Posted by Dustin on 10.13.2008 at 12:37 pm

In this episode Saul and Sarah were fuming after a meeting with Holly and Tommy. Tommy proposed some new ideas for the company. He wanted them to buy up more land for the vineyard to expand it, as well as abandon the name Ojai for something new.

Sarah planned to go on the offense, to come up with her own plan to counter Tommy’s. Before she could do anything, Saul announced his resignation! He said he felt the company was changing, he didn’t belong here anymore. Holly thought this was a tactic, but he said no. Sarah chased Saul down, but he felt he was too old and already devoted too much of his life to William and this company. He couldn’t do it anymore.

Saul went to see Nora about his decision to quit. He’s afraid Sarah is angry, that he abandoned her. He knows Ojai is in trouble and he’s the reason, so she should be mad at him. Nora said he made a mistake, to stop blaming himself. Saul talked about wanting to retire, to find a life. She said he needed to meet someone. He coyly made a statement about maybe he already had.

Nora had a talk with Sarah about Saul quitting. She wanted Sarah to apologize to Saul for being hard on him, think what he’s going through. She also said Tommy’s plan does sound reasonable, Saul told her about it. Sarah talked about how hard it was working there, working for Holly. Nora thinks Sarah isn’t angry at Saul, she’s angry at herself for not quitting. Sarah felt in this job market, with two kids, she can’t quit. Nora said Sarah had to make her own decision, but to stop blaming Saul for making his.

The company board held the meeting to discuss Tommy’s idea. Nora admitted she didn’t like re-branding the company and losing the name Ojai. The other members agreed, the name came with a sense of trust. Saul’s leaving also left them uneasy. Sarah stepped up and said if William was here doing this, they’d believe in him. She said William trained Tommy, Tommy has the same ambition and vision William did, so trust him.

The board voted to approve Tommy’s plan. Tommy thanked Sarah for what she said. Sarah then told Tommy she too was leaving. She felt this place didn’t feel like their company anymore, it just felt like a job. She said her mind was made up and he couldn’t change it.

Sarah went to see her mom to tell her that she quit. Nora told her she’d be okay, that she was incredible in that board room. She said Holly nor Tommy could have turned it around, she does have a gift.

The next day Holly told Tommy she was sorry about Sarah and Saul leaving. Tommy made a decision, while they would go ahead with the plan, they would not re-brand, they would keep the name Ojai.

Onto other siblings . . . Justin was working at an army recruiting station, but wasn’t very good at relating to the kids coming in and getting them to enlist. Later a guy showed up that Justin served in Iraq with. Justin apparently saved this guys life, he wanted to thank him for it. He insisted Justin come over for dinner and meet his family. When Rebecca learned Justin was to have dinner with another soldier, she insisted on coming with him. Justin didn’t want her too, but she wouldn’t take no for an answer.

Justin and Rebecca arrived at the house, which turned out to be a party in his honor. Justin was uncomfortable, and Rebecca was shocked to learn Justin had saved this guys life in Iraq. When she pushed to hear the story, Justin got upset and stormed off, right to a bar.

Justin returned home to find Rebecca waiting. He didn’t drink, but he was upset. He told Rebecca that while he saved that guy, his friend Charlie died 20 feet away. He felt he was a loser, he can’t even convince kids coming in to enlist to sign up, because he doesn’t think they know what they are getting into. He said he was messed up, that’s why he still lives at home. He then stormed off to his room.

The next day Nora gave Justin a talking to, telling him how good, honest and brave he is. He’s afraid to share the other side of him, the one that saw Iraq with Rebecca, as she might leave him.

Finally to yet another sibling, Kevin. Kevin had a big meeting with some athletic shoe company CEO. He was taking him out to dinner, to impress him, to get him to sign with the firm. Kevin’s boss however felt, knowing this guy, Kevin might want to leave Scotty at home. His boss told Kevin if he landed this client, he’d be next in line for partner.

Kevin went to see Kitty, but she was in New York in this episode trying to get her book published. Robert talked with Kevin and gave him some advice. He suggested Kevin play the game till he made partner. Once he was partner he could not be told again to leave Scotty at home.

Kevin discussed the situation with Scotty. Scotty was more unhappy with Kevin’s boss than Kevin. He wanted Kevin to do what he needed to, but also be who he is and be happy.

Kevin went to dinner and schmoozed the client. He returned home feeling like crap. The client and his wife assumed Kevin was married to a women and he played along. Kevin felt he went back into the closet and it was a dark place. He decided tomorrow he would tell his boss he would not do it anymore.

The next morning though before he could say anything, his boss told Kevin he landed the deal and was going to tell the partners in the meeting how great he did. Kevin just bit his lip . . .

Finally near the end of the episode, Kitty returned home. She had four publishers after her book, it was a virtual bidding war! She then had to face quitting as Robert’s communication director.

Saul, Kevin and Sarah all toasted to jobs they hate, but also to Ojai and their memories there.

Finally Justin went to see Rebecca to talk. Justin told her about his friend who died, a friend he knew. He would rather have saved Charlie over that other guy, which makes him feel awful. She said it makes him human. Justin then began to open up and talk to Rebecca about his friend and Iraq.

My Thoughts . . .
So far I think this was the best episode of the season yet. Hmmm, odd that Kitty finally took the back seat in this episode too. Hmm . . . .

I think what I loved about this episode the most was the drama at Ojai. Tommy coming up with his new plan, which Holly no doubt had a say in, was just too much. Saul finally up and quit. After saving Tommy and Holly’s asses, at a board meeting, so did Sarah. I’m not sure why she even felt the need to save Tommy’s ass to be honest. Just because he was her brother? He’s sure treated her and Kevin like crap! She did it and then she walked too.

Tommy and Holly are in for a big ride I think. The board saw how important Saul was and were afraid when he left. With Sarah gone, ouch. I mean Holly basically had her doing everything there. I was at least happy Tommy found where he misplaced his man-parts and stood up to Holly at the end, saying they wouldn’t change the name Ojai.

It seems they are finally doing something with Saul’s character when he hinted to Nora that maybe he just had met someone.

Over to Justin’s drama, it was intriguing, but I don’t have much to comment on. It showed that the whole Justin-Rebecca romance wasn’t just some fairytale, there were issues, and they would be handled.

Finally to Kevin, who had to go back into the closet at work. I thought this was a very good episode dealing with the whole “it’s okay if you’re gay, just not in public” issue many people actually deal with in their lives, whether to save their job or some other issue. I was very disappointed that Kevin kept biting his lip and going back into the closet. I was secretly hoping that Kevin would out himself and the firm would lose the client, not because Kevin was gay, but because his boss felt that Kevin needed to hide that fact.

Back to Kitty, well it looks like she’s an author, and the previews for next week have Robert offering Kevin her old job as his communications director. Oh that should be really interesting!