What To Watch Instead of the Inauguration

This, not that

Sally Field has never been wrong in her entire life

I think it’s kind of poetic (in the deeply sad, ironic way) that the most racist president who has ever been in office during my lifetime is being inaugurated on Martin Luther King, Jr Day, the man who taught love instead of prejudice, turning the other cheek (which is kinda crazy, I can’t lie, we gotta tussle) whose message was we are stronger together, than we are apart. Anyway, here’s what you should watch instead.

S1 of Brothers & Sisters on Hulu. I found it after I binged The Americans (which, also applicable to today kind of) and re-fell in love with Matthew Rhys. When I tell you there is no show in the history of shows I have enjoyed this much, baby I mean it! Yes I found this show more than 15 years after it originally aired in 2006, and no I don’t know what I was doing when it was on but what I do know is—I wouldn’t have appreciated it then like I do now. The Walker family, is my family.

The matriarch, Nora Walker (Sally Field) is the mother I never had. The mother anybody would want. This show has everything. Gay brother (Matthew Rhys), conservative sister (Calista Flockhart), drug-using younger brother who went to Iraq (it WAS 2006 after all) oldest daughter who got the world on her shoulders, and other brother I hate. They were really so ahead of their time, even open marriage!

Mind you, this was NETWORK TV BY THE WAY. 22 episodes. Plot. Arcs. YES.

And did I mention the gay brother dates Jason Lewis!!! A gay/bisexual storyline in 2006 is way more than what we get today. I just—you won’t be sorry for tuning in.

This show, nearly 20 years old feels kind of insane because we’re dealing with a lot of the same issues today that we were then. War, gay brothers, failing businesses, secrets, lies, a secret love-child, and so much more. Also, in the first fucking episode we see the man, the myth, the legend. You may know him as Rufus Humphrey from Gossip Girl, but I know him as Will Benson from I Still Know What You Did Last Summer. Trust me, it’s worth your time.