This Is Us (4×09) So Long, Marianne Review

For our review of the last episode of This Is Us, click here.

Synopsis: The Pearson family gathers for its first Thanksgiving at Randall’s Philadelphia townhouse. (IMDb)

Woo, what an episode! This Is Us has a reputation for giving us some of the most epic fall finales. While So Long, Marianne wasn’t as crazy as the “Toby has a heart attack” episode, it’s equally impactful. Plus, there’s nothing like a stressful Pearson holiday family gathering.

But let’s start back in the past with a young Nicky and Jack celebrating Thanksgiving. Their family life wasn’t the best, as we know, so Jack created a new tradition for them. They head to a bar where Nicky bets on a football game, wins a ton of money, and then end up ordering a 5-lb shrimp platter for dinner.

In the present, everyone is slowly gathering at Randall and Beth’s place. Things are still awkward between Randall and Rebecca after their argument, and it doesn’t get any better at first. Rebecca decides to get out of the house for a while and catch a movie. This Is Us really tricks us here with Rebecca in the fall finale. While we believe that she gets lost on that that Thanksgiving Day, it’s actually a scene that’s playing out from the future.

In the present, she’s actually fine and goes to the movie and comes back home to reveal that her phone was off. The entire time you’re led to believe that she’s lost in the present, and it is worth mentioning how this was so cleverly executed.

Toby and Kate make their way to Philadelphia, but things are a bit rough between them. Ever since Toby went all Rambo and obsessed with Crossfit, there’s been some distance between them. It seemed like it’s primarily due to Kate being insecure, but time will reveal that. On their flight to Philly, Kate reveals that Jack had solid food for the first time before Toby thought he did. It clearly upsets him because he missed one of Jack’s firsts which has set the stage for some drama that will surely take place later.

Meanwhile, Nicky joins Randall and Annie on a road trip to their old house. They left their box of Thanksgiving traditions back there, and there can’t be a Pearson Thanksgiving without the Pilgrim Rick hat!

The road trip ends up being insightful for Nicky who wasn’t sure how he fit into the family dynamic. Not only did he find a way to get comfortable, but he brought in a new tradition, the very same one he and Jack shared on that Thanksgiving. In fact, the tradition continues into the future as Toby and Kate’s son, Jack, continues it with his family.

While everyone’s out and about, Beth is back home cooking with Miguel. She’s nervous about Deja’s mom, Shauna, coming over but it ends up going very well. In fact, it’s going so well that Beth feels a bit intimidated by it. But that’s not how Mama Pearson rolls for too long, she knows that she’s an awesome mother, and thankfully, Kate is there to remind her of it.

Kevin and Tess step out of the house for a bit too after Tess shares a dilemma she’s having. A meme is going around school that tells you to post your celebrity crush, and because she hasn’t come out to anyone yet, she’s scared to post that picture of Zendaya. Thankfully, Uncle Kevin is there to help her through it!

And speaking of Kevin, a flash-forward reveals that the hope he had for himself in the present comes true. Nine months from Thanksgiving, Kevin is engaged, and his fiance is pregnant! Except, there’s just one slight problem. Randall isn’t at their 40th birthday party because they’re not talking anymore, and Rebecca’s memory is getting worse and worse.

Just like that, we’ve come to the fall finale, folks. There are a lot of questions we have, and we have to wait until January to find out what’s going on. Why is the Pearson family not talking to Randall? What will happen to Rebecca? Are Kate and Toby going to last?

At least we only have to wait two months…

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