7.3/10304 votes#1 - Patriarchy
Season 1 Episode 1 - Aired 9/24/2006
Kitty returns to LA to interview for a political based TV show and to visit her family, which is full of secrets.
Director: Ken Olin
Writer: Jon Robin Baitz
7.5/10218 votes#2 - An Act of Will
Season 1 Episode 2 - Aired 10/1/2006
The Walker family is forced to deal with the shock of William's death and the reading of the will, which threatens to cause a rift in the family.After Nora learns that Justin has been fired from his job and has disappeared, she, Kitty and Kevin head off on a road trip to find him.
Director: Matt Shakman
Writer: N/A
7.7/10195 votes#3 - Affairs of State
Season 1 Episode 3 - Aired 10/8/2006
William Walker's indiscretions are made painfully public, and Nora shocks the family as she reveals that she's not as naive as they all think she is.Justin decides to tell Kitty about their father's affair, and the Walker siblings all feel the burden of their very own secrets.
Director: Tucker Gates
Writer: N/A
7.6/10182 votes#4 - Family Portrait
Season 1 Episode 4 - Aired 10/15/2006
Sarah and Joe both face a big challenge when they discover that something may be wrong with their daughter, Paige.Kitty finds herself torn between two men, Justin begins his new job, Kevin gets jealous after seeing Scotty with another guy, and Nora suspects that Saul has feelings for Holly.
Director: Ken Olin
Writer: N/A
7.6/10193 votes#5 - Date Night
Season 1 Episode 5 - Aired 10/22/2006
In an effort to move on from her husband's death, Nora goes on a date with another guy, but things don’t go quite as well as she had planned.Kitty decides to go on a very awkward double-date with Jonathan and Warren, and Kevin connects with Scotty on their date together.
Director: Allison Liddi-Brown
Writer: N/A
7.8/10174 votes#6 - For the Children
Season 1 Episode 6 - Aired 10/29/2006
The Walker family gets humiliated when their secrets are revealed in a public forum.
Director: Fred Toye
Writer: N/A
8.1/10186 votes#7 - Northern Exposure
Season 1 Episode 7 - Aired 11/5/2006
Kitty and Warren go to the country to have a peaceful weekend, that turns out anything but that. Unable to become pregnant, Tommy and Julia turn to desperate and unconventional measures. Faced with dire financial circumstances, the Walkers are forced to sell the ranch house.
Director: Lawrence Trilling
Writer: N/A
8.1/10191 votes#8 - Mistakes Were Made (1)
Season 1 Episode 8 - Aired 11/12/2006
Justin's resolve to stay clean is shaken by a disturbing letter from the US military requesting that he go back and join them.Kevin swallows his fears and tries his hardest to win back Scotty but it blows up in his face, Nora prepares for a date, and Sarah uncovers some shocking information.
Director: Michael Lange
Writer: N/A
8.1/10181 votes#9 - Mistakes Were Made (2)
Season 1 Episode 9 - Aired 11/19/2006
A road trip for Sarah, Tommy, and Kevin reveals more startling news about their father. Justin comes clean about his reasons for joining the service after returning from a hospital stay.
Director: Ken Olin
Writer: N/A
7.7/10168 votes#10 - Light the Lights
Season 1 Episode 10 - Aired 12/10/2006
Sarah, Tommy and Saul make a big mistake when they try to retrieve funds to try and save the family's business.Kevin comes up with an idea about how to try and stop Justin from going back into the military, and Kitty tries to decide what she's going to do about her job offers.
Director: Fred Toye
Writer: N/A
7.8/10171 votes#11 - Family Day
Season 1 Episode 11 - Aired 1/7/2007
The Walker family attends Family Day at Justin's rehab facility.
Director: David Petrarca
Writer: N/A
7.5/10152 votes#12 - Sexual Politics
Season 1 Episode 12 - Aired 1/14/2007
Kevin meets a new love interest, but isn't sure about his sexual orientation. Nora and Kitty have been persuaded to use the services of an executive matchmaker with decidedly mixed results.
Director: Sandy Smolan
Writer: N/A
8.0/10163 votes#13 - Something Ida This Way Comes
Season 1 Episode 13 - Aired 1/21/2007
The family throws a party for Nora's sixtieth birthday. Surprises- but not the good kind- abound when half the family gets the flu, Nora's mother shows up, and the video tribute doesn't come out quite right.
Director: Michael Lange
Writer: N/A
8.1/10168 votes#14 - Valentine's Day Massacre
Season 1 Episode 14 - Aired 2/11/2007
Nora has a Valentine's Day dinner with a friend and takes a risky ride that could land her in trouble.
Director: Michael Schultz
Writer: N/A
7.6/10161 votes#15 - Love Is Difficult
Season 1 Episode 15 - Aired 2/18/2007
Sarah and Joe go into therapy following the tensions of their marriage. An office poll unsettles Kitty about her relationship with Senator McCallister.Tommy bumps into a concealed member of the Walker family while Tommy and Julia learn about a surprise addition to the family.
Director: Michael Lange, Michael Schultz
Writer: N/A
8.3/10145 votes#16 - The Other Walker
Season 1 Episode 16 - Aired 3/4/2007
The Walkers find out about William's biggest secret: his other daughter with Holly.
Director: Gloria Muzio
Writer: N/A
7.8/10154 votes#17 - All In the Family
Season 1 Episode 17 - Aired 4/1/2007
Nora invites her late husband's illegitimate daughter to a family dinner at the Walker house against some of her children's wishes. Kevin Walker's hush hush relationship with a movie star reaches new levels and Nora has an interesting encounter with her college professor.
Director: David Paymer
Writer: N/A
7.6/10155 votes#18 - Three Parties
Season 1 Episode 18 - Aired 4/8/2007
Sarah accompanies Kitty to Senator McAllister's hometown to interview local residents for his upcoming election campaign, where she meets his high school sweetheart Alice. The pair meets up with some local high school seniors at a bar, and attends a party with them. Rebecca asks Justin to attend a house party with her, who ends with Justin getting a black eye; while Chad makes a surprising decision to come out that affects his relationship with Kevin in a negative way. Meanwhile, at the advice of her best friend, Nora asks her professor out on a date. And Kitty returns to L.A. with new insight on McAllister and admits that she's falling in love with him.
Director: Sandy Smolan
Writer: Marc Guggenheim
8.0/10181 votes#19 - Game Night
Season 1 Episode 19 - Aired 4/15/2007
The Walkers have a family game night and invite Rebecca along for the ride. Kitty also meets Senator McCallister's gay brother and tries to set him up with Kevin.
Director: Matt Shakman
Writer: N/A
7.8/10155 votes#20 - Bad News
Season 1 Episode 20 - Aired 4/29/2007
Rebecca tells Justin that Joe kissed her. Joe tries to confess to Sarah about the kiss, but before he can get enough courage, she receives the news from the most unexpected person. When Nora fails her writing class, her teacher allows her to pass on one condition - she must go on a date with him. And, Kitty has to calm the Senator down after a disastrous helicopter crash.
Director: Jason Moore
Writer: Monica Owusu-Breen, Alison Schapker
8.0/10145 votes#21 - Grapes of Wrath
Season 1 Episode 21 - Aired 5/6/2007
The vineyard opens up and the whole family attends. Holly also makes a move on Mark when Nora is gone.
Director: N/A
Writer: N/A
8.0/10159 votes#22 - Favorite Son
Season 1 Episode 22 - Aired 5/13/2007
Kevin acts as McCallister's attorney when a radio host makes accusations against his war heroism. Also, Tommy and Julia must face a tough decision regarding their newborn babies.
Director: Jason Moore
Writer: N/A
8.5/10189 votes#23 - Matriarchy
Season 1 Episode 23 - Aired 5/20/2007
Nora organizes an engagement party for Kitty and Robert. Justin is about to be deployed to Iraq, and he tries to have special time with his family members to say goodbye. Kitty finds it hard to tell her mother that she will be moving out. An old friend of Saul's visits after his divorce.
Director: Ken Olin
Writer: Jon Robin Baitz, Greg Berlanti
The Best Episodes of Brothers and Sisters Season 1
Every episode of Brothers and Sisters Season 1 ranked from best to worst. Discover the Best Episodes of Brothers and Sisters Season 1!
The close-knit Walker family deals with struggles and triumphs.
Genre:Drama
Network:ABC
Season 1 Ratings Summary
"Patriarchy" is the best rated episode of "Brothers and Sisters" season 1. It scored 7.3/10 based on 304 votes. Directed by Ken Olin and written by Jon Robin Baitz, it aired on 9/24/2006. This episode is rated 0.2 points higher than the second-best, "An Act of Will".