There have certainly been more interesting family business shows on television over the years, so the premise for Brothers & Sisters is anything but original. Both Dallas and Dynasty set the standard for this kind of show many years ago. Tony Soprano’s family business is far more interesting than the Walker organic fruit business. Hell, the Ewings had more color with “dem dang blasted oil fields”. If you end up liking or are already a fan of Brothers & Sisters, originality isn’t the reason. I found the stories were far too slow and uninteresting to keep my attention for more than an episode. The impressive, potent performances offered by this solid cast carry all the weight on this series. Now, that’s not necessarily a bad thing. But I do question a series that once I’ve watched, what I remember are marvelous moments of acting with little about the plots forging an impact in my brain. There are a few gems in the story: The Northern Exposure episode is actually quite entertaining, as the entire Walker Clan descend upon a family retreat house, each hoping for some alone time with a significant other. There are also some intense 9/11 moments to be found in the two-parter, Mistakes Were Made. Beyond these compelling moments, I found myself quickly forgetting much of the actual story arcs of the series. No, trust me. The real punch is in the acting.