Reviewed by Jo Wood
Stars Rachel Griffiths, Tom Skerritt, Sally Field, Rob Lowe, Calista Flockhart, Dave Annable, Balthazar Getty,
Matthew Rhys, Patricia Wettig, Ron Rifkin
Written by Jon Robin Baitz & others
UK certification 12 | UK RRP £39.99
DVD Region 2 | Runtime 949 minutes
Directed by Ken Olin, Gloria Muzio & others
As the title suggests, this series is a veritable feast of family life, complete with all the eccentricity and lack of grace only a family of five kids can muster. Nora and William Walker appear to have the perfect life, William (Skerritt) running the family business Ojai Foods Co, Nora (Field) remaining the hub of the half Jewish but all American family. Focussing initially more on youngest daughter Kitty (Flockhart), who’s politically aggressive nature has set her somewhat aside from the rest of her family, we find them assembled on-mass back at the Walker residence for Kitty’s birthday. And that’s when William walker suffers colossal heart failure, turns up his toes, and slips somewhat ungracefully into the family pool, where he’s found dead by the rest of the clan.
Devastated by their loss, the family struggles with its bereavement, especially when they discover, little by little, that William Walker might have a left a fair few skeletons in his many cupboards, and that when you pull on a loose end, well, you might just end up unravelling an entire stinking sweatshirt. Family dynamics are superbly and sympathetically explored as the 5 siblings jostle for position in the world, while their mother tries desperately to maintain part-control of her unruly brood and come to terms with the strangers they find suddenly thrust upon them. The two eldest siblings, Sarah (Griffiths) and Tommy (Getty) struggle with the deteriorating family business while vying for power of the business between themselves. Middle boy Kevin (Rhys) has the best relationship with most of his sibling as the token gay attorney who’s dry wit and unwavering strength provides a refreshing edge. The youngest of each sex are the ones who struggle most with their positions within the clan, Kitty, who’s conservative political swing and media career keep her in the pro-war spotlight, and black sheep youngest child Justin (Annable), who, recently back from serving in Iraq has turned to drink and drugs to numb the memories.
As Kitty is unexpected thrown back into living back with her mother, Sarah’s seemingly perfect marriage hits the rocks. Tommy and his wife try for a baby, Kevin comes to terms with his own inherent homophobia, and Justin deals with life as a vet, and the fear of ever returning to war. When newcomer Julia (Morris) arrives on the scene, she soon learns the madness of the Walkers is all but impenetrable. Never was such a beautifully put-together cast so complimentary together in convincing the viewer that these lives have been entangled for 30 years or more. The only fly in the ointment was the constantly decidedly weak and wooden performance of Getty as Tommy, but the others were so natural and fluid, it only noticed to the point of annoyance on the rare occasions Getty actually had to hold his own in a scene. Sally Field is perfectly cast as the overly maternal, kind but strong Jewish mother, softening the hard edges of Flockhart’s at times peculiarly Ally McBeal’esque mannerisms. Rhys is also perfectly placed, doing well to break the gay stereotypes other American shows revel in playing up to.
Absolutely the sort of series you will love if social interaction floats your boat, which is does so decidedly with me. The plots are thick enough to merit stirring, but not so thick you could stand your teaspoon upright in it. A beautifully cast, undisturbingly shot, lovely fly-on-the-wall look into the complexities of family life, which are increased tenfold when the size of the family is, well, tenfold. here
EXTRAS *** A deleted episode, "State of the Parties", with an introduction by creator Jon Robin Baitz; Creating The Walker Family Tree; The Making of Brothers & Sisters; Behind the Scenes with the Brothers; exclusive set tour; The Family Business; Meet the Olins, A real family behind the success of the Walkers; bloopers; deleted scenes; audio commentaries.