New Episode Sunday: "Double Negative"

Sunday you can all stop hypothesizing about the meaning of Rebecca's eye-color... or can you?

Howdy.

With Season 2 continuing breathlessly toward its haunting, gorgeous and inexorable conclusion -- Sunday night, writers Liz Tigelaar and Josh Reims give us "Double Negative."  In this episode, Ojai Foods is the center of a very personal betrayal within the family, which could threaten the company's future; Robert has a momentous tete-a-tete with the Republican nominee, Boyd Taylor... oh, and Rebecca gets the results of her paternity test. 

The weather here in Burbank is worse than excruciating; it's simply apocalyptic.  I saw an elderly man melting like a popsicle on the sidewalk when I went out to pick up a birthday cake for Monica.  People just watched and did nothing.

And in case anyone cares, Season Three is shaping up to be terrific.

Your pal
Dan

Comments

[Vanessa]

Berlanti--what the hell happened to you since you joined ABC? Are you smoking Shonda Rhimes' crack?

You don't state ON THE RECORD (during interviews over the summer and fall) that Rebecca is a Walker in interviews and then de-Walker her for the shock value.

I am not interested in viewing some quasi-incestuous romance between Rebecca and Justin. By the way, there are MANY routes you could have taken with character. Instead, you limit EVC's screentime to scenes that only involve Justin. What about sibling bonding with the others? Getting to know Nora?

Not only have you destroyed Rebecca, but whatever redeption Holly had is now forever GONE since she looks like a person who not only screws over the Walkers, but her own daughter to hang on to her position as William's mistress.

The only way I will keep watching this show if Rebecca remains family in spirit. If you have her and Justin having sex, I am gone. I am long time and loyal viewer to your previous shows (Jack and Bobby is missed, Everwood's seasons 2-4 can be released on dvd any day now, Dirty Sexy Money is fun, and Eli Stone is all kinds of awesome) but I will NOT stick around watching this show if THIS EFFING crap is what you consider storytelling. I love the cast, I realize the show has had it share of bumps along the way, but this plot twist is too cheap for words.

[Sylviane]

Thank you for another few lovely scenes between Kevin/Scotty. Just when I think that I can't love those two more then I do, it turns out I can..I am glad that Kevin could show his more caring nature, I liked how their discussion went at the end of the eps.
Scotty expressing his wish for his 'wedding' to be special and not based on practical reasons was the only right answer he could give Kevin and I was glad that Kevin was honest enough to tell Scotty that he wasn't sure he'd ever be ready... I just love them and Kevin unbuttoning Scotty's shirt was hot!!! ... (call me shallow)

I was captivated by how the whole Saul/Sarah/Ojai/Graham thing went down. Painful, but oh so good. I just love Rachel Griffiths.

And my compliments to Emily vanCamp. Her acting was excellent!! She really fell to pieces, her anger was raw and genuine. Her frustration at being lied at (again) by her mother was something I could FEEL.

As to Emily being de-Walkered, I can only add my voice to those before me. This storyline sucks and no matter how I try to put a positive spin on it, I just can't.

I never cared much about Rebecca, but to see her degraded to some love-interest of the guy she thought was her brother is just yugh.

And with the potential that Justin has, THIS is the best you can come up with?.. If you wanted drama, you could have him get him a job as a paramedic and work with people who as traumatised by the war as he is and have him deal with that in a different way then by drugs, and perhaps done a far better job then this storyline, that belongs in a soapseries like ATWT, not on B&S.

I am not walking away from B&S. Can't. Matthew Rhys is in it and Matthew always convinced me as an actor and I know HE will continue to convince me as Kevin and I hope that Luke will continue to convince me as Scotty. TWO good actors there, please, don't degrade Scotty to a piece of the furniture like you do Julia.

I know that more people stick to B&S because of their favorite actor or actrice, but it is sad if THAT is a reason for people to tune in and not that the writers have an interesting story to tell.

I can only hope that next week Rebecca will get a phonecall that she's a Walker after all and that there was a screw-up with the test... but I guess that's wishful thinking. And the 'inevitable' chemistry (I am starting to HATE that word) will lead to the 'inevitable' icky-moment where Justin and Rebecca end up 'sucking face'. This unromantic way to desribe a kiss, is befitting for any intimacy that comes between them...

A very disappointed fan.

[steve]

You writers are out of your minds. You ruined such a beautiful show. It's now a silly soap opera....those poor actors...

[Patricia]

I look forward to every Sunday evening. Brothers & Sisters has a fabulous talented cast, good writers and glamorous settings.Everything done in good taste, but why are Kevin's romantic scenes more intense than those of the heterosexual couples? I'm no moralist but then give equal time to Robert and Kitty's or maybe Justin and Rebecca's (now that you're pushing it to that direction!)

[Jim]

I'm willing to let you guys tell this story the way you have decided to tell it. I trust you and your marvelous cast. And, yes, Emily was remarkable last night.

[Carrie]

I love this show more than anything that's been on television in a while, but the thing with Rebecca's paternity is horrible. I don't care how much chemistry Dave and Emily have or don't have, I really don't see how you can change something that has been the core of the show since about episode 5 of season 1. All I can hope is that Rebecca was lying about the test results or she is going to get a call very soon about their being a mix up at the labs. I'll stick with the show because of the fantastic acting, but I won't be enjoying it like I used to.

[Amy Lynne]

I will say that Emily Van Camp is doing great work on this show, especially considering the material she is now being forced to deliver. And on that note....

De-Walkering Rebecca was not a smart move. Now she no longer has any ties to the Walker's beyond being Justin's (probably) love interest. Any scenes between her and the other Walker siblings will feel false at best inappropriate at worst. Sarah and Kitty never spend time with their actual sister-in-law Julia so why would they have any reason to pal around with Rebecca if her only purpose now is to be Justin's girlfriend? This storyline has taken a disappointing direction and I fear that the show will not recover from it.

One last mention, this is the kind of crap that One Tree Hill pulled just because two of their actors started to date in real life. I would expect that sort of thing out of people who write for One Tree Hill but come on, B&S should be better than that.

[will]

Cece: You and I have different tastes in men! I don't want to devour Grahamcracker, so even if Grahamcracker turns out to be bisexual, you get to have him all to your lonesome. Have a feeding frenzy.

Elizabeth wrote (about the reveal that Rebecca isn't a Walker), "This is kind of contradictory since when Kitty met Rebecca for the first time she commented that it startled her that Rebecca looked so much like her (their) father."

Perhaps now we'll get the revised/redacted version in the next episode where Kitty tells Rebecca: "Hmmm. You know... strange I'm thinking of it, but you really don't have the classic Walker jawline after all, Rebecca. I'm just noticing it now. And your eyes are too close together... " This is the type of unsubtle writing that permeates the Ojai storyline and that "instructive" scene at the beach where the boys talked about the inequity of gay partnerships in that jarringly stilted way, in between bouts of swimming & surfing.

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I don't purposely put myself at odds with the majority of posters, but I think the Rebecca-Justin storyline is one to the few, fresh things going. It sure beats the hell out of watching Sarah, Saul & Holly talk & conspire about impending doom for Ojai Foods, which we all know is a fabricated plot device to give Rachel, Ron and Patricia some airtime and plump out the hour-long episode. I don't want to sound like a perverse know-it-all (a fault, I concede), but this storyline shouldn't warrant anyone's serious consideration. When Isaac asked Nora to D.C. and the synopsis for the spisode read about another plot development "rocking the Walker Family to its very foundation", I rolled my eyes. I knew there was no way that Nora was going to move to D.C. away from house & kids UNDER ANY CONDITIONS (the writers never opened the door to that possibility), and I also knew that I'd have to sit through half an hour of scenes of her wringing her hands & "deciding". The writers have never indicated that they are serious enough to construct a plot where Ojai Foods actually FAILS and the Walker Family might actually face economic hardships, and what these consequences might entail, so why get sucked into the action? It cheapens you, in a respect. I want to save my passions for the non-trumped-up, emotionally plausible storyline.

[Miranda]

I'm very sad—I don't know what else to say.

I will still watch this show, and I will still love it. But how I love it will have changed.

The song was "When I Dream of Michaelangelo" by Counting Crows.

[britt]

I hate the fact that you de-walkered Rebecca especially when I was just beginning to like her. If this leads to a Justin/Rebecca romantic relationship I'm done.

[chris]

Almost a day later I am still dumbfounded that writers of a show that is as smart and witty as Brothers and Sisters could write the drivel that I witnessed last night. I found the demolition of a story arc that lasted an entire SEASON-plus completely insulting.

I used to look forward to my Sunday evenings - a glass (or two) of wine and the Walkers.

But now I don't know how I can sit through it. I find the entire de-Walkering of Rebecca a contrivance of the highest order. Or, in simpler terms, utter crap.

I cannot see how anyone could think that this was a good idea. I cannot believe that the writers/producers would be so far removed from their audience to think that their audience would enjoy this.

I am disappointed.

[JoAnne]

Will, I appreciate your knowledge of Art and cinema, but that has nothing to do with a prime time televison show.

A really good intelligent mature show has turned into another trashy soap opera.

I'll probably stick around, cause I am curious as to how these writers are going to get out of this one.

After insulting all of the loyal fans, there may not be a season 4.

[Marion]

Oh please! All this whining and talk of 'back-lash' is ridiculous! It's a freakin' television show. Get a life! If anything, these new storylines add some much-needed drama to a show that was in a re-hashed rut.

[Jeff]

Sorry guys, the shark just jumped, so I'm leaving the Brothers and Sisters beach.

This show was one of my favorites because of the tremendous acting on it, which honestly made up for the consistently sloppy writing. But last night wasn't just sloppy--it was moronic. Good luck getting writing jobs after being associated with this show. --this will be as infamous as Roseanne or Dallas.

By the way--EVC and DA are tremendous actors, but they really don't have much chemistry since they've broken up in real life. When they were dating, yes, they had great on-screen chemistry, but that ship sailed a while ago.

A mistake at the DNA lab is just about the only way to salvage this stinker of a story, but it's too late for this viewer, I'm out. Pity such great actors are saddled with such inept writers.

[Grant]

What were you guys thinking? Honestly, I think we are owed an explanation, I really do. We have been watching since day one, been loyal the whole time, and you have turned what we've been loyal to into a completely different show. The comparisons to OTH and daytime soap operas are apt, and very scary considering what this show used to be. I know you'll try to get this show back on track, and I definitely know the cast will try and make the terrible writing choices work, but you can't put the genie back in the bottle. The magic from this show is gone. We can't trust you anymore. What's going to stop you from rewriting the history of the show on your own whims? Nothing.

And don't get me started on Greg Berlanti. What the hell happened to you, man? What happened to the storytelling, what happened to the genius? Well, I'll tell you what happened, the genius gave us all one last middle finger, because he ain't one anymore. Way to alienate your fanbase, Berlanti.

I just hope at least one of you guys had some credibility and some respect for your own show and writing to speak out against this, because if not, I hope none of you ever get work on a television show ever again. You don't deserve it anymore. I'd thank you for season one, but you destroyed it last night.

[tommy matthews]

Dudes:

I have loved the show - I have friends who come over so we can watch the show - I have to fight people at work who think we are nuts to watch an "evening Soap opera" - but c'mon - - Berlanti - you sounded so good in this month's OUT magazine - but I do have to agree with Amy - just because someone dates in real life does not mean you have to make those two also be together on screen - c'mon - - did you really have to go down that road - aside fro the whole incest issue there is the loss of something by "de-Walkering her" Rebecca. Was this some quick slight of hand because of the strike and lapse in writing - Hey there are those of us who love this - - so do not let us down - -oops we made a mistake and take care of making things OK - - too much talent in one show that will be lost when the conservative right wing starts scremin' - -"NO!!!!!" - somehow they get heard and things disappear.

[Hk]

Did you loose all your talented writers? The writing used to be witty, interesting and endearing. You made me fall in love with all the characters and their stories. Now it sucks.

The whole IVF story-line between kitty and robert is dull and frivolous, we already went there with tom/julia.

Kitty went from being smart, independent, ambitious women to being a child producing homebody. WTF

and now with the whole rebecca/paternity/justin...WHY?

There was absolutely no chemistry between the two, and even if there was david Annabelle is far too weak of an actor to portray such nuances.

I am not saying that this relationship or the subject is inappropriate, its just seems contrived, out of character, and overly dramatic for the character of show.

It seems like some of you writers are obsessed with this whole paternity/infidelity thing. Almost every character in this show has been or experienced infidelity to some extent. It is unnaturally excessive. And now it seems to be playing a bigger and bigger part of the story.

Get over it, there is more to life.

[will]

VIEWER MAIL!

The "Brothers and Sisters" critics RAVE:

"...grievously insulted... shortsighted... cheap... The minute they do anything sexual, I am DONE"......SCOTT

"If I found out my sister wasn't my sister, it would still be gross... The ride was fun while it lasted"......JAKE LIPSON

"Please, don't degrade Scotty to a piece of the furniture like you do Julia"......SYLVIANE

"...dumbfounded"......CHRIS

"...hope all the talented actors are able to find good new roles quickly..."......MATT THE BRUINS FAN

"...there are other pain medications besides oxycontin. I remember rolling my eyes and saying, "oh, brother... are we going to get Scotty hooked on oxy now too?"......CECE

"...the kind of crap that One Tree Hill pulled"......AMY LYNNE

"...blows..."......JIM

"Please tell me somebody is going to be stepping out of the shower ala Bobby Ewing soon and telling us this is all some horrible dream..."......JOSEPHR

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This board has some of the most (honestly) literate posters I think I've seen for a "message board" (I don't post on any others, but have viewed a few). I hope you all stick around to at least see how these magician-writers pull the rabbit out of the hat (if). Retconning Rebecca's history for a momentary fling sounds too easy. There must be some other shoe to drop.

I remember producer Alison Schapker describing this storyline as "walking a tightrope" recently. So far, it's been clodhopping. Maybe the inspiring finesse of the "tightrope" is coming in the last 2 episodes.... So don't bail yet.

[Scott]

There is now indications of a "big kiss" in the finale.

If this refers to Justin/Rebecca, then holy cow...it's worse than I even expected. I don't think I'd ever find a romance between them palatable, but surely it would be beyond obscene if they started making out a mere episode after Justin learns they're not related.

Honestly, if I didn't know any better, I'd say someone behind the scenes is intentionally trying to bury this show. Because I don't think you could devise a more effective strategy to drive off long-time fans if you tried.

I really hope I'm wrong. I hope to God Justin and Rebecca remain platonic so that she can still be part of the family. But after last night, I feel I'm perfectly justified in assuming the worst.

Who makes Kitty's and Rebecca's blue dresses in the scene at the charity event?

[will]

I think a "big kiss" would be palatable. However, penetration is crossing a line.

Unless, of course, Justin mysteriously hooks up with Jason McCallister. This hetero-flexible penetration would be inspired, and there could even be a lovely subplot of sibling rivalry because Kevin is jealous and Justin makes no bones about his new priest boyfriend.

Ok, just lightening the mood here, don't get excited people!. You guys are so serious.

[CeCe]

Can I say I'm feeling better about feeling so awful about the Rebecca storyline, now that I know I'm not alone?

Who has the list of things Rebecca took into the office for the DNA test? I remember a hair brush.

What are the chances she grabbed a hair brush of William Walker's that Holly kept in her drawer?

Or I hope JosephR was right about the Bobby Ewing idea.

Isn't Berlanti playing less of a role now? Or is that not until next year? Am I just wishful thinking? Because I don't want to believe Berlanti would do such a suck-ass thing!

GRRRRR.

But I'm still hoping it will somehow resolve in an understandable, real way. I'm a hopeless romantic, I know.

And will, hon? I'll take Grahamcracker for now, but only until Kevin decides he's bisexual and decides to come play with me. I'll still share though. ;-)

[Scott]

At this point, I would even take a contrived DNA lab screw-up as a means of patching up the gaping hole that has been ripped into the narrative.

Anything to re-Walker Rebecca and make things right again.

[angie]

I can honostly say I love this show. Yeah this past episode wasn't the best but this is the first real bad episode.(in my opinion) For all u that say your done I say stick around for a few more episodes. Obviously these writers are talented when this is the first bad episode out of 2 and a half seasons.

But otherwise I agree. If justin and rebecca start making out .. That is just wrong. Hopefully next week will have a better episode.

[Evan]

Trust. It is a special thing. It has to be earned and then it must be protected.

Given what I have read here and on numerous message board devoted to B&S, I am not alone in feeling that the trust that the creator and writers of the show earned in the first season has been violated.

We trusted you with our televisions each Sunday night to bring us a quality family drama. Last night, you violated
that trust by giving us something worthy of the worst daytime soap opera. You insulted our intelligence and compromised your integrity. You have betrayed your loyal viewers by negating a year's worth of plot.

I hope it was your goal to have the viewers experience the same anger Rebecca is feeling over her own betrayal. Rebecca is fortunate to be a fictional character. Your viewers are very real, intelligent human beings that "will call tripe whenever tripe is served". (Jean Kerr) Eventually, they will refuse to eat tripe any longer.

On a personal level, watching Rebecca and Justin interact last night left me feeling unclean - an unwilling voyeur to
something quasi-incestuous and distasteful. That's the clean version.

For Greg Berlanti: I have admired your work since your early days on Dawson's Creek. I have watched every series you have written and/or produced. I purchased "The Broken Hearts Club" on DVD (a rarity for me). I am a
fan. What the hell were you thinking? You are so much better than this. Shame on you! You CAN do something about this and you SHOULD fix it.

Since I am chastising, I should give some credit where it is due. Emily Van Camp - kudos sweetie. They threw you a skeezy curveball with this story. You acted your heart out in the scene with Ken Olin. Superb job!