Family tension is high this week for every Pearson relationship on This Is Us.
Last week we got to see Nicky (Griffin Dunne) and Deja (Lyric Ross) have their moment to shine.
This week, each of the Big Three are struggling with their families.
Kate (Chrissy Metz) and Toby (Chris Sullivan) are hard pressed to get on the same page regarding their children because of Toby’s rigorous work schedule. As the tension between them grows, Kate is sent closer to her colleague at work, whom we figured out she will eventually marry, meaning something will happen between her and Toby.
Though they work it out at the end of this episode, we see their son Jack (Blake Stadnik) all grown up and using the meat smoker his parents bought, and his girlfriend tells him not to use it anymore because it’s the symbol of the day his parents’ marriage blew up, as well as almost permanently injuring him. The foreshadowing is intense and definitely intriguing.
Kevin (Justin Hartley) is trying to figure out whether or not he made the right decision taking The Manny reboot job to be near his kids, after he misses the milestone of his daughter taking her first steps. Ultimately, he and Madison (Caitlin Thompson) decide that because they aren’t together, at least one of them will always feel left out. We also get a super awesome appearance from Kevin and Nicky’s friend Cassidy (Jennifer Morrison), who we haven’t seen in a while but is still quick to pick up the phone when Kevin needs moral support.
Randall (Sterling K. Brown) is trying to connect with Deja, when she gets a text revealing she went to visit Malik (Asante Blackk) the weekend prior and her dad didn’t know. Though he’s stressed and wants to bring down the hammer, Beth (Susan Kelechi Watson) convinces him that it’s normal for Deja to be feeling this, and she’s going to put her on birth control to make sure she’s safe.
This week feels like the beginning of the end almost, starting to tie up the loose ends of the show that we need to know before getting to the finale of the series. There were some sweet moments with Jack (Milo Ventimiglia) and Rebecca (Mandy Moore). One of the best moments in the episode came from the connection between Toby and Kevin. The two bonded heavily over being stressed out as fathers, and it’s so bittersweet to see their connection, knowing Kate and Toby will eventually end.
Another really amazing moment came from Randall’s conversation with Deja. It’s reflective of the feelings of adoptive parents, and he tries to love her and care for her, while also laying down the law. The rift really sets in when he says she can’t go visit Malik anymore, and then she tells him it’s going to be a problem. We’ll have to see how that plays out, because the two are usually on the same page.
All in all, this episode wasn’t one of the most exciting, but felt more like the beginning of the bittersweet end, as we see Kate and Toby’s rift begin, Deja growing up and Kevin saying goodbye to his self-destructive behavior. Though these are good things for the characters, they’re sad for the audience who will miss them dearly.
This Is Us airs Tuesdays at 9 p.m. on NBC.
