Five questions: “Moral Hazard”
Five questions about last Sunday’s episode — “Moral Hazard” — still rattling around in my brain:
1. When did Nora become Grand High Poobah of Ojai Foods? Last I recall, she was pretty much fired from a receptionist job. Yet here she was, ordering the company president around, and taking decisions out of Sarah’s hands. Certainly, being Chief Executive Mom gives one certain privileges; but also certain responsibilities, like, oh, say, caring about the people you’re related to? The way she was acting there with Sarah and Saul, I was kinda wishing she’d gone to Washington after all. And though she gained a few Brownie points for her apology to Sarah, she lost them when she all but forced the merger on her daughter. Sarah’s sure been poorly served by the Holden siblings recently, hasn’t she?
2. Why was Kevin nice to everybody but Sarah? He forgave Uncle Saul for ruining the company and insisting for lo these many months that he certainly was not gay; he was understanding, in a freaked-out sort of way, of Justin’s pseudo-incestuous feelings; but with Sarah (who certainly did not call him over to agonize about her boyfriend, since he’s the one who brought it up), he was all about blame and shame. If Saul had had an affair with Graham and took the deal because of it — and come to think of it, wouldn’t that have been an interesting way to do this — would Kevin have been so quick to run the guy off the property?
3. Where is Rebecca going to live now? She presumably split out of Holly’s on demand, and Justin made it clear her Walker welcome was retracted. Does she even have a car, like Scotty, to spend the night in? The only friend we’ve seen evidence of was Lena, and she’s off partying in the Land of Lost Love Interests. Maybe Rebecca can move in with Sarah, and they can spend evenings throwing darts at a photo of Holly.
4. Was the timeline on this episode screwed-up? It seemed clear that Holly’s merger proposal came on the morning of a new day — she suggested Tommy hadn’t slept much. But the Kevin marriage proposal that ended the episode felt like it came at the end of the previous day, with Kevin apologizing over the lightbulbs and telling family stories that took place on what I take to be the day before the merger. (He didn’t mention the merger part, either.) Either Kevin and Scotty discussed nothing the previous evening; Holly was referring to Tommy’s failure to take a nap; or the writers decided (correctly) that the marriage proposal was the strongest way to end the episode and said, “To heck with the timeline, no one will notice.” (Sorry ’bout that.)
5. Speaking of all that, though, how smart were the writers for putting all this Ojai drama and Rebecca trauma in the same episode as Kevin’s marriage proposal? You may hate some of the plot developments, but you can hardly hate an episode that has so much Kevin goodness in it, ending with that sweet plea to Scotty. When you’re swooning over that, it’s easy to forgive everything else.
Photos: ABC.com
Brothers and Sisters, ABC, Moral Hazard, commentary
May 8th, 2008 at 12:52 pm
In an AfterElton.com feature, Ken Olin notes that the proposal scene was indeed moved up to the end of the ep because they felt it was more powerful that way, despite the continuity lapse.
Kevin did fly off the handle a bit with Sarah, I agree, but let’s not forget that Graham’s deal was likely going to cost them their family business (which I think all the Walkers feel connected to). I disagree that if Saul had had a gay affair with Graham that Kevin would have just shrugged off the impending bankruptcy.
I also thought he softened by the end of the scene, after Sarah had had a chance to explain where she was coming from after her divorce.
May 8th, 2008 at 4:01 pm
“I also thought he softened by the end of the scene, after Sarah had had a chance to explain where she was coming from after her divorce”
I agree, Scott, and he at least he gave a chance to defend herself, which is more then Nora or Tommy did.
May 8th, 2008 at 4:25 pm
“Maybe Rebecca can move in with Sarah, and they can spend evenings throwing darts at a photo of Holly.”
You have no idea how much I’d love for that to happen!
May 9th, 2008 at 2:56 am
As much as I enjoy the mental picture of Rebecca/Rachel using a pic of Holly as a dartboard. I think the ’smartest’ thing to do would be to stay with Kevin/Scotty or Tommy/Julia.
Kevin is, together with Tommy, who Rebecca hasn’t really bonded. Somewhere between Kevin’s being practical and Scotty’s ability to put his finger on issues, she might have time to take a breather and look at herself and her emotions, before throwing herself in a relationship with some dude-who-two-eps-ago-was-still-her-brother-and-I’m-not-convinced-Rebecca-has-romantic-feelings-for.
Or with Tommy/Julia. Tommy doesn’t seem to HATE Holly (yet) and Rebecca/Julia conversations would give Sarah Jane something to do. They are closer in age it seems and Julia is sweet and kind and could bring peace in Rebecca’s chaos.
Staying around Sarah or Nora would only fuel her frustrations about her mother and not give her time to ‘let go’ and go on with her life.
I still feel Justecca is rushed. It would be nice to see Rebecca sort out her life and feelings first. So, keep her miles away from Justin.
May 9th, 2008 at 3:02 am
“You may hate some of the plot developments, but you can hardly hate an episode that has so much Kevin goodness in it, ending with that sweet plea to Scotty. When you’re swooning over that, it’s easy to forgive everything else.”
Still swooning. Still happy. Still love every inch of Kevin.
And just when I think I can’t love K/S more, it turns out I can, but I said the same thing 3 weeks ago, I believe.
Honestly, I cannot look at lobsters & light bulbs without smiling.
May 9th, 2008 at 7:35 am
I can’t hate an episode that has so many Kevin scenes! We got to see so many sides of Kevin - wacky, funny, supportive, angry, compassionate and then romantic.
I didn’t notice the inconsistentcy of the timeline. But for me, Kevin’s emotional arc in this episode was perfect which was more important to me.
Sorry for all the Kevin gushing but Matthew Rhys was fantastic in this episode.
May 9th, 2008 at 2:07 pm
OK, gotta gotta join in the “Kevin” gushing. What a fantastic actor. How did he get that radiant glow/joyous expression to stay and stay all through the proposal scene? (Ok, ok, let’s give some credit to the lighting people!) I’ve never seen him so gorgeously vulnerable. And, in spite of his character’s intermittent imperfections, as far as I’m concerned he’s THE REASON I watch. He plays that role so beautifully. Also, I’d also love to see scenes with the incredible Rebecca and Kevin-Scotty, a la Sarah at the gay bar, maybe? Fun, sensitivity, understanding. sigh….
p.s. Thanks to Terri for all the fantastic insights and the commenters. GR8!
May 10th, 2008 at 10:38 am
My biggest complaint about Kevin right now is that they’re cutting his hair too short. I want those Season 1 curls back - sigh!
I looking forward to Scotty interacting with each of the Walkers in Season 3.
May 10th, 2008 at 2:47 pm