Brothers & Sisters: Season One

The time honored institution of family has been the source of many plots for film and television. After all it is something we all share and even in real life a constant source of comedy, drama and tragedy. One of the latest incarnations of the television family drama is ABC’s ‘Brothers and Sisters’. This is another weekly look at yet another dysfunctional family airing all their dirty laundry for the entertainment of the audience. The series has potential that will take at least another season to fulfill. In this first season it is a textbook case of a drama trying to find its place in the homes of the audience. ABC has recognized this potential by giving the series one of the choicest time slots, after ‘Desperate Housewives’. They also made some drastic changes in the basic story line and casting after the purchase of the pilot; something that is extremely rare. During this first season there is too much of a ‘been there done that’ feel. There are the stereotypical required characters; gay brother, war veteran brother, marriage on the rocks sister, illegitimate half sibling and ultra conservative sister. What this show does have working for it is a very good cast, promising writing and splendid direction. Through out the first season the series moves in the right direction but it has some way to go yet. While so many quality series get cancelled before their time it is reassuring that a series with potential like this is being given a chance to find its tempo and build an audience. The release of this season box set on DVD should go a long way to help people see just how this series is progressing.

The first episode has the difficult task of introducing a rather large ensemble cast and provides the beginnings of the drama that the rest of the season will have to resolve. Kitty Walker (Calista Flockhart) is a right wing pundit for a radio show. When she is offered a co-host job in television she has to move back to Los Angels and initially live with her parents. Head of the family and its business, Ojai Food, is William Walker (Tom Skerritt). His wife on many years, Nora (Sally Field), has kept the home fires burning and raised their five children, now all adults. The eldest is Sarah (Rachel Griffiths) is is the next in line to be in charger of the business. She is married to Joe Whedon (John Pyper-Ferguson) but they are having some problems in their relationship. Next in age is Kitty followed by Tommy (Balthazar Getty) who is also involved in the business. Then there is Kevin (Matthew Rhys) who is a lawyer and openly gay. Last there is Justin (Dave Annable) a veteran of Afghanistan and a drug addict. Kitty’s public support of the war and the administration was the cause of a long rift between her and her parents.

As the first season starts Kitty has come back home. She is seriously thinking of taking the television job but her boyfriend, Jonathan Sellers (Matthew Settlers) proposes by the catch is he wants her to move back to New York. Sarah has discovered that the business is in financial trouble and some of the accounts are locked from her. She also sees her father having an argument with a woman, Holly Harper (Patricia Wettig). She wonders why her father has kept all this from her. She gets her uncle Saul Holden (Ron Rifkin), who handles most of the accounts to unlock the files for her. It turns out that dad has been dipping into the company pension fund. After a birthday celebration for Kitty William falls ill and dies of a heart attack. It turns out that dear dad had a love child with Holly, Rebecca (Emily VanCamp). I guess the extra money came in handy with a second family to support. Most of us have a difficult enough time with only one. The rest of the season centers on how the family has to deal with the uncovered mysteries and cope with each other.

This series borders on the verge of being a soap opera but manages to pull back to a more serious dramatic show. The main difference is the plot lines are believable, not overly contrived as with the typical soap. The do try to cram too many sub plots into the mix for a single season. The whole line Kitty’s right wing politics being held responsible for her younger brother going to war is too out there but thankfully not given too much screen time. There is a lot of a real family depicted here. The allegiances have been drawn long ago. In the will Kitty is placed as the conservator for a trust fund from druggie brother Justine. She has a soft spot for him; he is the baby of the family, and deep inside feels a little responsible for his plight. Having the mother and daughter who are at constant odds is an old ploy but works here due in large part to the talent of the actresses involved. That same observation goes with a lot of what is done here. The stories are elevated by their presentation. Without this cast there would be little hope for the series. The potential of the show draws you in and will keep you vested in the characters.

Speaking of the cast this one is excellent and well matched. It represents some of the finest actors on the scene today. Tom Skerritt may have a one episode role here but he sets the stage well for what is to follow. Instead of having the dead father only remembered by his family Skerritt’s performance shows a man who loved his family but succumbed to very human flaws and temptations. He gives the whole series credibility. Sally Field played Skerritt’s wife in ‘Steel Magnolias’ and once again plays a strong, opinionated woman forced to deal with grief. Like many of my age I had a big crush on her during her ‘Gidget’ days. Now she is one of the most powerful and emotional actresses any project could hope for. She gives realism to her character of a woman trying to piece her life back together after everything she held as constant has fallen away. Calista Flockhart has matured since her wacky role as Allie McBeal and demonstrates that she can play straight drama. She portrays Kitty as Ann Colture light, a young right wing pundit but with a actual heart and capable of compassion. Flockhart makes Kitty into more than her political views. She loves her family even if she can’t agree with their politics. One of the best performances is given by Rachel Griffiths, especially in the early episodes. She is a woman who is at the very edge of the cliff. Her marriage is on the brink, she gets along better with a male friend than her own husband. She has inherited a company about to go under with the potential of criminal charges do to her father’s indiscretions. She can’t even get a grass skirt for her daughter’s recital.

While this series is not yet as strong as some of the other ABC/Disney blockbusters it is moving up. It also gets the same stellar DVD release as its more ratings heavy siblings. The video is a bright anamorphic 1.78:1 transfer. The colors are well done and realistic. The Dolby 5.1 audio is naturally light on the sub woofer use but has a great channel separation and full sound stage. The extras include cast commentary; it would have been nice if more episodes had this. The male stars give a behind the scenes look in a nice little featurette. There is also ‘Meet the Olins’ which deals with the real family that inspired this series. Add to this some bloopers and deleted scenes and you have an entertaining package. Give this one a chance. You will become a fan quickly and look forward to season two.

Posted 09/06/07