Brothers & Sisters
We didn't want to like this one. Just watched the premiere, hoping that it would suck and we could cut another show from the schedule.
But no. No such luck.
I've talked a lot this season about one major pitfall of new shows: introducing the secrets before investing us in the characters. Here's another example of doing it the right way.
The entire show was focused on getting to know the family. The conservative radio host, the drunk surfer boy, the gay businessman, the rest of the siblings all in the family food business. Set up relationships, old conflicts and connections. Then, finally, in the last bits, introduce the real problems, the issues that will drive everything else in the series.
And it was good, damn it. Even handling of political sides, good solid characters that feel real.