If you would like to read my review of the last episode, click here.
Synopsis: Kate and Toby go to Las Vegas for their bachelor/bachelorette parties. Meanwhile, Jack and Rebecca celebrate their anniversary. (TVGuide)
Writer: Laura Kenar
Director: Joanna Kerns
Rating: TV-14
Running Time: 45mins
Finally, the mini-hiatus has come to an end and once again This Is Us is gracing our television screens. While this also means the season is coming to a close very soon, it’s time to relish every second that we are given until then. After the emotional episode with Jack’s death, this week was a bit more light-hearted, well as light-hearted as This Is Us can get.
The episode opens with Jack and Rebecca celebrating their first wedding anniversary and then goes on to show future anniversaries. Each anniversary consists of amazing gifts, with Jack winning every time. At some point, Rebecca decides that they need to stop doing that and just have a simple, calm day. However, the kids have something else in mind and want to plan an elaborate night for their parents to enjoy.
In the present, Deja visits Beth and Randall to tell them about the troubles her and her mom are having. Her mom has not been able to pay the heat bill and they’ve been without it for two weeks. Being the sweetheart he is, Randall immediately comes to Deja’s aid. In the midst of Deja worries, Beth and Randall start preparing to go to Vegas for Toby and Kate’s bachelor/bachelorette party. Beth shows no end to her excitement while Randall is lost in his thoughts about Deja’s well-being.
While Beth prepares to party with Kate and her friends, Toby is eagerly excited to spend time with Randall and Kevin. Unfortunately, both nights don’t go as planned. After talking to Deja on the phone, Randall begins to worry and goes to tell Beth. This leads to a heated conversation between the two–which was too hard to watch, considering they’re Beth and Randall. Kate tries to get involved but has to back out when she realizes she has nothing good to say. During Toby’s party, Randall and Kevin end up leaving because they didn’t think Toby cared much about their presence.
Perhaps the cutest moments of the episode are the flashbacks of the kids preparing for the anniversary party. It was executed so beautifully and really tugged at heartstrings. In order to distract Rebecca, Kevin pretends the chicken didn’t cook, but in actuality wanted the opportunity to set up their room with a plan for them to watch the meteor shower, A Walk To Remember style. As Rebecca said to Jack, “You’ve turned them into mini yous.”
By the end of the episode, Beth and Randall make up, Kevin finds out he was not cut from the Ron Howard movie, and Toby manages to connect with Randall and Kevin. The final moments show Jack talking to young Kevin about how grand gestures aren’t about what you do but the intent to do it. You have to let the other person you care about see you and hear you–and that’s what truly matters the most. For what was an otherwise pleasant, cute episode, the episode ends with Beth and Randall ending up at Deja’s house, only to find out they have been evicted and are living in the car.
There was a lot to enjoy in this week’s episode of This Is Us, and not for the usual overload of emotions, but for the breather, they took after two back-to-back emotionally intense episodes. This week the show wasn’t afraid to dig deeper into the psyche of all the family members and truly give us an understanding of who each and every one of them is. Bonding with the characters of the show made it more enjoyable and exciting, especially during this episode.
Watching Kate, Randall, and Beth come together to discuss unresolved issues was a great moment to watch and really highlighted their growth as a family. A standout moment was were when Toby finally felt welcomed by Kevin and Randall–it was such a sweet, touching moment that his character truly deserved. With just a few more episodes left, it will be exciting to see what the rest of the season brings!
Score: 8.5/10
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