November 9th, 2009 10:42 pm

‘Brothers and Sisters’ The Complete Third Season

Thanks to its amazing cast and healthy balance of drama and comedy, ‘Brother and Sisters’ continues to prove itself as a solid first rate television series.

‘Brothers and Sisters’ is a grand family drama in the greatest sense of the word. It encapsulates everything a good drama should — uniquely defined characters, raw heartfelt emotion and of course humour.

At the centre of the Walker’s story, is the betrayal of William Walker. The patriarch of the Californian family, who’s affairs have rocked the family’s foundation to its core.

While William’s deceit and death have long passed, his actions still plague his family, including his wife Nora (Sally Field) and their five children Sarah (Rachel Griffiths), Kitty (Calista Flockhart), Tommy (Balthazar Getty), Kevin (Matthew Rhys) and Justin (Dave Annable).

Holly Harper (Patricia Wettig), William’s mistress, serves as a living reminder of his deceptions — having conveniently weaved her way back into the Walker’s lives. Her daughter, Rebecca (Emily VanCamp), was once even thought to be William’s illegitimate love child. When the truth was finally revealed at the end of season two, another affair was uncovered — in which William did actually father a child, a boy named Ryan Lafferty (Luke Grimes).

Season three brings everything out into the open — the latest earth shattering secret bubbles to the surface in the big season opener. As the season progresses, the family tries to readjust to welcoming a new member to the family, which doesn’t necessarily go down too smoothly. Tension grows as relationships are tested, financial burdens take over and medical emergencies rock the less than settled boat.

The show doesn’t always take itself so seriously, as some might expect. It frequently diverts to comedy, giving you a break from all the drama. Just look to any of the trademark chain phone calls and you’ll likely find yourself grinning. It’s actually these lighter moments which make this show so effective — you really get a sense that this is a real family.

Video and Audio

The 22-episode season is presented in a 16:9 (1.78:1 aspect ratio). The picture sharp and vibrant, despite the softer colour palette. There’s a little grain here, but not enough to be distracting. Audio is Dolby Digital 5.1 surround sound with English, Italian and Spanish dubs.

Bonus Features

Included on the 6-disc set are a number of bonus features, including interviews, deleted scenes, bloopers and audio commentaries. Nothing out of the ordinary here, but fans will appreciate them none the less.

The “In-Between Scenes” featurette is a nice little addition giving viewers an insight into the behind-the-scene antics of the cast, while “The Ojai Experience” documents a cast visit to a real family winery in Ojai, California.

Conclusion

What makes ‘Brothers and Sisters’ work so well is the show’s amazing cast. There are some truly brilliant performances, no more so than from Academy award winner Sally Field, who shows her immense versatility as an actor. Add to that supporting performances by Calista Flockhart, Rob Lowe, Ron Rifkin and Australia’s Rachel Griffiths, there’s really no weak link in this big ensemble drama.

Thanks to its healthy balance of drama and comedy, ‘Brother and Sisters’ continues to prove itself as a solid first rate television series — one that will evolve and retain its relevancy against society’s ever changing social and political standpoints.