(S02E06) "I didn't want this baby."-- Robert McAllister

I am starting to regret every time I have criticized the show for being too prone to hijinks and slapstick, because after the past two episodes, I would love to have Robert's crazy family show up again so they can all jump into the pool. The best way to describe this episode is maudlin. No wonder Justin is taking more pain meds. This is some pretty depressing stuff, and it doesn't look like it's going to get happier anytime soon. Is this the writers' way of dealing with the impending strike? A little doom and gloom for everyone? And is Tommy growing a mustache, and could someone please call his agent and tell him to shave it?

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(S02E05) "That shrimp smells rancid."-- Kitty Walker

Oooh, this was a painful episode to watch. In a good way. The writing was absolutely spot on for this episode, and it was just beautifully played. Some things happened that I expected and some things that I didn't, which I will get into after the jump. It was the obligatory Halloween episode, but nicely downplayed also. I loved the fact that the minute Nora's back was turned, Justin and Rebecca dove into the candy bowl like a couple of little kids. It was a good juxtaposition to pair Robert's debate with Halloween instead of focusing on the Walkers engaging in a big costume party, as might have happened with this crazy bunch.

(S02E05) I tend to separate Brothers and Sisters episodes into light and dark episodes these days, even though every episode certainly has elements of both. Last week was pretty dark, and this was a relatively light episode, though, thankfully, they kept the slapstick to a minimum. This episode definitely explored the nature of relationships, or, as we get from the title, unions, namely: Nora's with her and her children, and the romantic nature of all of the siblings with their significant others. If you can say that Justin's significant other is Rebecca... And the show is definitely exploring what happens when siblings meet as adults and go from strangers who could have dated under different circumstances to instant family members.