No character is irredeemable, apparently (well, maybe Holly)
A funny thing happened while I was watching last week’s Brothers & Sisters episode, “Going Once … Going Twice.”
I started liking Tommy again.
No one is more surprised than me. I’ve found Tommy insufferable since the stupid Lena affair of Season Two, and his manhandling of his siblings’ career prospects so far this season hasn’t bought him any sympathy. Oh, what, now you’re unhappy with Holly? Boo hoo.
But in this latest episode, he was back to his old, good-fitting role from Season One — gruff, wisecracking big brother. In his anecdote about distracting young Kitty by letting her write his term paper, and his snarky asides about Paul, and the way Sarah said, “You are so not as funny as you think you are,” he was an amusing, comfortable presence.
Also faring well in relatively insignificant parts this time around were Rebecca, with her share of bemused asides, and Robert, befuddled in a full-on Walker phone melee. These are characters that sometimes take over the storyline in ways that distract us from the Walkers, but this episode was proof that it doesn’t have to be that way — they’re strong when they’re providing an outside viewpoint on Walker madness.
I continue to feel that the show’s really missing out on some fun by not giving us some prolonged spouse interaction. I can imagine some really funny exchanges between Robert, Julia, Scotty, and Rebecca. Gads, give them a bridge club or something. Give us a show where we see the action from their perspective. Have all the Walkers storm out of a dinner and turn the bottles of wine over to the lookers-on. There’s potential there, don’t you think?
And while the writers are at it, can we keep Tommy bearable like this? He’s never going to be the strongest character (or actor) on the show, but he works great as a funny sibling foil.
November 25th, 2008 at 9:37 am
I totally agree. I liked Tommy’s tough love with Justin in Season 1. Then came Lena and Holly, and Tommy character became unbearable.