This Sunday- Episode 403 "Almost Normal"

Written by Jennifer Levin & Sherri Cooper-Landsman

Directed by Michael Schultz

Robert and Nora struggle to accept Kitty's cancer and to come to an agreement on the best treatment.  Meanwhile, Kitty realizes she must face the unavoidable and tell the entire family. Justin has his first day of Gross Anatomy and can't help feeling intimidated by his lab partner. Saul and Holly attend a wine auction, where they run into someone from Saul and William's past. 

Hope you enjoy the episode.  Have lots of Kleenex on hand.  Especially for the scene with Kitty and Kevin.  It gets me every time.  Speaking of Kevin, tomorrow we start filming Episode 409, which will be directed by our very own Matthew Rhys.  In fact, right now Matthew is in the room next door to me for a Tone Meeting, where the director, writers, and Executive Producers go through the script scene by scene and discuss the character arcs, the tone, and what everyone hopes to capture.  We're all excited for Matthew's directorial debut!  Hope you guys are too.  Maybe we can do an interview with him closer to the air date...

Best,

Cole

Comments

[Charlie]

Oh my Matt! I am so excited! I can't wait to see your episode that you directed! That must feel awesome! To direct a episode of a hit show. Rock on!

P.S. Oh my dear on the kleenex. My two favorite characters...Oi vay.

[Sylviane]

I'm curious as to how Matthew will do as a director, and on how much freedom he has to put his own stamp on the episode.

I'm sure that Matthew will be great in the next episode, he always is.

[Lin]

This episode better have more Kevin & Scotty interactions, as well as future episodes. The other walker drama isn't as good as Kevin & Scotty.

Writers, read the fan reviews out there and the discontent with absurd story lines - the mistress and her child is now running ojai; ryan is back for another shady and unbelievable plot; justin and rebecca are too annoying to be real; tommy who is much needed is still away; sarah who is a gem and the show's savior need to come back from maternity leave; saul needs better character development; nora needs her own personal drama.

someone kick holly, rebecca and ryan off the show please!!!

[Michela]

I'm so happy for Matthew's debut as director... and I hope in more Kevin&Scotty storyline... I love them, especially Luke who is always fantastic!

Michela
webmaster of LukeMacfarlane.tk

[maria]

I am so excited Cole.... thanks.... thanks to the magnificent writers for each episode...and the cast & producers... I love B&S... hope Robert will be there for Kitty... Nora & the rest of the Walker clan is already a given...

[Tori]

I'm sure Matthew will excel as a director!

[will]

I can't believe we're getting a cancer storyline treated with all the sanctity and reverence and manufactured humility as an after-school special or "Movie of the Week".

Jesus. So much overwrought pathos. If "Brothers and Sisters" past is prologue, I can already picture the scenes.

I tell you what. Let's lighten the mood and turn it all into a comic vaudeville. We can create a "Monster Phone Tree" out of Kitty's revelations... Norah gets on the phone and tells Sarah while cooking in the kitchen... a call which is interrupted by Kevin, who swiftly places Sarah on hold to call Saul... all the while, jokes and quips are flying in rapidfire succession.

Christ, lighten it up! Wallowing in serious topics like cancer in a television-surface-tear-jerking way is demoralizing. It's perverse. Bring some levity and humor and perspective into the picture. Don't treat it as a potential Emmy moment for the actors.

[hottie]

totally cant wait

[l5l5l5l]

oooooooooooohhhhhhhhhh this episode looks mega good :)

[S.L.]

"Maybe we can do an interview with him closer to the air date..."

Maybe? MAYBE? Oh Cole, don't tease us so

Can't wait for his episode! And this next one looks promising too.

[AtelierGal]

Saw a clip of this episode. Rebecca trying on bridal dresses, accompanied by Kitty. Not too long ago, it was Kitty looking at dresses with Rebecca & Sarah in tow.

Can't wait to see Matt in action. You guys must do a special behind-the-scenes of him directing Sally & co. *Squeaks*

[Jenny]

Can't wait to see Episode 409. Congratulations to Matthew Rhys!
I hope this episode have more Kevin & Scotty interactions too.

[Yrsa]

I can't even begin to describe how happy I am that Brothers & Sisters is back on the air! And you're off for a good start :)

oh and I can't wait for the episode directed by Matthew. He's an amazing actor, and I hope he's just as good at directing!

[Spanishkevinandscottyfan]

Can´t wait to see the episode directed by Matthew!!

[AtelierGal]

The "Baby Rehearsal" was funny, seeing Kevin panicked even before a real baby arrived, bravo to Scotty!

Hope to see more of Travis.

Denzel was brilliant! I half-expected Justin to run out of the cadaver room esp. since their cadaver died from cancer. Instead it was Denzel, the very academic student who have never been in the 'real world.'

Also, another typical Walker moment arguing in the kitchen. I almost want to throw garlic bread & meatloaf at them to lighten the mood (cue: Nora/Holly catfight)

Really love seeing the ultra-sensitive side of Kevin. That "Kitty, its me, your little brother" line was heart-wrenching.

But what had me reaching for a tissue was the appearance of Sarah.

[will]

I am liking this episode (it's still on as I type).

Kind of touching scene between Kevin and Scotty in bed. But one says "I love you" -- and the other says "I love you, too" -- and the moment almost screams for a kiss or a hug or some type of physical augmentation. You physically FEEL the need, a magnetic pull, for a greater intimacy after that.

Yet, the scene simply cuts away.

Don't tell me you're not being influenced by sponsors or corporate management or SOMETHING. Justin and Rebecca roll around in bed superfluously, at the drop of a hat. It's really jarring that they can be so intimate with each other (which comes off as sort of fake since Dave and Emily don't quite have the chemistry spark to make the scenes work) -- yet with Matthew and Luke you have actors that COULD potentially make the physical/intimacy work... and be affecting... and add to the complexity of their characters. And for whatever reason, they are not allowed to be fully human.

Hope you guys all got a chance to see President Obama's big gay HRC speech Saturday night, where he linked the gay struggle for equality to the african-american struggle for equality. As with many of his best speeches, it was powerful & poignant. It was very moving, it got the audience on its feet, BY FAR the most passionate "gay speech" a president has ever given (check it out on youtube: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=s7-FlZqB9dE&feature=channel_page ) We've come a long way.

See, the times are a-changin'. And I wish to god you'd let Kev & Scotty reflect that change.

[AH]

Loved this episode, although I'm not a big fan of the Ryan storyline. But everything else is great! Can anyone tell me what the name of the song was the played at the end of the show?

[Sylviane]

Wow! Best episode in a long time.

I am going to shock a lot of people with the remark that I liked Justin/Rebecca in this episode (Yeah, I know: shocking!) but it was SO good to see them on the same page for a change, in stead of their constant routine of fight/walk out/apology, that was really starting to wear thin. This was refreshing and reminded me of their realtionship in season 2.

Robert and Nora was also an interesting dynamic to watch. Their arguments were logical, allthough I do hope we won't get a re-run of Robert's "I'm saying yes just to keep Kitty happy, but deep in my heart I don't want it." If he doesn't want to move in with Nora temporarily he should say it NOW and not be whinig about in 5 episodes.

And now that you've put Robert in Nora's house and his ties with the Walkers are linked to Nora AND Kitty, can we please have KEVIN QUIT HIS JOB!!! You no longer need him. Give the boy back his freedom. It can't be requested enough.

Speaking of Kevin, Scotty's stunt with the baby crying was hilarious and SO right to the point. I loved the smug look on Scotty's face and Travis': "Should I call 911?" just made me laugh. And Travis! He was sweet in his sarcastic way in this episode.

I thought that Scotty changing his mind about the baby was very sweet and I was glad to see Kevin being the sensible one in this and seeing that Scotty went along with it for the wrong reasons.

Also this episode reminded me why I like Justin so much. I thought the lab-partner was just great, so arrogant at first and then the reaction to the cadaver... Yes kid, there IS a difference between what you read in books and reality and Justin's words: "I've been at war and I've seen dead bodies and let me tell you something: patients are a lot scarier. Douglas in there he can't cry, he can't scream in pain, he can't die..." Just the reality-check that Justin is sometimes so good at. I had missed that.

Please, please, tell me that the Ojai-thing will be a story-line for Saul and not yet another uninteresting vehicle to keep Holly around. Saul sounded real menacing and I would like to see something done with his words to Tommy last year about wanting Holly out of Ojai. And bring back Henry! I miss him.

And I just loved Matthew Rhys in this episode. One of the few actors who can move me to tears just by the way he uses his body and face to express his hurt, rather than talk about it.

[S.L.]

I thought this episode was great! Everyone's reactions were moving, Justin was totally in his element (AWAY from Rebecca...hmm...), and I even liked Robert!

In fact, the only thing that didn't work for me was Kevin and Scotty, particularly the scene in the bedroom. They had real reasons to talk through having a child - please don't make that decision dependent only on Kitty's cancer status.

I also want to request again: more Travis! More Kevin and Travis! Their work interactions are much more interesting and enjoyable than Kevin and Robert's ever were.

[srtawalker]

OMG!! I can´t wait!!

I´m sure it´ll be a great episode.

Please Matt, more K&S!! :)

SrtaWalker (Spain)

[Julia]

I totally agree with Will. You should stop censoring Kevin and Scotty intimate scenes. How come when Scotty and Kevin are in bed they aren't allowed to touch or kiss? Stop being so hypocritical and give us true equality.

[BC]

Great episode. Reminded me of why I love(d) this show and the Walkers. The quality family interaction was a breath of fresh air and brought back memories from the good ol' days. Kudos to the great acting all round.

The Ojai plot seemed to detract from the significance of the rest of the episode. Kind of like how Robert's King of Pork story did in '36 Hours'.

I hope this isn't the last we see of Travis. He is awesome.

Absolutely wonderful to have Sarah back in such a perfect way.

No Ryan. Bliss!

[Scott]

Last night's episode was the strongest of the season, and possibly one of the best ever.

Why? Because fundamentally, it was focused on the WALKERS and their relationships. We care about this family, and now that one is facing a grave illness, we care about how the Walkers will react, cope, and support one another through this terribly difficult time.

And because you gave the actors compelling material, they were able to run with it. Calista, Sally and Rob were very strong, but special plaudits go to Matthew Rhys (for his heartbreaking scene where he confronts Kitty about the news) and Dave Annable (his somber, muted reaction was also very affecting).

And LOVED that Sarah is finally back! She was missed dearly. The way you maximized the emotional impact of her return was masterful. Her standing on the doorstep was as much an emotional release for the audience as it was for Kitty.

Please keep this focus. THIS is where the show soars, and where it really becomes one of the best shows on TV. The final sequence -- of the family joking and enjoying one another's company, while Kitty struggled to stay "happy" -- was beautifully rendered.

And on that note, please much much less of this silly Ojai storyline (and other storylines that detract from the show's main focus). As the polar opposite to the compelling relationships among the siblings/Nora, why should we care about this manufactured "nemesis" of William's who is trying to create a rival company to make due on a long-ago grievance? It's dumb, derivative and felt completely out of place on last night's otherwise superb outing.

I will say this... you have gotten me emotionally reinvested in the show, and that is a testament to the strength of the writing, particularly in the delicacy of how Kitty's cancer arc is playing out and how its implications are reverberating throughout the family.

Keep it up. Above all, keep the focus on what makes this show great.

[Lin]

yeah, i don't get why kevin & scotty did not even get to kiss in that sweet scene. their chemistry is magnetic and you writers ruined the moment by not allowing them to be fully human as another posting said.

i don't care about rebecca and justin fooling around it bed - it's not even real. but let me guess they get to do that because they are not gay.

shame on you ABC.

[Tori - FREE KEVIN]

Very nice job! It was a lovely episode. I loved the dinner-scene in the end and all in all, this episode brought reminded me of my old B&S-love pre-s3.

Rebecca and Justin were tolerable, we had no emo!boy (Rebecca V.2 aka R² aka Twilight-boy aka Ryan), Nora was wonderful with Robert, Justin is coming out of Rebecca's shadow and Kevin was his awesome, beautiful and perfect self. And not Robert's lapdog.
I'm still advocating some hot man-on-man action between Kevin and Travis.

Kevin and Scotty were pure magic, very nicely done (Scotty was not annoying and/or overly saint-y!).

Though what's going on with the funky editing? A monkey could do a better job.

FREE KEVIN