I started watching Party of five a friday night in April 9th, three months ago. The first impression of the Pilot wasn't so good, because I felt a little lost. Reading the premise, I still didn't know who were Joe Mangus and Ross Werkman, and had no clue of why the older brother wasn't living in the house. But after seeing the series, the episodes passed and then the Pilot has another meaning.
Some months passed since the accident that killed Nicolas and Diana Salinger and their five children were left on their own. Charlie, the older brother, with 24 years old, was made the legal guardian but he wouldn't be in charge until now. He lived on his own and during the last months he mourned his parents mostly alone despite crashing in the couch occasionally at the house. Probably he held to his womanizing side to avoid the pain. And before the accident, he was just an immature guy who dropped out of college, with some lonely painting and carpentry jobs.
The second brother, Bailey (16), was a rebel teenager who usually got into trouble before the accident, but he changed his ways quickly and has been in charge of the house, Julia, Claudia and Owen the last months. And the sisters, they struggled and suffered the loss. Julia (15) was a straight A student until the accident, and Claudia (11) a talented violinist like her mother. Claudia could find comfort in her older siblings, even Charlie, but for Julia, it was much harder. Joe is the manager of the family's restaurant, business partner of Nick Salinger and his best friend. He's like an "uncle" for the siblings and has been there for the orphans, keeping their dad's place alive and all the memories. On the other hand, Ross is Claudia's teacher and a figure with advice and support for her, besides, he is a known friend for the family, surely by Diana.
Things start bad: Charlie loses 12 000$ of the money that Social Services gives to the siblings for their parents death and they'll have the next pay in months. Owen's nanny, Mrs Kelleher, who has been working for the family many years, now is old enough to retire, she can't handle the stairs of the house anymore. Besides, Julia dates a guy from school, PK, but then he dumps her. Claudia considers giving up the violin. With no much money left in savings, they can't afford the bills and the phone is disconnected (although Bailey bought a Jeep when he thought Charlie didn't lost the cash). Bailey interviews two nannies: the first one is intimidated by Thurber and refuses to take the job given that Bailey doesn't know anything about Piaget and because Claudia handles the potty training. The second one runs away after seeing the mess the house is and how the siblings live. Charlie finally decides to move into the house so he can be the man in charge, but for now, Bailey, Julia and Claudia won't respect him. By the way, the house has few bedrooms, only 3: the parental bedroom which Julia used the last months (this tells how much she missed her mother), Bailey's, which he uses and where Owen's crib is, and finally, Julia's old room, where Claudia has been sleeping the last years. When Charlie returns, he takes the parental bedroom, so Julia must return to her room, and being too old to share it, they agree that Claudia can use a tent as her room, her own place. The moment when Charlie and Claudia arm up the tent was a nice one, and shows that Claudia is somehow happy when her older brother is there for her. Another moment to highlight is when Bailey talks to an asleep Owen in the crib, telling him how hard is getting to find a nanny, and what he'll do if he can't. Anyway, little by little, things get better: Joe gives Charlie a job as bartender at Salinger's restaurant, Bailey manages to comfort Julia about the rejecting she suffered and Ross encourages Claudia to do great things with her music, to keep playing. Also, an angel knocks the door to be the new nanny for Owen, Kirsten (24), a Child Psichology student with experience in 3 other nanny jobs, teaching in pre school and references. This beautiful woman, gifted to take care of children, comes as the perfect solution to the lonely orphans. A detail is that here is showed the moment when she met Bailey and Claudia but not the moment she met Charlie (a key moment), or Julia. Bailey obviously develops a crush on her while Claudia is stunned given that he hired her so suddenly. While holding Owen, Kirsten greets her saying "You must be Claudia", and then goes to change the diapers. Claudia tells her that she should put that away from Bailey, but he pretends he likes changing Owen's diapers and helps the nanny. Later, in the night, Bailey, Claudia and Owen arrive for their weekly family dinner at Salinger's, both surprised to see Charlie working there. Joe sends them to their regular table, and finally Julia joins them, despite her previous sadness and refusal. Claudia tells how much she earned for playing the violin on the street, and with Bailey tells Julia and Charlie that they got a new nanny. Claudia jokes about how Bailey wishes Kirsten was there (she will, she will), and when the others ask, he says she is very proffesional. They keep talking indistinctly and the episode ends, with all the siblings happily enjoying dinner together.
So over all, the pilot had enough drama, good performances, a positive turnout and settled down the ground for the season. The story begins well focused in the main characters and doesn't lose time with minor themes. And this is how the Golden Globe winner series of the season began.
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