This Is Us (5×06) Birth Mother Review

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

Synopsis: Randall uncovers new truths about his past. (IMDB)

It’s been a while since This Is Us gave Sterling K. Brown an episode to shine in. This isn’t to say that every scene Brown does isn’t spectacular, but there hasn’t been “that” moment since season one’s panic attack scene. It was such a spectacularly visceral scene, and since then, Brown has certainly had plenty of moments, but it wasn’t until this week’s episode that truly matched the intensity of that season one moment.

This week’s episode is all about Randall’s birth mother, and his emotional journey of learning more about her, who she was, and what exactly led to the moment William left him at the fire station. It’s safe to say this episode was a personal favorite of the series because it finally gave Randall the history he’s been so desperate to know more about. Up until now, he was a bit lost and in the dark about where he came from, and growing up with the Pearsons didn’t allow him to learn much about it.

In any case, the episode kicks off with Beth and Randall arriving at Hai’s home in New Orleans. Yes, they’re maskless, but they are quick to mention that they quarantined and got tested before arriving. Before long, Hai gets right to the point and begins sharing the story of Laurel Dubois, who was apparently from a very prominent household. In fact, the very home they were sitting inside of during this conversation was Laurel’s, and now by proxy, Randall’s.

Within five minutes, Randall learns that he has land, a home, and very deep history in New Orleans–and this was just the beginning. Growing up Laurel shared a very close relationship with her older brother, who perished in the Vietnam War. Unfortunately, this was likely the catalyst that took Laurel down a very devastating path. She didn’t quite share a closeness with either of her parents, but she did have a bond with her Aunt Mae (LisaGay Hamilton), who was there for her every step of the way.

With all this grief inside of her, Aunt Mae tells Laurel to release it by screaming at the top of her lungs in the nearby lake. And it’s during this screaming therapy session that Laurel first meets young Hai (Kane Lieu), who was a recent Vietnamese refugee trying to make a life for himself and his family in New Orleans after the war. Even though Laurel was with another man, a love story between her and Hai began, and it was one for the ages. Their love story, for the moment, was brief as Laurel’s father insisted she marry the man she had been with. In a moment of fear, Laurel decides to run and asks Hai to join her. Unfortunately, he’s unable to do so as he was the sole provider for his parents, and so Hai and Laurel’s story came to an end.

Laurel, on the other hand, only had enough money for a one-way bus ticket to Pittsburgh, and that is where her story with William began. After giving birth to Randall and overdosing, William believed Laurel to be dead, where in fact she was very much alive. In the days and years following that fateful day, Laurel healed from the incident but was sent to prison for five years on the count of drug possession.

When she got out, she had no idea where Randall or William could be and went to the only place she knew she could–Aunt Mae’s. Her journey to this point had left Laurel broken and made her feel unworthy of being a mother, even though she pined to be one to Randall.

She essentially started over and lived her life out by Aunt Mae’s side, and even struck up a silent friendship with Hai who was now married and had kids of his own. The two maintained their relationship through subtle and longing looks to one another over the decades. It wasn’t until they were both much older and after Hai’s wife had passed away, that they even had a proper conversation, and sadly, it was one that revealed Laurel was sick and dying. In her final days, Hai took care of Laurel and learned everything about her, her past, her guilt over Randall, and everything that led her to her dying breath.

It’s quite a heavy story when all is said and done, but one Randall needed to know to understand he wasn’t abandoned on purpose or unloved. It was just a series of unfortunate circumstances but one that was filled with love and at times, joy.

Later that night, Randall finds himself unable to sleep and returns to Laurel’s, well, now his, home to think about everything Hai told him. Cue, Sterling K. Brown’s future Emmy-winning performance.

Much like his mother once did, Randall wades completely naked in the lake and screams his lungs out, letting out all those years of frustration, fear, and sadness. It’s quite therapeutic and might have even caused him to go on a trip as he imagines seeing his mother in the lake with him. The conversation he has with her is heartbreaking and gut-wrenching, and probably one of the series’ strongest moments to date.

Whatever happened that night finally frees Randall of whatever shackles were holding him down and so he decides to use this lightness to reach out to Kevin. Unfortunately, it’s not the best time for Kevin who is frantically driving from Vancouver to Los Angeles because Madison is in labor, and he’s unable to fly home because of the COVID-19 travel restrictions.

It’s unclear how this will impact Randall, but next week’s promo shows Kevin has gotten in a car accident, and it’s not looking too great. This Is Us never slows down, does it?

Until next week!

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