future. The Season 1 finale nicely brought the season full circle, contrasting the premiere’s ending with William dead in the pool with everybody coming back to life in there. Similarly, the Season 2 opener ended with Rebecca sending a video message to Justin that reinforced their connection and concluded with “I need you,” and the finale takes that connection in a new direction.
I was glad that they got the kiss out of the way, and both felt awkward about it, acknowledging that there needs to be some transition here. I suspect that transition’s going to to take place over the unseen summer, but personally, I’m going to go with it. I don’t know that I see the same romantic chemistry between these two that the show’s creators obviously do, but they are pretty cute together, and similarly needy. Perhaps this will give these two crazy kids a shot at a plot that has less to do with drugs and deception than gainful employment and independence. ‘Bout time, times two.
What did you think about the episode? Share your thoughts in the comments, and come back throughout the week for a recap, memorable lines, and five questions.
Photo: ABC.com
Brothers and Sisters, ABC, Prior Commitments, commentary
May 12th, 2008 at 9:00 pm
I have to go back and watch again because I also found that I was missing stuff and distracted (also by the IF storyline!). But I also knew this would be the place to ask the two questions that came up for me during the episode:
Weren’t Scotty’s parents from Oxford, Mississippi in Season One?
Also, when they saw that photo at the dinner table up at Ojai, didn’t Justin say something along the lines of “that’s not me unless I’m a girl. That baby is wearing a dress and bonnet.” So now the picture is of a boy?
Infrequent commentor, but every post reader
May 12th, 2008 at 9:54 pm
Yes, Mel I thought that too but if you noticed the addresses in the Scotty’s address book that Kevin looked at, the previous address of Scotty’s parents was listed as Oxford, MS and was crossed out above the new one, signifying that they must have moved to Arizona at some point during the year
I thought this episode was somewhat of an anticlimax too. The wedding was just glossed over really quickly and even the big twist at the end re Ryan wasn’t much of a big twist (perhaps because I read too many B&S blogs and spoilers out there!!)
Good point about the dress and bonnet observation, maybe the baby was wearing some hand-me-downs from his older sister LOL
Can’t wait for season 3 - here’s to guessing who will be cast as Ryan.
May 13th, 2008 at 7:30 am
I rather expected to be disappointed by this episode after my “mega-high” from the previous episode. For me, the wedding felt a little rushed but there were some very touching scenes like Nora/Kevin with the flowers. The “you don’t get to be guarded or cynical” line from Nora to Kevin is my memorable quote from the episode. I loved the 2 scenes where Scotty was nervous that Kevin was backing out. I also like that Scotty’s parents were not “evil” because that makes the relationship more complex.
I don’t always like the progression of some of the storylines but so far I’ve been mostly happy by their eventually resolution. My biggest disagreement is probably their decision to break up Joe and Sarah. So, I’ll see how Justin/Rebecca play out even though I think the kiss was too soon.
I agree about Kitty/Robert. Lately I’ve been wondering if they should have gotten married but they finally showed some real affection and I like the adoption idea.
I’d love Season 3 episode that centered on the 3 brothers and their relationship.
May 13th, 2008 at 7:59 am
I just found this site. Great recaps and I felt I needed to share my opinions.
Hope you all don’t mind.
I LOVE this show. It’s so well written and everyone just meshes together.
This season, to me, has brought everyone full circle and back to the family core…which is dealing with the fallout of William’s death.
Being gay myself, I can’t wait to see how they portray the commitment between Scotty and Kevin. I hope they keep it real and not a ratings ploy where they are like every other gay couple and go overboard.
I’m upset at how they are still portraying the character of Sarah as a mega-b*tch. I know she’s suppose to be a die-hard business woman, but if that were the case, she would have handled the acquisition herself instead of letting her feelings come into play. This character needs to get a great “Saving-the-day” storyline to fully redeem her and allow her to move on. Plus, I feel a truce between her and Holly (albeit a small one, because their fight scenes are kind of funny…lol) is needed.
Tommy? Who’s that?
And, the kiss. Knew it was coming from reading spoilers and although a little awkward, it was still sweet. But I think Rebecca’s speech was the reason for that.
Gonna miss this show over the summer.
May 13th, 2008 at 9:15 am
The ‘individual scenes’ were great. I mean I loved them all, even the last one with Rebecca and Justin, because it was as awkward for them to be kissing, as it was for me to be watching them kiss. (And I seriously didn’t NEED to see it, I would have happily waited another…oh.. 2-3 maybe 4…seasons
)
But all those lovely pieces glued together didn’t make an episode, I felt as if 3/4 of the episode was cut and that made the whole rather inconsistent.
Terri, I hope that when you make your quotes list you won’t forget the Kevin/William conversation, starting from : “This becomes awkward for the both of us.” because to me THAT scene was the most memorable.
Especially in contrast to the way Nora insisted that Kevin (and Scotty) deserved a wedding as romantic as anyone else.
Kevin has always said that William made him feel insecure and unloved. But, damn, that wall that Kevin built up against his dad was equally strong. I guess, that is why the scene Kevin/Willam was SO good. Kevin wanted to reach out to his dad for so long and when finally William tried, Kevin shut him out.
Painful, but perfect and at least not so soapy, that Kevin would burst into tears and tell his dad that everything is forgiven and forgotten. Well done, Kevin. The fact that he didn’t let William determine the time of this painful conversation, shows how strong a character Kevin can be.
My questions for this episode would be:
So did Kevin end up spending his ‘weddingnight’ on the couch?
Or did he manage to explain himself in a good enough way to make Scotty forgive him? I hope the latter. Makes for good fan fic 
Why didn’t Robert/Tommy ask their rings back? Scotty is clearly wearing a ring when Kevin undoes the cufflinks and Kevin wears a ring when he writes the note for Scotty.
May 13th, 2008 at 9:16 am
I really liked the ending, and even though I’m a grown woman, I’ve watched the last scene at least 20 times. Looking back, the past 2 seasons have been a slow build up to a J/R romance, and I’m really glad they finally get to be more than best friends.