Brothers & Sisters - 3x18 "Taking Sides" Episode Discussion

**Fortyseven** · 03-07-2009, 07:11 PM

Even in the wake of a life threatening medical crisis and the excitement surrounding the birth of his son,
Robert remains steadfast in his drive to run for governor, despite the damage that it may do to his marriage.
Meanwhile, Saul and Sarah go to extremes to hide Tommy’s legal troubles from Nora,
and Ryan gets a bit too close too fast for anyone’s good.

Writers: Michael Foley & Beth Schwartz
Director: Michael Morris (II)

Promo // Promo Pics

Happy watching!!!

**Katiegg108** · 03-07-2009, 08:27 PM

Wow, so colorful

I'm really excited for this episode. I'm really liking Ryan. Can't wait to see the rest of the reactions to him!

Looks like it's going to be a really packed episode

hlgreenie · 03-08-2009, 05:05 AM

Can't wait for this episode.

I'm still not sure how I feel about Ryan...I think I still need to see him interacting with more characters before I make a decision!

I really think this episode seems great.

**Fortyseven** · 03-08-2009, 06:04 AM

It looks really exciting! Can't wait!

SaraSidleStokes · 03-08-2009, 11:10 PM

it was pretty intense I dont know if I should go into major Detail but I can say as a Justin and Rebecca shipper I can see why she did what she did *shrugs*

~*bitterswt*~ · 03-09-2009, 01:14 PM

Great episode!

~ My brother was watching this episode with me, and he remarked that the Walkers always seem to have some sort of dinner celebration going on in every other episode. It's true, now that I think of it..

~ Loved seeing Ryan finally meet all of the Walkers!

I sense a budding friendship between him and Rebecca, which I'd be happy to see. I wouldn't really like for that to develop into a romantic relationship anytime soon, I'd rather they become friends and help ease his transition into the whole Walker clan. But I have a feeling they will probably take the storyline in a love triangle direction between Ryan, Rebecca and Justin.

~ The part where Nora finds out about Tommy's situation and confronts him, leading to that whole argument blowuout was pretty intense, especially Norah slapping Tommy. Was not really expecting that reaction!

~ Kevin to Kitty: "Tell Robert I...like him, a lot."

Aww, I love Kevin!

own worst enemy · 03-09-2009, 01:23 PM

This episode made last week's episode look like child's play. Bravo B&S, I knew you could deliver. Bravo!

JLarah · 03-09-2009, 01:37 PM

I have mixed feelings about this episode. I liked the K/R scenes and of course, the dinner with everyone there, especially the big blowout. But a lot of characters bugged me. I finally understood my big problem with Rebecca and Holly which may be in the foundation of my dislike of their characters (well, I'm ok with Rebecca, I'm just not a fan). Their motivations to anything they do are always unclear to me and I can never quite understand them. They're always contrived or stretched to fit a certain SL, which makes me not care for the character or simply hate her. I'm not getting into a big analysis of all their previous actions, I'm just gonna focus on this episode. Rebecca spent several months not speaking to her mother, because she realized she was a lier, manipulative and all of that. She acknowledged that her mother caused the Walkers much suffer and sadness, including the time Holly took over Ojai, if I'm not mistaken. She turned against her and all of that, but now that they're speaking again (which I understand that it makes Rebeca happy), she just acts as if Holly is Mother Theresa and could never do any harm. No matter what Tommy did, what he was saying about Holly was not entirely untrue, or was it? After William died, Holly complained he hadn't left her enough money after a 20 year affair and then she was all happy when she found out she was entitled to some shares on Ojai and instead of selling them and walking away she forced herself on the Walkers and on the company, god knows why... but I still can't understand how a former actress has any interest (or knowledge) in working for a food company, besides wanting to be a b**ch. Throughout all of this, Rebecca did not understand why she was doing that and was mad at her, but now when her boyfriend's brother is about to go to jail, she acts as if her mother is all innocent. I get why she understands her mother's position, but it confused me that she would be mad at Justin for not backing her up when she's defending her mom against Tommy's insinuations, when she herself was mad at Holly for the same reasons not so long ago. It's contradicting. Was Justin supposed to agree that Holly is not the bad person that Tommy was making her out to be, when all his siblings are united in trying to defend Tommy and when they all always disliked Holly with good reason? "She did nothing wrong", "I'm so sick of you blaming my mother for all this", etc ... she was acting as if Holly was an angel and she never saw anything wrong in what her mother did when she did. All, so that Justin and Rebecca could fight and break up. It's just contrived, in my opinion and I'm not a fan of JR. I'm indifferent to them, but this bugged me. Also, Ryan's excessive bonding with her was too forced. It almost seems he is obsessed.

I hate Holly and the thought that she gonna have Ojai all for herself is just sickening when since the beginning I hated the idea that she was gonna work there. Till now, I'm not sure if we're supposed to believe that she's a good person who naturally screws up or not, because to me she's an arrogant and self centered woman, who never recognizes the bad things she does. If the point is to feel sympathy for her, the writers always have failed when it comes to that.

Tommy is another character that really bugged me in this episode. I never really liked him because of his greed and the fact that he seemed to have his priorities in the wrong order: Ojai/work/money and then family. And we all know how I hated him at the beginning of this season, but even I believe that he would not act as arrogant as he's acting right now. He's been charged, is facing jail time and Julia left him and yet he's still trying to condone what he did as if it was the natural thing to do and is everybody who's acting crazy for not seeing it, when he himself regretted what he was doing and tried to undo it at the end of the last episode?

It's just once again contrived: destroying Tommy's character even more, so that Tommy can go to jail (due to Getty's firing) without viewers being mad at Tommy's absence.

I actually liked Ryan in the previous episodes, but he came off a little weird in this one, like he's hiding something or is a little crazy. I don't know, but maybe it's me .. but the scene when he told Nora about Tommy.. it seemed as if he knew she didn't know and he was telling her on purpose. It was weird.

Well, so I'm not sure how to feel about the episode. There was a lot of stuff that I loved, like all the rest that I didn't mention, but these things bugged me. Maybe I was in a bad mood when I watched the epi. lol

**Fortyseven** · 03-09-2009, 03:10 PM

Loved this one!

So much drama but they all delivered!

I'm especially impressed with Emily and Dave, they never really had to do any serious drama on the show before and they really worked that last scene!
Bravo, kids.

SaraSidleStokes · 03-09-2009, 07:20 PM

I'm actually opposite you JLarah I myself like Rebecca I CAN NOT stand Holly however so my point of view has nothing to do with that But I have been in the situation where my boyfriend didnt back me up for whatever reason and then never apologized so I can see why Rebecca did what she did as for the Ryan and Rebecca friendship I think alot of that had to do with the fact that he was there for her when Justin wasnt But only time will tell where things go.

jimbo22 · 03-09-2009, 11:31 PM

I'm really pissed... I want Rebecca and Justin to be together...

Raja · 03-12-2009, 03:15 PM

Rebecca with another brother. I so want them to find out Rebecca is a Walker after all. Having her sleep with TWO siblings.