More secrets, but no more episodes (for now)
And then, almost as soon as they returned, they were gone.
Tonight is the fourth episode of Brothers & Sisters since the post-writer’s-strike return, and the last one we’re going to get until fall — that is, if an actor’s strike doesn’t screw things up further.
What I’m feeling going into tonight’s episode is hope: Hope for the future of Kevin and Scotty, of course, as they tie whatever knot the state of California allows them to; but also hope that the Rebecca situation is settled amicably, hope that the Walkers find some way to foil Holly’s corporate takeover, hope that the threatened secret of William’s is interesting and worthwhile and not something we’re going to get a do-over on next season like Rebecca’s parentage, and hope that this season finale ends on as positive a note as last season’s.
Alright, that’s a lot of hope. But it’s Mother’s Day. Not a day I want to be seething about stupid plot turnarounds and unecessary evils. Hope! There’s always hope. It springs eternal, don’t you know.
To get you into whatever mood you find appropriate for tonight, a few offerings from ABC:
+ The official press release description: “Prior Commitments - Kevin and Scotty make a commitment to be life partners, Saul finally deals with his identity in a public way, and the family discovers that William (guest starring Tom Skerritt) kept yet another painful secret from his family, on the season finale of “Brothers & Sisters,” SUNDAY, MAY 11 (10:02-11:00 p.m., ET), on the ABC Television Network. Guest starring are Tom Skerritt as William Walker, Luke MacFarlane as Scotty Wandell, Michael Adler as Doug Manning, Michael O’Keefe as Wally Wandell, Jayne Brook as Bertha Wandell and Parvesh Cheena as Jordan. ‘Prior Commitments’ was written by Greg Berlanti, Monica Owusu-Breen and Alison Schapker and directed by Ken Olin.” In other press release news, it looks like no B&S next Sunday, then a rerun of “States of the Union” on May 25.
+ From the writers: A Writer’s Room video for last week, in which Supervising Producer Sheri Cooper and Story Editor Jason Wilborn describe “Moral Hazard” as the episode in which every storyline explodes, and express a hope that the fans’ feeling of Justin-Rebecca yuckiness will soon die down and we’ll all jump onboard; and a Bloggers & Sisters entry on “Prior Commitments” that promises “the episode does what any finale should do — wrap up one box and hint that there’s another waiting behind it.”
+ A promo on the B&S homepage in which the ABC Voice of Dramatic Inevitability intones, “Sunday: A season finale event with a cliffhanger ending to an incredible season” while we hear snippets of dialog like “Kevin’s getting married!” “She deceived us!” and “Mom, we have something to tell you!” To which I’ll just comment that this sounds less like a hint that there’s another box than it does bashing us over the head with it. But I’m hopeful! Hopeful, yes indeed!
+ A preview that includes a scene with Kevin and Scotty discussing the fact that Scotty’s parents will not be attending their whatever-they-decide-to-call-it ceremony; and a scene in which Sarah accuses Holly of lying about Rebecca’s paternity so that William would leave her money, with the proof being the presence of that extra “R” at the end of his password. Which gives me a bad feeling about the nature of William’s alleged new secret. Hope … fading … must … stay … hopeful.
Assuming you haven’t abandoned all hope for the series, share your thoughts here on tonight’s episode, and I’ll be back during the week with a review, recap, memorable lines, and five questions.
Brothers & Sisters, ABC, Prior Commitments, commentary
May 11th, 2008 at 5:44 pm
Yes, a little too soap-operish for me but as long as Kevin stays interesting I’ll keep watching. I like the idea of Scotty’s parents being contrasted with the Walker’s acceptance of Kevin. I’m sure I’ll want to give Scotty a big hug after I see those scenes.
At least I’ve read some possibly hopeful plans for Tommy next season. He’s really been in search of a storyline.
Do you think the season will end with a great closing scene like the “jumping in the pool” from Season 1?
May 12th, 2008 at 8:29 am
What happened? We lost broadcast signal during the last five minutes … right as Kevin arrives at Sarah’s to tell her of his plane trip and the photo of the baby.
May 12th, 2008 at 8:36 am
Mark, can you access the episode playbacks on ABC.com? “Prior Commitments” is up now at http://dynamic.abc.go.com/streaming/landing .
I’ll try to put up the dialog from those scenes later in the week for those who can’t get the playback. But briefly for now — Kevin explained what he remembered from the flashback to Sarah. Then we see Kevin and Sarah the next morning saying to Nora, “Mom, we have something to tell you.” But you don’t hear them telling her, just float out the window and up into the hills where Justin joins Rebecca at a scenic overlook. Rebecca tells Justin she can’t do what he asked her to do — go back to the start — and that she thinks maybe that the reason she came to the family in the first place was because she was meant to meet him. They kiss, and both are a little freaked out about it, but happy.
May 12th, 2008 at 9:27 am
my abc affiliate lost power too at the same moment, right as kevin comes back into the house to say something about the photo. unbelievable.
May 12th, 2008 at 9:30 am
Clearly, these affiliates thought you needed to be spared the sight of Justin and Rebecca kissing.