Check out our breakdown of last week’s episode if you missed it or just need a refresher!
Synopsis-
This week on This Is Us, the times are a changin’ for everyone and some are taking it better than others. In the past, Jack and Rebecca take the big three for a pool day on their last day of summer break before 7th grade. All hormonal pre-teens, the kids split immediately upon getting there though. They all struggle with growing up in their own ways but seem surprisingly grown-up as they deal with their problems without much parental intervention. In the future, Kate and Toby begin adjusting to life with Jack and all the struggles that come with having a blind baby. At the same time, Kevin is torn between helping his spiraling Uncle Nicky and taking a movie role in Chicago.
Elsewhere, Randall and Beth adjust to their kids growing up and “meaner by the day” in the words of Beth. In California, Kate finally opens up to Kevin about her feelings when it comes to Jack. Kevin also shares his concerns about leaving her to go film anew movie in Chicago while he lets their uncle flounder in old age and alcoholism. Ultimately, Kate decides to put an end to the preemptive overboard parenting while Kevin turns down the movie role to go be with his uncle. And in Philadelphia, Randall deals with his problem like he always does, head-on with words. Everyone in his family shares their ‘worst-case scenario’ for the coming year and, after reaching a mutual understanding, they put everything behind them in the best way possible: by running up the “Rocky steps” outside the Philadelphia Museum of Art.
Immediate Reactions
I thought this episode was surprisingly good. With the Pearsons’ return to the pool, I expected a story similar to what we’d seen there in previous episodes. But, we actually got one a lot different. There was no galvanizing Jack Pearson speech to bring the family together in a hard moment (that moment actually went to Kate in the future, but more on that later). Beyond that though, there weren’t a ton of answers for the big three as kids. And, I like that. I especially like that we begin to see them struggle with the same things they all struggle with as adults. And as adults in the future, it’s obvious that they’re drawing upon that second trip to the pool as they deal with even bigger questions, with even fewer answers. Nearly every major scene in tonight’s episode correlated to a scene in the opposite timeline in a meaningful way.
MVP
It was hard this week because there were so many characters on their A games. There’s a strong case for both Toby and Kevin, both past and present. But, I think it’s got to go to Kate. She’s dealing with the hardest thing she’s ever had to deal with and sure, she broke down for a minute. But she obviously learned a thing or two from her father when she came back stronger than ever declaring her son’s life will be limitless.
Did I cry?
Surprisingly no. It wasn’t really a sad or overly emotional episode though. Even the uplifting parts this week weren’t ‘move-you-to-tears’ uplifting but, more empowering than anything. In other news, I’m officially on a two-week streak of no crying. Knowing this show, don’t expect that to last.
Now, here’s a look at the best three moments from tonight’s episode:
3.”I’m gonna go out on a limb here..”
This one was a small moment but still one of my favorites. It’s Randall and Beth just being a mother and father, and more importantly a husband and wife. We spent so much of last season watching the two of them at odds. And this moment saw them get back to some sort of normalcy on-screen for the first time in a long time.
2.”Worst Case Scenario…”
Sticking with Randall and company here, I’m going to cheat a little bit. I’m counting the entire final few minutes of the episode as one big moment, starting with Randall’s game of ‘Worst Case Scenario.’ It’s powerful enough to watch a family deal with their issues so transparently, nevermind the montage that follows. As Randall’s Pearson clan runs up the steps of the Philadelphia Museum of Art, we see a montage of the rest of the Pearsons, both past and present as they move forward. Nothing’s perfect by any means, but they’re there for each other and that’s what matters.
1.”My son will live a life without limits.”
And finally, this week’s best moment goes to Kate. Usually, every episode features, in one way or another, a trademark ‘Jack Pearson Moment’ where he upends the status quo and hits everyone some truth bombs. And though he and Kevin shared a moment at the pool, it paled in comparison to his daughter’s moment some 20ish years later. When everyone around her is trying to wall her son in and place limits on his life, she refuses. She stands up and states her intention for baby Jack to “live a life without limits.” It’s powerful and moving and uplifting and so far, may be the best moment of this season.
Predictions-
Moving forward, I think we’ll see much more of the selfless, “good person” Kevin’s so desperately striving to be. He’s (hopefully) going to help Nicky find sobriety along with Cassidy, the struggling combat vet we met last week. I think things with Kate and Toby will continue to be slightly weird as Kate’s over-eating problem continues to grow. And honestly, I’m not sure what to expect from Randall’s side of things. Obviously Malikk will be involved as he and Déjà become involved. But, I feel like enough drama was made over his campaign that we won’t see any work-related drama involving him for at least a few weeks. But, who knows? Maybe everything I just said was totally wrong.
Check out the promo for next week’s episode “Unhinged” below:
This Is Us airs Tuesdays at 7/8 C on NBC.
