(S01E11) While I was watching the scenes with Nora working at Ojai, I kind of hated this show, and hated myself for watching it. Even though I knew that I would be tuning in week after week regardless of whether or not I was reviewing it. But then it got better.So, what do you think? Should Rob Lowe's character, Senator Dreamy McCallister, be excused for voting against gay marriage when the measure wasn't going to pass anyway? Was it okay for him not to make a stand, when he had an education measure he wanted to pass? I'm going to have to say no. He admits that he regrets the vote, but he also wanted Kitty to come and work for him. And he is good at getting what he wants. But low and behold, he has a cute gay brother. Oh please no. Oh please no.
Poor Justin. He may be a major screw-up, but during this episode, he had a great storyline. Apart from the fact that I don't know if I buy all of his siblings coming to visit him in rehab, the scene in which the family falls apart during his family day was precious. They really nailed that scene. If only the entire episode could be that good.
One of the things I love about Sally Field is that she deals really well with whatever they throw at her. And they give her some really obnoxious things to do in this show. Nora can come across like a real flake. But that is one of the things I also love about Nora: she reminds me of my mother. Oh boy, that part in rehab in which she was assuring Justin that what he had done was okay, whatever it was, and when she was trying to orchestrate where everybody sat, did that remind everybody of their mother, or just me?
Patricia Wettig continues to impress me. Is Holly a complete passive/aggressive wench or is she really a genuinely okay person? Apart from the long-term affair with a married man who had a family... I loved the scene between Holly and Nora when Holly says, "Maybe we'll someday we'll be friends," and Nora fixes her with a very un-Nora look and says, "Maybe. But not today." The way their relationship plays is one of the most realistic parts of the show (which again leads me to wonder whether there are different writers for different parts of the show), and I love the decency and the humanity with which they deal with each other. And yes, even the forgiveness.
Is Kevin's entire being wrapped up in his sexual orientation? I have lots of gay friends and they don't talk about being gay nearly as much as Kevin does. Perhaps Kevin's discussions are within the context of his sister working for a senator, but two of my dear friends are Republicans, regardless of the party's position on gay marriage. Kevin is being portrayed as a cliche and I think he needs a real storyline (see above plea for it not to be that he gets involved with the Senator's brother). For that matter, so does Thomas. Is he ever going to have mixed feelings about which one of his brothers has fathered his child? Because you know it's going to happen.
Sarah is still pretty much playing one note: I think she needs some really good therapy. And she needs to leave her husband for the guy she really loves, because it seems like she hates her husband and by extension, everyone else.
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Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)
1-08-2007 @ 12:10PM
innamorata said...
"I think she needs some really good therapy. And she needs to leave her husband for the guy she really loves, because it seems like she hates her husband and by extension, everyone else."
Considering the story of R.G.'s character in Six Feet Under this is pretty ironic. Heh.
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1-08-2007 @ 1:52AM
Scott said...
Kevin is one of the most complex, interesting gay characters ever on network television--loyal son, hardworking lawyer, quick-witted, and, yes, a gay man who struggles with issues of love. In my view, he is nowhere near close to a cliche.
For a show steeped heavily in politics, I would have found it irresponsible B&S to overlook Kevin's investment in his sister's job offer with McCallister. Same-sex marriage is indeed a very important and personal issue for many gay people. Given this, I was extremely glad to see the writers tackle the issue vis a vis Kevin and Kitty's argument. Personally, if my sister was fielding a similar offer, I would have reacted the exact same way as Kevin.
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1-08-2007 @ 8:22AM
courtney said...
Ugh. They really are having to stretch a lot with their storylines - I'm not sure where they are conjuring up their version of a republican congressman who only voted against the bill to get another bill through but would have voted in favor if he thought it would pass? Name a republican who has recently done so?
I think the storyline here would be a lot more credible if they actually had a true representation of the politician...have him be a true conservative - why pussyfoot around? My guess is that probably, he would wind up being completely unlikeable so they are giving us a smurf version.
And I find the whole thing with Holly inserting herself aggressively into the company revolting. For so many reasons - it is degrading to her and to the family - just too silly - but, I guess that is television.
Sure wish ABC had picked up Everwood - loved the characters and the storylines - some were goofy but much of it at least had a tinge of reality without all the incessant fighting and whining this tiresome bunch does.
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1-08-2007 @ 10:34AM
Jimmy said...
I continue to enjoy this show. It's far from perfect, but it's very watchable and I think this large cast works quite well together. I have to agree with poster Scott above, I don't think Kevin is a clice. I think he's a gay man still trying to find a way to be proudly gay in a country that doesn't particular support that, and sometimes hot-button issues set him off. To me that seems very real. Granted, I have few gay acquaintences, but I think if you're a proudly gay person and aren't upset at the idea of your sister working for a politician who would seek to keep you, or force you to be, a second-class citizen then there is something wrong with you. Any gay person seeking equality should be angered at that notion -- pround Republican or otherwise.
I loved the therapy scenes, as well. It was probably the most real, most funny part of the show. This is an interesting family dynamic with a variety of feelings and opinions. While it was nice to see Justin get some sort of real storyline, I sometimes wish they would just ship him off to Iraq and immediately kill him. Sorry if that sounds bad, but the character just gets on my nerves most of the time.
As for McCallister voting for a gay marriage ban to asuage the right wing of his party and to help get a bill passed, that sounds totally realistic to me. It happens all the time. Politicians have to make choices that best help their constituents and supporting one bill in order to get support for another is nothing new. The thing about portrayals of Republicans in Hollywood is that they are often extremes. You either get the wacko right wingers or you get yhe extreme moderates like the McCallister character who supports gay rights, is probably pro-choice, and while he's an obvious gun-lover he also supports some gun control for hand guns. Even on a show like 24, whose creators and producers are proud and vocal Republicans, you get Democrats like Palmer who are war-hawks and supporters of torture for terrorists, while the Republican president (Logan) turned out to be a traitor. Realistic politicians are rarely portrayed on television because they are too boring.
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1-08-2007 @ 4:37PM
TomB said...
One of the reasons that I like B&S, and there are many of them, is because of the character Kevin. Just a successful man in a big supportive family that happens to be gay. But it seems like they're pushing the issue lately. He needs a solid storyline that has nothing to do with his sexuality. The fact that Lowe's character has a gay brother really makes me nervous. OF COURSE they'll get together. Because all gay men who meet always get together, right? I'd be great if they met and didn't hit it off. Of course, that will never happen.
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1-08-2007 @ 6:15PM
Todd said...
I think if they want to create an actual Repbulican on a TV show, they should make them Republican - not a liberal dressed as right-wing. It would make it a little more two-sided if I believed what Kitty and the Senate considered themselves. And this is coming from a Democrat. As for Sarah, who are you implying she is really in love with?
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1-08-2007 @ 9:12PM
bamberluvr said...
If the writers had made Rob Lowe's character an arch conservative, he would have come off as a Snidely Whiplash (or maybe Tom DeLay) - it would have been a charicature. Instead, we get a character that basically sells his soul to the Devil (well, really his brother) in order to save his own ass. We live in sad times when voting your conscience can get you ousted by the Religious Right, so Lowe's character is highly nuanced.
As for Kevin, as a gay man, myself, I know I would have told my sister off as he did. Although Kevin struggles with who he is, he knows what is right and wrong and wants to be heard. He lives in a family that accepts him, but he lives in a world in which some do not. I completely understand him. Imagine how conflicted he is - a lawyer who must stand up for the rights of his clients, yet he lives in a country that strips him of some very basic rights. He is an unapologetic character and lightyears beyond the slapstick characters of Will & Grace.
And Sally Field - gotta love her. Nora is a complete ditz - she'd have to be blind to her husband's long-term mistress. It's nice to see Sally Field acting again. I like her, I really like her! LOL
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