Retcon Patrol: 1-01 “Patriarchy” Part 1
Today begins what I hope will be a summer-long journey through the first season of Brothers & Sisters, from our perspective here at the end of Season Two. I’ll be looking for contradictions between where the Walkers were then and where they’re at now, and also commenting on how the episodes look in retrospect. I’ll time my observations to the playback of the DVD, for those who want to view along. Share your own reflections in the comments.
And now, Part 1 of Episode 1, “Patriarchy.”
0:07
So weird that we’re starting with an establishing shot of New York and a focus on Kitty. The show that sort of started with her at the center has spun out in so many directions. They’ve got like a Sex and the City vibe going on here for a show that’s nothing like that at all.
0:54
Less than a minute in, and we already have the birth of what will be a running joke: Kitty can’t cook. Not for nothing did she marry a guy with his own chef.
1:14
Watching this episode now, there are two characters who seem a little off to me, and one of them is Kevin. Maybe it’s just that Matthew Rhys needs a haircut.
3:06
I’m loving the fact that the family phone chain was at work even when Kitty was all the way in New York. “I’m sorry. It’s my family.” They should embroider that on a pillow.
4:50
Boy, the dialog’s really working hard to exposit in this opening, isn’t it? We’ve learned already that Kitty’s conservative, Sarah’s in marriage counseling, Kevin’s gay, Justin’s an addict and a war vet, and Tommy’s an asshat. Also, everybody’s afraid of Mom.
5:22
Gads! It honestly shocked me when William came waltzing down the stairs. I’m so accustomed to that “enter the house and look at pictures and think sadly of Dad while melancholy music plays” scene as being post-death.
6:32
Julia and Tommy come in with two bottles of wine. Foreshadowing that they’ll soon own a vineyard?
6:48
Tommy says “The lefties are starting!” We sort of lost track of him being the conservative brother, haven’t we? And if William and Tommy are both Republicans, why was it such a big deal for Kitty to be? Don’t you have to be the only one to be the black sheep?
6:58
Julia actually talks about a job! Teaching first grade! And has a conversation with her father-in-law! Though not, of course, a conversation we actually get to hear.
7:06
Can I just say, current plot weirdness aside, I am very happy for Dave Annable that he no longer has to play High Justin, ’cause man, that’s just goofy. You kind of have to love the overwhelming inappropriateness of Fawn, though. “They dropped the charges.”
7:27
Do you believe for one minute that a family dinner at the Walkers involves storebought pizza? Isn’t that the sort of thing that sends Kevin and Sarah into a tizzy in “Separation Anxiety”?
7:51
Dad’s still alive, and Tommy’s already auditioning for the role of Justin’s hypercritical father figure.
8:12
Of course, William quickly demonstrates that Tommy has a long way to go to be as horrible to Justin as he is. No wonder this kid is so screwed up.
9:11
Poor Sarah. She thought that when she quit her old job, she’d make up in time what she lost in money, but it’s not working out that way. Aw, honey, you have no idea how bad that career move was.
9:22
“Plus, it’s not easy having these two parents who have this absurd, iconic romance.” Well, absurd, anyway.
10:41
Nora’s the other character who just seems off in this early episode, like Sally Field imitating Betty Buckley. I’m glad they warmed Nora up and made her less scary. Watching her here, you can kinda see why William might have wanted to get out of the house now and then.
11:24
William takes a mystery phone call. Presumably Holly. Or maybe one of the many other mistresses we may come to know over the next however many seasons.
Photo by Terri Mauro
Brothers and Sisters, ABC, Patriarchy
May 27th, 2008 at 11:57 am
Hmmm, don’t know if I’ll watch along but I appreciate the observations. I hope to rewatch Season 1 this summer but I’ll probably ff through some of the storylines that I don’t care to rewatch, like Kitty’s talk show (that was rather strident).
We know the show had a lot of last minute retooling and a regime change. Also, with a large cast it takes time to discover which actors work best together.
Yes, the “iconic marriage” bit seems like a cruel joke now. I also don’t miss “high Justin”. And what is with the “dumb blondes” from Fawn to Nikki to Lena.
William really was a tool. And I’m glad that they made Nora more multi-dimensional.
May 27th, 2008 at 5:07 pm
I’m so glad you’re doing this. I hope the show runners and writers read your blog.
May 27th, 2008 at 9:24 pm
Great idea to do this. It’s interesting to examine the past in light of what we know now.
It seems all the characters have been fleshed out a lot more since the first few episodes.
Yep, don’t miss hyper-reactive Justin or scary Nora at all. Never really took to William’s character with his obvious favouritism directed to a few of his children, and his philandering and embezzling ways. You can get a sense of what it was like to grow up in the Walker household and how each of the children have their own set of insecurities.
August 21st, 2008 at 3:30 am
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