The schism between mother and son began in 1968 when she left to actively serve abroad. Little Harold created scientific charts to dissuade his mother from leaving him. No amount of thought or words or displays would change his mother's mind. Edna told Harold to look after his sister. Edna actually intended on Linda looking out for her older brother because she inherited her mother's sense of independence and strong-will. The teaser of "My Brother's Keeper" shows all one needs to know about the dynamic between the family members: Harold plays the part of the adult but he's clueless as to why his mother would leave him; Linda is the wide-eyed adventurous youth who views her mother's journey as exciting; curiously, Harold Sr. is a shadow in the scene, around but barely visible. Harold will later tell his mother that the three years she spent on active duty were 'hard.' Harold is a proud man, of his family and the practice, but he won't spin a myth that he and his father were closely bonded. No, Harold and Harold Sr. were never as close as he wished them to be. These feelings extend to his mother and sister. Harold never left; he inherited the family’s responsibilities without compliant, out of a sense of duty and loyalty, which are two qualities he found lacking in Edna and Linda. Harold is pissed off, hurt, and unwilling to push his feelings under the rug just to satiate his mother and sister.
Linda left Everwood years ago to practice medicine in the Far East. She returns home with plenty of stories, souvenirs, but with weariness no one except Irv observes. Edna is too busy vicariously living through her daughter to notice anyone else, namely the roots of her son's mood and the feelings of her own husband. Linda did a lot of good in her years abroad, but she simply wanted to come home and experience life with her family because she missed so much. Edna thinks her daughter just needs to recharge her batteries before flying to India where she'll surely save the lives of many more people. Harold doesn't want Linda to join the family practice because she hasn't earned the right to profit from what he helped sustain. Harold's mostly annoyed by his sister's absence from their father's funeral, not because their mother needed them, but because he needed her, she who always took care of him. Linda cannot soothe her brother with words; she'll need to show him through her actions that she's changed. Edna and Linda aren't villains though. They left to do good works for others. But Harold's rightfully angry when he points out how they forgot their responsibilities to family.
Irv is Everwood's author, the writer, the narrator, the seer; and, indeed, he sees what his wife misses and observes what his wife does not. Edna's caught up within the imagination of her daughter's life that she forgets herself. As she prepares dinner, she basically admits making a mistake by living a domestic life in quiet and boring Everwood. Irv uprooted his life to be with her. Three years ago he passed through Everwood while researching a book on the history of the railroads, found himself at a church picnic and then heard the best laugh of his life. Her dismissal of what they built wounds him but her dismissal isn't mean-spirited or even intentional: it's just her nature, and it's hurt at least two men in her life. Edna meets with her son in a local dive after her comeuppance with Irv: she apologizes to Harold for everything, for leaving them, for never being as natural a mother as she is an adventurer. Harold cuts her deep with words when he accuses her of abandonment. Edna just asks her son to let his sister come home. A feel-good reconciliation does not happen between the two. This story helps contextualize Harold's strong feelings last season and helped to crystallize why they couldn't work together: a 20 year grudge is a 20 year grudge; an apology over drinks isn't enough. At least they talked about it because it means no one leaves with regretting what wasn't said. They can move on from this moment with understanding and commitment to treating one another better. It's about the process of forgiveness.
The story between Harold, Linda and Edna resembles the parable of the prodigal son except it's the prodigal daughter in this case. Linda wants to redeem herself and since she can't forcefully change her brother's mind, she simply moves into the practice. Harold weakly objects before letting his sister know all about ordering office supplies. They're moving on, which is all Linda wanted to do from the moment she re-entered their lives.
Meanwhile, Bright was Amy's keeper in the aptly titled "My Brother's Keeper." Bright asked Ephram to keep an eye on her because she's been extremely out of it since Colin passed. Ephram resists but cannot help trying to help the girl he adores. Laynie and Amy tell Ephram about a frat party they're attending. Ephram watches Amy learn how to gracefully swallow a swig of vodka. Amy insists everything she's doing is minor and in the name of fun. Ephram, concerned, goes with Bright to the party to take Amy home before she falls victim to a frat boy's date rape drink. Amy reacts poorly, especially when Bright tells her to think about what Colin would think of her acting like a "drunken slut." Amy brings up the drinking and driving part of the accident to blame her brother for his dying, but Bright quickly blames Amy for not telling anyone about Colin's condition until it was too late and he was already essentially dead. The conversation is hurtful and highly regrettable and only a sign of things to come. Amy lashes out and pushes important people away from her. She is 15 and grieving and feels alone, which is a horrible combination. In one story, a family comes together again; in another, a family starts to fall apart, beginning with the siblings.
"My Brother's Keeper" is a terrific episode. Nine years ago, I was 16 and stupid and thought the addition of Marcia Cross as Linda Abbott sucked. I'm older now, more mature, more mentally and intellectually equipped to appreciate the Linda Abbott arc. In 2003, I just wanted Ephram to be with Amy because I believed I could be with my own 16 year old crush if Ephram could. Ah, youth.
Other Thoughts:
-I didn't forget Andy Brown. His storyline doesn't mesh well with the themes of family and sibling dynamics. Andy tries to stop a preteen sex ring but meets only dirty looks from the parents of these children. The case-of-the-week leads to a great moment between Andy and Nina when she opens up to him about the truth of Carl, her ex-husband. The case also leads to unintentionally great father advice to Ephram when Ephram struggles over how to handle his knowledge of Amy and the frat party.
-There's another classic Harold moment when he orders, "Milk. 2 Percent" at the bar. Harold Abbott is one of the greatest fictional characters of all-time.
-Vanessa Taylor wrote the episode. She recently worked on the second season of Game of Thrones. Michael Schultz directed it.
-The 2012 Summer Re-Watch will resume on May 17 with "East Meets West."
THE YOUTUBE CLIP OF THE WEEK
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