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Scandalized
Original Air Date: Jan 2 , 2011
Karen Belgrad- Associate Staff Writer
Karenbelgrad
@thetwocentscorp.com
I’ve recently been watching first season reruns of Brothers & Sisters on Reelzchannel. It took me a while to realize what was different about the show and I finally realized what had changed. The storylines are so … separate nowadays. Between Ojai Foods and politics, the siblings used to overlap and interact with each other, not just react to life events.
That’s not to say that current story lines are bad, but I wish they intertwined more. Kevin and Scotty are looking to adopt. Why isn’t Kitty, who adopted Evan (the missing child) more involved in helping them? Justin’s working as a paramedic and Nora isn’t calling him every five minutes to make sure he’s safe? And where was Sarah this entire hour!?! Speaking of this hour, let’s recap and comment on the Walker shenanigans.
Kitty and Seth are viral. No, they haven’t caught a cold; they’ve become the newest blog sensation. The former politico and dean’s son are a media frenzy as their relationship becomes gossip fodder across the internet. They both dodge calls from their friends and family (including a snarky Kevin), but Kitty realizes she has to face the music with Seth’s mom, her boss.
Shockingly, Dean Whitley isn’t bothered by her son dating Kitty. She’s more confused by what Kitty might see in her son. It seems mom thinks her son is a bit of slacker, with still being in grad school and his writing. She actually thinks Kitty can do better and wonders what the long term attraction could be. Kitty defends the relationship, but seems to be slightly distressed by her comments.
Justin is working hard at his new paramedic job, taking on extra shifts and putting in a ton of hours to prove himself to, well, himself. He’s flirting with Nurse Annie and being mildly hazed by his new partner, Dan. With his hectic hours, he and Annie aren’t finding much time to actually date, so she goes along on a ride-a-long with him in his ambulance. Justin proves his medical merit by reinflating the lung of a car crash victim and Annie seems impressed. They spend their day off together and agree they are in a relationship. Maybe it’s the simplicity of the storyline, but I’m just not feeling the interest in these two. I know they’re married in real life, so they have a cute chemistry, but they need a story line punch to invest me. Plus, as a nurse, would Annie really be that wowed by Justin’s medical abilities? Has she probably seen it all before?
Kevin and Scotty are working on the adoption/foster parent process. At a preparation class, they role play what would happen if they had to return a child to the birth parents (allowable within 60 days under California law). Scotty names the doll Vinnie (after watching a Jersey Shore marathon- eee gads!) and Kevin is prepared to be stoic about the whole process, but is overcome by the reality of the Situation (pun intended!). Their case worker invites them to an adoption fair to meet children in needs of home. Scotty is nervous, but Kevin is aghast at the thought of trying to “pick” a child.
Nora is still dating Karl, but he’s clearly not thrilled with the package deal that is her family. The two make a flirty dinner date, but he’s distressed to later realize that it will also include Kitty/Seth and Kevin/Scotty. The six have an awkward dinner, with Kitty being simultaneously dismissive and overprotective of Seth, Kitty and Kevin sniping at each other, and Nora trying to keep the peace (and serve pie). Karl eventually unloads that it all feels like group therapy and he’s not into their special brand of oversharing. He and Nora snap at each other and then an uncomfortable Karl leaves.
Seth realizes that Kitty has actual taken to heart some of what his mother said and probes her to actually read some of his writings. She realizes the short story he gave her is actually a thinly veiled tale of their relationship. She tells him she loves it and kisses him, in public, with no care about who sees them.
Karl calls in to Nora’s radio show to talk about their relationship problems. He’s apologetic, but admits that he thinks her family overshares with no regards to comfort of guests (duh!). Sensing that he won’t be able or open to adjusting, Nora says they aren’t a good match and breaks up with him.
Kevin and Scotty nervously attend the adoption fair. They’re flummoxed as to how to approach the children, when a young girl, Olivia, approaches them and offers to show them around and introduce them to kids. At the end of the day, they’re supposed to write down their picks and if the same kids pick them, the process will begin. Olivia comes up and hugs them goodbye and Scotty and Kevin realize she just chose them (sob!).
And with that the Walkers are back for 2011! It was an enjoyable episode overall, but Sara’s lack of presence and Justin’s lack of interaction were noticed. The best dynamic of the family is how they handle each other and here’s hoping there’s more of it in this new year!
So there’s My TwoCents! What were your TwoCents about this hour? Share your feedback, thoughts, and commentary below!
TheTwoCents 
Sorry it took so long to respond to this recap. I found myself highly moved by the Adoption Fair sequences in the episode & had a hard time thinking of how I want to phrase what I wanted to say.
Although the outcome was kind of predictable, the delivery was emotional.
As a gay person in my early 40’s, when I came out to the people that raised me, I was essentially told to make it on my own, that I was not welcome. Like many other gays and lesbians, I found myself referring to the loved ones from my GLTB community as my “family” and when I heard Kevin say “I think she chose us” I melted. It was a beautiful scene.
Many of us that are ostracized by our blood families, choose to call those who finally embrace us as our “family.” My grandma, who was one of the few family members to accept me, called this a “family by choice”
I think what I love most about B&S is that, unlike many other shows, Kevin and Scotty’s sexuality is part of them, but it doesn’t define them. Their story lines have truly been similar to that of the other couples on the show… infidelity, class issues, having a baby are all issues other Walkers have faced as well. Scotty and Kevin may be a gay couple, but in Walker-land, they’re just “a couple.” We need more of that on TV.
I was right there with Kevin’s reaction to the adoption fair. How could you just “pick?” I also thought it was handled beautifully and the little girl was so sweet when she hugged them goodbye. For once on this show, I hope there is a happy ending.
I’m glad Nora broke up with Karl. I thought at first it was going to be a fun relationship, but he was too much of a stick in the mud, and Nora wasn’t able to truly be herself around him.
Karenbelgrad imho in the past couple of seasons they’ve gone beyond being more than about their sexuality to being asexual. They haven’t even kissed this season. I know Scotty cheated but it didn’t take long for them to be fine again. There has been a real double standard with their level of affection from the beginning but it really became apparent last season last year and is even worse this year.