Brothers & Sisters

Five questions from “Home Front” still rattling around in my brain:

1. Wasn’t that “someone’s at the door” scene kind of a cheap shot? It was previewed on the ABC site, with just the Nora-Saul phone call, leading up to her tremulous approach to the door. In that context, by itself, it seemed an emotional, dread-filled moment. When it took its place in the actual episode, though, it was nothing but a set-up for a Kitty joke, and a pretty obvious one at that. With Robert telling Kitty to take some time off right before the scene, and the doorbell ringing right after Nora said she couldn’t bear to look at her daughter, it was painfully obvious that the entity ringing the doorbell was not a military official but a blonde Republican, no matter how much “swelling music of tragedy” they played. This show tugs heartstrings well, so when they just kind of jerk ‘em around for fun, it’s annoying.

2. Doesn’t Baby Elizabeth seem suspiciously healthy? She was significantly premature, and then in the hospital for, what, several months, right? Shouldn’t she have some medical equipment following her around? Most of the books I’ve read about preemies who spend time in the NICU indicate that you’ve got bigger worries on homecoming than diaper rash. But Elizabeth’s strong! And wants her Walker family screen time. Guess I’m not getting that special-needs plot I wanted.

3. Was the purpose of the Sarah-Joe plotline to make sure that we really, really hate Joe for good, without reservation? Because man, what a sleaze. And how exactly does he know the status of the boobs and tummies of the moms at the park, anyway? Good riddance, buddy. You’ve lost whatever sympathy Rebecca’s complicity in the kiss may have earned you.

4. How did Robert go from refusing to pull strings because it’s unethical, to announcing that he’s pulled strings in front of a restaurant full of people who are not necessarily McCallister supporters? He can’t pull Nora aside somewhere quiet and discreet to share the good news? Quiet and discretion aren’t Walker hallmarks, to be sure, but they should important to Robert, anyway.

5. And what exactly was so hideous about Kitty’s puffy-sleeved dress? It looks, come to think of it, rather a lot like the dress I wore at my wedding. Ahem. The mermaid dress she had on before that, however? Hideous indeed. An aside here to that saleslady: Women Kitty’s age probably do not want to look like Ariel on their wedding day. Six-year-olds, maybe.

For more episode questions, quotes and recaps, visit the pages for Season 1 and Season 2.

_{Photo: ABC.com}

Brothers and Sisters, ABC, Home Front, commentary