Sisters Discussion Thread

[DRW50]

I did like that story. Philip Sterlin was such a warm, incisive actor. You're right about the Alzheimer's story. I had forgotten about it until now, but it was just another sign of bleakness all over the show (and didn't one of the sisters have to contemplate killing him?).

[Khan]

One of the sisters DID kill him.  Alex, in fact, helped Truman die.  She was brought up on charges and sent to trial.  However, she was exonerated.

[DRW50]

Oh that's right. Thanks. Just another misery story from around that time, although Swoosie always did a good job. 

Picket Fences had an Alzheimer's story around the same time, although theirs was "wackier" in that typical rictus grin DEK way.

[soapfan770]

Catching up thanks @DRW50 for sharing all of those promos. And thanks @Khan for dissecting the gross and nasty Dr. Caspian story, the show’s nadir.

I agree the Trevor promo was odd, it feels more like an ad for some wacky plot twist on Picket Fences than it does for the actual story that occurred on Sisters. 

I don’t know what happened; the first four season provided some pretty solid drama and good heart, barring occasional clunkers. Definitely losing both Ed Marinaro and Ashley Judd didn’t help at all. 
 

Season 5 just goes full off the rails between the Caspian nonsense, Alex’s mercy killing of Truman, Teddy’s downward spiral followed seeking revenge for Falconer’s murder by shacking up with his killer. Maybe they were aiming for a full on a Melrose Place style show and missed the mark BIG time? 
 

I feel like Season 6 initially attempted to ground the show again but was executed very terribly. 

[Khan]

I think part of the problem with S6, aside from Julianne Phillips' absence and the fact that Sheila Kelley was a poor replacement even for Jo Anderson, was that Alex, Georgie and Teddy had grown so far apart as siblings and as people.  Those sisterly bonds that helped define the show in the beginning were gone.  (Having each actress absent for several episodes also didn't help).  Moreover, with John and Georgie now divorced and John living in Seattle, Teddy still grieving over Falconer's death (as well as recovering from a brain injury) and Alex and Big Al, a recurring character who isn't in every episode, forced to carry the mantle of the show's tentpole couple, it just felt like "Sisters" no longer had a core.

[soapfan770]

Oh no doubt about it. I don’t want to beat a dead horse from my earlier posts in the thread regarding Season 6 I.e, Sheila Kelley (who I always will still adore from LA Law) as Charley 2.0 or the preposterous Reed recast with a preposterous story to boot but  everything you said is so true. 
 

I’d say the saving grace was the series finale at least which was satisfying especially with the Georgie & John reconciliation scene with the sons watching happily. Just 1-2 seasons too late. 

Not surprisingly after reaching stable ratings highs just barely outside the Top 50 for Seasons 3 & 4, the show fell to #75 for Season 4 and saw triple digits for Season 6. 

 

 

[Bostongirl]

I just started Season 6, and it is so terrible! I don't know if the writers thought, "Well, it's the last one who cares. " Reed leaving her baby???? I really was missing Ashley Judd. Then John and the youngest son disappeared, and then they had to recast Charlie and Alex's husband has also disappeared.  It feels so empty, like everyone abandoned the ship.  That cast deserved better.

[Chris 2]

I don’t think they had to recast Charley. My impression at the time was that they didn’t feel Jo Anderson didn’t fit the perky/cute persona that they wanted/needed when Julianne Phillips left the show.

[DRW50]

You're right. I think she was seen as too subtle or reserved. 

As @soapfan770I liked Sheila on LA Law but she wasn't needed here, especially as Charley as a character only made sense with a more reserved and less conventionally attractive actress.

[Khan]

I agree.  Charley's recasting and reconception didn't jibe with her backstory as an orphan who apparently bounced from foster home to foster home, or her status as the "outsider" looking into the family's tight dynamics.