Brothers & Sisters - Almost Normal - Recap

(Here's Desi's recap of tonight's episode of Brothers & Sisters "Almost Normal" ... woohoo!)

Brothers & Sisters has been a Sunday night mainstay for me since it's premiere when I was a college sophomore. It's intricate storylines and developed characters have provided for three full episodes of great television so far, and if tonight's episode is an indicator of the remainder of the season, they're in for season four.

Last week, we found out that Kitty has lymphoma. Her oncologist (the incomparable Amy Aquino, coming from years of medical acting on ER) begins this week by showing her MRI images of the cancer's progression to lymph nodes in her stomach and lungs. Dr. Avadon tells Kitty (along with Nora and Robert, who have accompanied her to the appointment) that it's stage 3. She presents the trio with a few treatment options to mull over.

We then cut to Kevin, on the phone taking care of campaign business, and Scotty, who is playing the sounds of a baby screaming to prove a point. Kevin has been trying to get him to agree to surrogacy for a few months, while Scotty argues that they aren't ready. These two have always been my favorite pair because their relationship feels so real.

At the winery, Saul and Holly are still mulling over what to do with the gallons upon gallons they have that isn't good enough to be branded under the Walker Landing line. Holly's daughter Rebecca had previously suggested a brand of "value wines," selling them at a significantly cheaper price, but Saul is still unsure.

Iraqi war veteran Justin has returned to college as a med student, and on his first day of anatomy, is paired with a sixteen-year-old genius. "Don't call me Doogie," the kid warns him. Despite his age, he is extremely smart and has clinical experience vs. Justin's battlefield knowledge as an Army medic. Maybe he deserves the Dr. Howser jokes.

Throughout the episode, Kitty obsesses about the wedding, helping to pick out the dress (and getting mildly drunk in the process) and trying to convince the pair to get married at the zoo. Nora and Robert's fixation on Kitty's cancer is the mirror, as both of them try to convince her to pursue different treatment options. No one else in the family knows about the lymphoma until Kevin finds out by way of another one of Robert's employees. This scene was phenomenal, and the acting between these two is Emmy-worthy. "I can keep it a secret," Kevin says. I think he's forgetting that he's a Walker and that they couldn't keep a world war a secret.

Kitty realizes she can't keep hiding it, so she has Nora coordinate one of her family dinners. As she tries to tell the family, Kevin and Saul (having been told by Nora) start to cry, and the whole family joins them before the turkey meatloaf is even served. During dinner, in true Walker fashion, a fight breaks out in the kitchen about what treatment Kitty should choose. Displeased with her husband and mother leading such a discussion and exhausted from breaking the news, she has Robert take her home.

Kitty's confession causes a series of shockwaves through the family. Rebecca wants to put off the wedding until it can be a a real celebration, and Scotty wants to have a baby, realizing there will never be a "right time." She is able to talk Rebecca into not putting off the wedding and is asked to be the Matron of Honor.

Again at Ojai, Holly has arranged for a lunch with a potential investor who previously knew William. One of the great things about this show is that it was based on a father's mistakes, and they've continued his legacy by introducing mistakes into the storyline. Saul goes to the lunch and the guy offers to invest in the winery.

Kitty decides to stay in California for treatment rather than go to Boston for the clinical trial Robert had lined up. It will be easier for her to be around the family so they can help take care of baby Evan. Nora comes knocking on her door, leftover turkey meatloaf in hand, followed by Saul and Kevin and Scotty. The family sits down to have dinner together, and the episode closes with a doorbell ring. When Kitty gets up to answer it, her sister Sarah (who had been away on business in France) stands at the door, clueless of Kitty's illness.

I really think this is one of the most well-written and well-developed shows on television and nothing I can say can adequately make up for watching it. So next Sunday at 10, watch ABC (and even if you hate the show, Giles Marini is guest starring. You know you miss seeing his face every week.)

Want to hear something awesome? Listen to Live Like We're Dying by Kris Allen.