May 20, 2007: Goodbye
After it was resolved that Justin's deployment to Iraq would be delayed to allow him to work on his recovery, much of his story line has centered on his struggle to shake his addiction. But Justin's fears about going back to war were always there in the background. And tonight those fears became a reality in the worst way, as Justin found out at the last minute that his departure date was earlier than planned.
At first I liked the way Justin handled his goodbyes individually - until, like Nora, I realized that he was saying goodbye for real, in case he wouldn't be coming back. Even though I can see, rationally, how it doesn't matter whether or not the word "goodbye" is actually said, I can understand how Nora felt that avoiding a formal goodbye would bring Justin back to her, as if not saying goodbye would make it impossible for him to die.
Justin's early departure coincided, unfortunately, with Kitty's engagement party. He'd already said his goodbyes (except to Nora), so it seemed like it could be possible for him to quietly slip away. But this is the Walkers we're talking about. I think we knew there was no way Justin could really leave without them realizing.
And I'm glad it was Rebecca who told Nora and Kitty. I know it wasn't what Justin said he wanted, but I think she did the right thing. Nora deserved a last chance to say goodbye. And she was finally at a point where she was ready to do it, after hearing how the Senator didn't get a chance to say goodbye to his father, who passed away while he was deployed. The scene in the airport was so sad - the words Nora, Kitty and Justin exchanged were just right for the moment, and the way Nora and Kitty started crying harder as Justin walked away felt so real that it was hard to watch.
Even though the extended McCallister family (led by the Senator's uncle, Major Weiner, played by
Garry Marshall) was pretty annoying, they did provide some welcome comic relief in this heavy episode. How ironic that the Senator, who appears to be so refined, is actually from a family that is louder than the Walkers. I was always thinking the Senator was trying to adjust to the Walkers, and here he comes from a very similar background. Maybe that's why he and Kitty hit it off so quickly.
The McCallisters also helped the Walkers relax a little bit after the day - make that the
year - they had. When Nora (followed by the rest of the Walkers) headed toward the pool, this season of
Brothers & Sisters really came full circle. The season started off with a tragedy, when we watched William Walker fall into the pool as he suffered a fatal heart attack. The season ended on a hopeful note as the Walkers - plus the new additions of Holly, Rebecca and the Senator - looked at that same pool and jumped into it.
Other notable moments (all of which set the stage for story lines that are sure to be explored more next year):
- Rebecca revealing to Justin her affair with a teacher (and the teacher's suicide).
- Saul's reaction to his friend Milo's revelation that he left his wife and is gay.
- Kevin and the Senator's brother Jason getting along a lot better the second time around, and Kevin's surprise at finding out that Jason is a minister.
It's been great watching
Brothers & Sisters along with you this year, I've really enjoyed reading everyone's comments and insights. See you next season!
