The obvious heir apparent to the hit television series Thirtysomething, Brothers and Sisters, returns to DVD with its critically acclaimed third season. Starring Rob Lowe, Calista Flockhart, Patricia Wettig, Balthazar Getty, Sally Field, and more, the show focuses in on the slightly neurotic and seemingly always dysfunctional Walker and Harper families. Their struggles, while a little high end, are, for the most part, relatable – or at least adaptable- to real life, making the show a must for the adult viewers in your home. This collection features all of the Third Season episodes as well as a host of special features including bloopers, commentaries, deleted scenes, behind-the-scenes practical jokes, and personal reflections from the cast. The centerpiece though is an outstanding featurette where cast members visit a real family winery and explore the realities of running such a business. This is a little something different from what you get on moist DVD collections and is one of the most interesting parts of this collection.
Overall this show has a very limited appeal. It’s very similar to shows like Dynasty and Falcon Crest (maybe even Melrose Place), especially in this season, however its’ a lot less soap opera like. The plots are fairly believable but the cast makes it “real.” This is an outstanding cast that deserve a lot of kudos for taking what has the potential to be really over the top and keeping it grounded and believable. During this season the bonds of family are pushed to the limits and a few times you even wonder if this will be the dynamic breaking point that is obviously coming. The story arc involving the Ojai Foods company is one of the stronger aspects of this season, but, again, it is anchored by the always solid Sally Field’s performance in my opinion.
Overall this is a mediocre season of a decent show made more enjoyable by its cast. Unless you are a die hard fan of this type of series or of this particular series, I doubt The Complete Third Season will make a fan of you.
Reviewed by Mark Fisher
