Brothers & Sisters: Season 5
  • Network: ABC
  • Series Premiere Date: Sep 24, 2006
  • Season #: 1 , 2 , 3 , 4 , 5 , 6
User Score
6.6 out of 10

Generally favorable reviews- based on 8 Ratings

User score distribution:
  1. Positive: 5 out of 8
  2. Mixed: 1 out of 8
  3. Negative: 2 out of 8

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  1. CritiqueGirl
    Mar 2, 2011
    4
    I watch when there is nothing else on and I have insomnia. I keep waiting for some type of conflict or relationship to be interesting but it is like an old timey plane that won't take off.
  2. hooky84
    Dec 22, 2010
    3
    This review contains spoilers, click expand to view. Back in the summer of 2010, an ex cast member of 'B&S' hinted on a social networking site that for season 5, the political aspects of the show would be removed- a conscious decision made by the writers of the show, and a very poorly thought-out one considering that many of the dramatic conflicts in previous years have often stemmed from the political clashing of the central characters. As a major fan, I was very disappointed with the decision, and my concern over this move, coupled with the departures of Rob Lowe and Emily Vancamp are proving to be justifiable with every new episode we receive.
    In previous years, writers have tackled the costs of war, materialism, gay marriage, political corruption, motherhood and even cancer beautifully. Season 5, however takes place a year after the events of season 4, and with the year-long jump, the demise of Ojai foods and Robert's death, we expected there to be changes. What we didn't expect was for the writers to change the entire show! Rather than being serialised providing viewers with a show that tackles close-to-the-knuckle storylines bravely, the show is now more episodic, often throwing characters into unbelievable and contrived situtations- So far, we've had Luc's underwear modelling launch, Kitty a conservative republican pulling the plug on her husband before jumping into bed with every man she meets, and in a christmas episode, having a ridiculously soapy dream sequence in which Nora discovers what her kids would've been like had she not been there for them- her kids having been raised by Holly Harper! On the subject of Holly Harper, we know she was in a car accident, and that she has amnesia but what hasn't been explained are the extent of her injuries, and what's caused the amnesia in the first place. Also, Patricia Wettig has been AWOL from the show for weeks now, and when we do see her it's normally for one scene an episode which is a travesty in retrospect, seeing how brilliantly her character has been developed in previous seasons. It's an insult to Wettig, and an insult to the loyal fans who've watched from the beginning. What is more scathing about the failure of the season to live up to expectations is how we still get mere glimpses of what the show used to be- In a flashback scene between Nora and Justin after he decides to go back to war in the premiere, Nora in pain yells, 'Fine, go and get yourself killed,' which is a painful reminder of the power of seasons passed. It often feels this year, as if the writers have lost the passion for the series, and somewhere on the way they decided to just start writing for another series under the guise of a familiar label. As the 100th episode approaches, I'm preying for a miracle, otherwise it may be time to pull the plug...    … Expand

Critic Reviews

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No score yet - based on 1 Critic

Critic score distribution:
  1. Positive: 1 out of 1
  2. Mixed: 0 out of 1
  3. Negative: 0 out of 1
  1. Entertainment Weekly
    Reviewed by: Jessica Shaw
    Oct 25, 2010
    75
    The much-needed fast-forwarding of this family sudser continues to help the characters who'd become so tedious by the end of last season. [9 Oct 2010, p.69]