Just some curious things about their relationship.

Robert is jealous of Ray, finds him to be a jerk most of the time, yet, he is always over there. Why?

I laugh at the episode where Debra throws a party to match up Peter and Peggy comes. After Ray makes a scene and Peggy leaves (by the way - Ray was right to dislike her - not because she beat him up, butthe way she calls him "Ally's dad," like she can't even be bothered to say his name), Robert says "it's no enough your ruined my life, but you had to ruin my brother in law's too."

How eexactly did Ray ruin Robert's life? Yeah - Marie favored Ray, but the problem there is more Marie (parents shouldn't play favorites) than Ray. Maybe Ray played into it as a kid, but all dids to that. As an adult, Ray clearly sihes that his mom was less of a presence in their house.

One episode where they kind of made Robert the erk (but not totally) was where Ray and Debra gave Robert $1,000 to help him out and he decided to go to Vegas with it.

Clearly, Ray was right here, I'd be pissed as well if I was him. Could you imagine giving someone $1000 to help them during a rough patch, and they decide to go on vacation with it? Crazy!



Also, on the Ray-Debra relationship. Debra is fiery, that's for sure, but at times, even in the earlier seasons, she just gets nuts for no reason.

In the episode where Ray can't say "I love you," he asks Frank why they (he and Marie) don't say it. Marie walked in at that point.

Later, Debra has a hissy fit that Ray talked about it to Frank and Marie. In my eyes, he was trying to get to the root of the problem, as he realized that his parents never said it.

Then, in the episode where they play Scruples, Marie makes up the quesiton aobut whether Ray would let his elderly mother live with him after his father died. Ray hedges, but Marie pushes it, and Ray says yes to placate (sic?) her. Debvra has a fit about that too. What would she have liked Ray to say in that situation as Marie had put him on the spot.

I think this is the great thing about "ELR," it's just a show, but it has so many true-to-life themes that we can get fired up about it.


Al

There is a kind of love-hate edge to the two brothers' relationship. Robbie is clearly envious of Raymond yet Robert seems to overlook the many great qulaites he has; Ray may be more creative but Robert's the one you'd want with you in an emergency.

Abt the $1K, I think Raymond should have given Robbie enough to do both. Robert was clearly overstressed and sometimes getting away can clear your head. Ray should have given Robert $1K to get away and $1K specifically for the problems--yes I know this is a lot of $ but Raymond has it and Robbie is his brother. Or $500 to get away and $500 for the problems.

Abt the $1K, I think Raymond should have given Robbie enough to do both. Robert was clearly overstressed and sometimes getting away can clear your head. Ray should have given Robert $1K to get away and $1K specifically for the problems--yes I know this is a lot of $ but Raymond has it and Robbie is his brother. Or $500 to get away and $500 for the problems.

Wow - could you be my brother? ;)

I think the reason that Robert comes over is either because he was bullied into it by Frank and Marie or because he just can't stand to be by himself. Both of these are very plausible reasons why he came over. Another one was because it was the only way he could see Ally and the boys and we have seen before that Robert is quite good with those kids with spending time with them, talking and getting to know them. However the jealousy between them I think for the most part was one-sided. Robert was jealous of Ray because he had everything he wanted. A nice house, loving wife, beautiful children and for many years he was living at home with their parents who treated him like he was a second-class citzen and barely acknowledged his existance when he was in the room with Raymond. I admit that I still have moments of jealousy with my brother, but we get along a lot better than when we did when were children or even 10 years ago. Robert just needs to get over it, and move on. Life is far too short too to waste it being jealous of someone who has it a little better than you do.

IMO, Robert has nothing to be jealous of and he could have the same things Ray has/had. Sure being a police officer isn't as lucritive as being a sports writer, but he could still have it all. I for one like Robert 100% better then Ray. He's more of a man then Ray could even dream of being. Ray lies to his wife constantly (not that she don't bring some of it on herself), he's a complete wuss, a mama's boy (when it suits him), otherwise he has no respect for his mother either. He stinks as a father in regards to spending time with his kids....yes, he provides for them but that doesn't make you "father of the year." When he has managed to find the balls to stick up to Debra, he would blow in the end with stupidity. But anyway, EVERYONE (with the exception of Debra and Amy) totally dismisses Robert and I'm sure after a bit that can get a bit old watching people fall over a person like he was a king and you got to fight for a small bit of respect and I also feel that after a while you gain some resentment of that person. IMO, Robert's better looking, funnier and he he's a hero when it comes to being a police officer so again, I feel he had nothing to be jealous of and in the end, Robert had the better wife. It's just too bad the show didn't go on to give Robert the kids he wanted.

"Golf for it" episode in season 8 where Ray and Robert were fighting in Ray's van where they got food thrown at each other.