Season 1 Overview
When I first heard about this show, I immediately knew I wanted to watch it but I also was reluctant to review. After watching the first eight episodes, I soon threw caution to the wind and gave into reviewing the series. Family shows are few and far between and in the same TV season that also introduced Heroes, Dexter and Ugly Betty, this emerged as my favourite of the bunch. The writing is amazing, the actors (Matthew Rhys, Rachel Griffiths and Sally Field especially) are fantastic and the storylines were engrossing. Kevin’s series of boyfriend – Scotty, Chad and Jason, Justin’s struggles with his addictions, Sarah’s marriage collapsing, Tommy and Julia losing one of their twins, Kitty and Robert’s relationship and politics, the reveal of Saul being gay as well as Nora trying to rebuild her life, especially after the revelation of Holly and William having a daughter. As debut seasons went, this one was certainly unforgettable.
DVD Extras
Bonus Episode – State Of The Parties = 9/10.
Walker Family Tree
Behind The Scenes With The Brothers: Matthew Rhys, Dave Annable and Balthazar Getty
The Family Business: Meet The Olins
Bloopers
Deleted Scenes
Commentaries: Affairs Of State, Northern Exposure, The Other Walker and Matriarchy.
Episode Ratings
1x01: Patriarchy =9/10, 1x02: An Act Of Will = 7/10,
1x03: Affairs Of State = 8/10, 1x04: Family Portrait = 7/10,
1x05: Date Night = 9/10, 1x06: For The Children = 8/10,
1x07: Northern Exposure = 9/10, 1x08: Mistakes Were Made Part 1 = 10/10,
1x09: Mistakes Were Made Part 2 = 10/10, 1x10: Light The Lights = 8/10,
1x11: Family Day =9/10, 1x12: Sexual Politics = 8/10,
1x13: Something Ida This Way Comes = 9/10,
1x14: Valentine’s Day Massacre = 8/10,
1x15: Love Is Difficult = 9/10, 1x16: The Other Walker =10/10,
1x17: All In The Family = 7/10, 1x18: Three Parties = 7/10,
1x19: Game Night =9/10, 1x20: Bad News = 10/10,
1x21: Grapes Of Wrath = 8/10, 1x22: Favourite Son = 8/10,
1x23: Matriarchy =9/10.
Full Review: http://darkestboy.livejournal.com/9090.html
A lot of people didn't like the second season but when I think about the kind of second seasons both Lost and Desperate Housewives had, I have to differ. IMO Season 2 was equally as good as Season 1 and while the Rebecca plot was a big retcon of the worst kind, we didn't really have any genuinely horrible episodes. In fact we had a series of stunning episodes, including the final two and with characters like Sarah and Kevin centre stage, I'll never be able to quit this series. The Ryan thing in Season 3 has potential if the writers are clever enough not to repeat themselves and I think they are capable of that. Overall I enjoyed Season 2. It wasn't perfect but close to a certain other show I'm obsessed about, I literally couldn't get enough of it.
DVD Extras
Guest Book
TV Dinners: Food From Season 2
Open House: Designing the Brothers And Sisters set
Bloopers And Outtakes
Deleted Scenes
Commentaries: Home Front, 36 Hours and Prior Commitments.
Episode Ratings
2x01: Home Front =9/10, 2x02: An American Family =9/10,
2x03: History Repeating =8/10, 2x04: States Of The Union =8/10,
2x05: Domestic Issues =9/10, 2x06: Two Places =9/10,
2x07: 36 Hours =10/10, 2x08: Something New =8/10,
2x09: Holy Matrimony =9/10, 2x10: The Feast Of The Epiphany =7/10,
2x11: The Missionary Imposition = 8/10, 2x12: Compromises =9/10,
2x13: Separation Anxiety = 8/10, 2x14: Double Negative = 8/10,2x15: Moral Hazard = 10/10, 2x16: Prior Commitments =10/10.
Season 3 Overview
This has been something of a debateable season. For a lot of viewers, it’s not the show it used to be and there were a series of plot that didn’t completely work. Kevin working for Robert made no sense, Ryan failed to generate interest with viewers, people were on occasion annoyed with Justin and Rebecca as a couple and anything involving Holly was met with its usual disdain. Tommy also made a huge blunder with Ojai and we’ve gotten to the point in the series where Nora really should have more in her life than constantly trying to mother her children and Saul was savagely underused while Julia literally did slip out quietly. So, was there anything good in the season? Of course – anything involving Kevin and Scotty, who remained the season’s only stable couple (retain that next season), plots that Justin and Rebecca had that were independent of each other, Kitty’s book plot (I cannot be the only person who liked this) as well as the slow but organic dissolution of her and Robert’s marriage as well as the arrival of their son, Evan via Trish plus Sarah in general, who didn’t have much of an angst ridden year compared to the first two seasons. It’s hard to tell if I prefer this season to the second but I do know that while the first is likely to be the best for the time being, I didn’t actually hate the season either but I did feel that some storylines should’ve either been handled or not happen at all.
DVD Extras
Interview With Sally Field/Patricia Wettig
Cast Visit To Real Life Winery In Ojai
Cast And Crew Hijinks On Location
Bloopers
Deleted Scenes
Episode Ratings
3x01: Glass Houses = 9/10, 3x02: Book Burning = 8/10,
3x03: Tug Of War = 8/10, 3x04: Everything Must Go = 9/10,
3x05: You Get What You Need = 9/10, 3x06: Bakersfield = 9/10,
3x07: Do You Believe In Magic = 8/10, 3x08: Going Once, Going Twice = 10/10,
3x09: Unfinished Business = 8/10, 3x10: Just A Sliver = 9/10,
3x11: A Father Dreams = 10/10, 3x12: Sibling Rivalry = 7/10,
3x13: It’s Not Easy Being Green = 7/10, 3x14: Owning It = 9/10,
3x15: Lost And Found = 8/10, 3x16: Troubled Waters Part 1 = 10/10,
3x17: Troubled Waters Part 2 = 10/10, 3x18: Taking Sides = 8/10,
3x19: Spring Broken = 9/10, 3x20: Missing = 8/10,
3x21: S3X = 9/10, 3x22: Julia =8/10,
3x23: Let’s Call The Whole Thing Off = 8/10, 3x24: Mexico = 9/10.
All episode reviews can be found on both my TV TOME page and SHAWNLUNN2002TVHITS, both of which are linked on this blog.
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