By Jennifer Larson

After finding out that Justin’s (Dave Annable) unit got caught in the middle of sniper fire in last week’s episode, Kevin (Mathew Rhys), Kitty (Calista Flockhart) and Nora (Sally Field) are beside themselves when they find out their boy is coming home. But after an experience like that, how can anybody return as the same person they were when they left? Considering that the last time Justin returned from Iraq he was hooked on drugs, I shudder to think what demons he brought back with him this time. This is the type of storyline that truly lets Hollywood shine. The horrors of war, and what the men and women who are fighting have to go through are some of the most relevant topics of the day. Having a hit show like BROTHERS AND SISTERS shine a light on the reality of those horrors is a good thing, even if it isn’t always comfortable or fun to watch. Too often all we see are the happy homecomings, we don’t have to watch the struggle most of the men and women go through while trying to assimilate back into our society. But with episodes like this one, we get a little taste of how difficult it must be.

Meanwhile, Tommy (Balthazar Getty) is going through some difficulties of his own. Namely struggling to meet the demands of being a good father, and considering the devastation he felt when he found out his own father wasn’t the man he thought he was, it is especially hard. But then again, what parent doesn’t question their abilities? I mean let’s be honest, it takes at least two months just to figure out how to change a diaper properly. Every parent I know is sure they’ve done something to scar their child for life, on a daily basis. But Tommy is also dealing with the death of his daughter’s twin brother, so there is some extra-added pressure. Making things more difficult is the fact that Tommy’s wife is going through some major depression, and can you blame her? The poor woman went into extremely early labor, ended up losing one child and has to deal with being smothered by a family that doesn’t know how to back off, especially when it concerns somebody they love. That’s just one of the perks/problems of being part of the Walker clan.


Word spreads fast on the Walker pipeline, so when news of Justin’s homecoming arrives, it doesn’t take long for the whole family to be filled in. Thank God for cell phones, they seem to be the connective tissue that binds this family – and their personal information – together. In a family that big, it should be surprising that it takes no longer than half a day to filter information around, but nothing in this family surprises me much anymore. But folks, it isn’t just the cell phone that spreads juicy gossip about this family. Now – thanks to Kitty’s engagement to presidential hopeful Robert McCallister (Rob Lowe) – the political pundits are having a go at them as well. Can you imagine hearing all the skeletons in your closet being thrown out for the public to chomp their teeth on … awkward. But it can be extremely painful too, especially if you are going through a devastating divorce like Sarah (Rachel Griffiths) is. Given all that, you can’t blame Kitty, Kevin and Nora for calling in to the radio program that is trashing their family and making sure their two cents are put in. I say good for them, of course Robert and his aids aren’t as happy for them, but that’s politics for you.

I wonder how the political experts are going to deal with things when uncle Saul (Ron Rifkin) comes out of the closet? Ok so it’s not official, but come on, we all saw the way he longingly looked at his long-lost friend last week. At least the fact that he’s been a life-long bachelor means that he hasn’t had to go through a gut-wrenching divorce. That’s really the best way to describe what is going on with Sarah, after she was advised by her soon to be ex that he didn’t want to get back together and oh yeah, he’s seeing his first ex-wife again, ouch! Top that off with the fact that Sarah’s newfound stepsister, Rebecca (Emily VanCamp), has chosen to finally admit her part in the kiss that shattered her marriage, and you can see why she is having a bad day. Wow, kind of makes you appreciate your own family. The worst thing my sister ever did was borrowing my clothes without asking. That reminds me, she still has my favorite shirt, but back to the Walkers.


Now that Justin’s home, life should be one big celebration. While the family is thrilled to see him, they are concerned that he is refusing to take his pain meds; you know the whole drug addiction thing. That’s very admirable and very stupid. The guy got shot in the knee; I cry like a baby when I tap my knee against the footboard on my bed. Come on, you know how bad that hurts. But if anybody can get through that kind of pain, a returning soldier from Iraq can. Besides, he has his whole crazy family to take his pain out on, after all, that’s what they are there for … right?