The show's narrative launched with the death of William Walker at Kitty's birthday party. His death causes a number of secrets from his life to be revealed - secrets that impact the remainder of his family.

On the business side, Sarah (Rachel Griffiths), Tommy, (Baltazar Getty) and Saul (Ron Rifkin), who are the most involved people with the family business, learn that William (Tom Skerritt) embezzled the company funds. The business revelation pales, however, to two major revelations on the personal front: William had a mistress, actress Holly Harper (Patricia Wettig) that he kept for decades, and the couple had a child, Rebecca (Emily VanCamp). They later find out that Rebecca was not William's biological child but that he fathered another child Ryan by a second mistress (deceased). After Tommy finds out that his dad was going to open a winery for Tommy to run, he joins Holly in opening Walker Landing Winery, and later took over Ojai foods making Holly and Tommy Co-CEO's. War veteran Justin (Dave Annable) struggled with drug addiction but eventually recovered and was deployed to Iraq, was injured and relapsed and is now beginning a relationship with non-sister Rebecca. Sarah divorces, and Kitty (Calista Flockhart) marries and begins the adoption process with one time Presidential hopeful and republican senator Robert McAllister (Rob Lowe). Middle brother Kevin (Matthew Rhyss), a gay lawyer, marries on and off again partner Scotty (Luke MacFarlane) and takes over for Kitty as his brother-in-laws Director of Communications while she publishes her book.