TV Talk Tuesday: Previously on This Is Us

Hello and welcome back to another TV Talk on The CW Torch. Today, we will be taking about two of my favorite shows, This Is Us, which is now currently on its second season. If you read my most anticipated shows of Fall 2017 and favorite TV shows of 2016-2017, then you would know that This Is Us made both of those lists. I immediately fell in love with the Pearson family, and was highly anticipating the second season. So far, the second season of this show is hardly disappointing me. In case you forgot what’s been happening with the Pearson’s , here is a little refresher, as it will be returning the night this blog goes up.

What’s Up with the Big Three?

Somehow, someway, the writers of This Is Us, has managed to pull our heartstrings for a second time. If they didn’t already manage to do that, with William’s death last season. I've probably cried about three times already, and we're hardly half way through the season. This Is Us is such a true and honest show, that so many people can relate to it in many different ways, which is why it is so heartbreaking. Some of my favorite episodes of this season have already aired, and I know it’s only going to be more amazing and heartbreaking once it comes back on.

One of my favorite storylines this season, were the last three episodes before the break, which focuses on the Big Three. We got a little background of the most important times of their lives, right before Jack dies. How those moments shaped who they are now, and how they are parallels to what is currently going on in their lives. I will focus more on those last three episodes, for this recap.

Number One: Kevin Pearson

The first of the last three episodes, begins with Kevin as a baby, walking for the first time. Kevin has had a rough season, as we start to see some signs of addiction, just like his father Jack.

In the beginning of the season, Kevin’s life has never been better. He is in a relationship with his childhood girlfriend, whom he almost married, before cheating on her in the past. He even landed a role in a war film, alongside Sylvester Stallone. Kevin’s life was on a high, so much so that he was going to propose to his girlfriend, once again. But, soon his life came tumbling down, when his knee injury from the past, came back to haunt him.

When filming a scene in the Sylvester Stallone movie, Kevin trips and hurts his knee real bad. This is the same knee he hurt in High School, which blew any chance of him playing college football. This is when we first see signs of addiction, when he takes more pain medication than prescribed. Because of his knee injury, he loses his role in the movie, which is exactly what happened to him in High School. He spirals out of control with his drinking, missing a big speech at an auction. Ruins his relationship with Sophie, when he has a dream of their future relationship, telling her that their married life together will actually be terrible. Which only makes his drinking and drug addiction worse.

However, things are looking up, when his High School calls him to except some sort of award at the school. Even though he is heavily addicted, he decides to go back to the high school. This is when he really breaks down, when his high school is applauding him for all the “greatness” he’s accomplished. Yet, he feels that what he’s accomplished is far from great, and more of an embarrassment if anything. After giving up his award, he goes to the football field, drinking more heavily. This scene was really moving to me, because we actually see how much Kevin truly misses his dad. We see what Jack’s death meant to Kevin, because before we didn’t really see how it had affected him. We also see how much he truly hates himself as a person, when everybody else, for some reason, praises him.

After the football field scene, which broke my heart and made me cry for the first time all season. Kevin sleeps with his former classmate, which was only intended to be a one-night stand type of situation. However, he loses Jack’s necklace, which spirals him even more out of control. Kevin is at his last breaking point, when he tries to find his dad's necklace, but his former classmate is pissed at him, and won’t let him find it. In that moment, he realizes how much his addiction is affecting him. So, he goes to Randall for help, but before he can even do that, Randall tells Kevin that Kate lost the baby. This scene tore my heart again, because we actually see an addictive person go to someone for help. Which sometimes doesn’t happen, yet this time something else gets in the way. I also loved this scene, because we see how much Kevin truly loves his brother, and can see that Randall will be the only person he will ever go to for help, even more so than Kate. Which I actually love, because of how much they both hated each other when they were younger. Despite their lack of a relationship in the past, they always end up going to each other for help. Like how last season, when Randall had a nervous break-down, Kevin was there to calm him down.

Even though Kevin is actually a terrible person, I really felt for him in this episode, because we actually see his human side. We see how addiction can really affect someone and others around them. Through this, we also see how loss can really shape and change a person. I thought this was the most transformative we’ve seen Kevin, and I think Justin Hartley is doing a tremendous job at playing this addictive role. And if Justin Hartley is not nominated for any award in 2019, then I’m going to write a strongly worded letter to the Hollywood Foreign Press.

Once we get back into season two, I really hope that Kevin asks Randall for help, and doesn’t let Kate losing the baby distract him.

Number Two: Kate Pearson

Once again, the episode for Kate begins with her walking for the first time as a baby. Kate’s life is on a high for her as well, as she is pregnant and has a stable singing job with a cover band. One morning, her life changes drastically, when she has a miscarries. This changes everything for her and Toby, and puts a real strain on their relationship. Toby wants to help Kate, but instead she acts as if nothing happened. Toby is frustrated with this, because it did happen and has affected the both of them. Kate still chooses to ignore the reality of what happened, because she knew there was a high possibility of the miscarriage happening due to her weight. She also doesn’t seem to think that this miscarriage could affect Toby in the same way it affected her, because he wasn't the one carrying the child. Even though Kate tries to ignore the miscarriage, it actually affects her as she almost binge eats at a buffet. But, she realizes that binge eating won’t solve anything.

In the moments leading up to Jack’s death, we are shown when Kate really gets interested in singing, because her singing career is taking off in her current life. Kate is showing signs of rebellion, because Rebecca is pressuring her with college applications. However, Kate doesn’t want to apply to any of the schools Rebecca has mentioned, secretly applying to a music school. Kate keeps it a secret from her mom, because she knows how critical her mother can be. But, Rebecca finds Kate’s audition tape anyways, and is surprisingly extremely supportive of Kate’s decision. Which was something Kate wasn’t expecting from her mother.

Kate eventually realizes that she can’t ignore the people around her, during these hard times. Surprisingly, going to her mother for help and advice, which is something I wasn’t seeing. Since, they’ve always had a strained relationship, especially after Jack passed away.

I actually loved seeing Kate going to Rebecca for help, because we've always seen Kate more close to Jack, growing up. However, I was disappointed in the story arch they chose for Kate, because I would’ve loved to see the moments before the possible accident. When Kate tells Jack to fight for Rebecca, even though Jack had been drinking. However, I do love seeing Kate and Rebecca’s relationship growing stronger, because it's so sad to see how much they’ve despised each other, when they have so much in common. I am really curious to see how their relationship changes after this miscarriage, because Rebecca really came through for Kate. I also really hope to see a baby in Toby and Kate’s future, even if it means they have to adopt, because I think they'd be great parents.

Number Three: Randall Pearson

The last episode before the break, begins with Randall walking shortly after Kate, as a baby. Randall and Beth are in their final stages of fostering, when shortly after they gain a temporary member of their family. A young girl named Deja, whose mother was sent to jail for carrying an armed weapon, and has shown signs of abuse. At first Randall, Beth, and their two daughters were having a tough transition with Deja. She was really quiet, had a bad attitude, and Beth also found cigarettes in her backpack. But, when Beth helps fix Deja’s hair, they finally find a way through to her. They finally accept Deja as one of their own children, even though she is just a foster child, and probably won’t be staying for very long. At least until her mother gets out of jail, which happens shortly after they start having a real relationship with Deja.

Right before Jack’s death, Randall visits a college with Jack. Jack really wanted to visit Harvard, but Randall wants to check out an all-black college. Jack isn't sure how to feel about this, but decides to go for Randall. Jack has a difficult time with this, only because he knows Randall is trying to discover what it means to be Black. It hurts Jack, because he knows he can’t help his son with that, because he truly can’t relate to it. While it was difficult for Jack to accept the fact that Randall might want to go to an all-Black school, because he can actually fit in there. He lets Randall decide where he can go, because Jack knows that his son will make the right decision for himself.

In parallel to finding out more about Randall’s culture, this is when we see the beginnings of Randall trying to find his biological parents. He puts an ad in the paper, basically looking for someone who dropped a kid off at the fire station when he was first born. William actually finds this ad, and in another flashback we see William telling Randall about this moment. When William almost went back to the Pearson’s house to introduce himself to Randall. He tells Randall about how his life might've been different if he just knocked on that door. How he could’ve been more of an influence in Randall’s life, but then he realized that it might've made Randall’s life worse. Instead of knocking on the door, William walks away, Waterworks Number 2 of the season.

Back to the present, when things seem to be going well for Randall, Beth, and Deja. The thing they feared most, happens, when Deja's mother is let out of jail. Since Deja’s mother is seemingly capable of taking care of Deja, Randall and Beth have no more use in Deja's life. They sadly have to say goodbye to Deja, which brings on, Waterworks Number 3. When Deja allows Randall to hug her before leaving, because it only bothers her when she doesn’t see it coming.

I really loved seeing young Randall actually ask questions about his race, because you could actually see the struggle of being so different from everyone else around him. I also loved seeing Randall and Beth as foster parents, and can’t wait to see who will be joining their family next. It also broke my heart when we saw that conversation between William and Randall, because you actually saw how much he wanted to be a part of Randall’s family. I really hope that we get more of William and even young William, because the actor who plays young William is doing such a wonderful job of playing that role.

Thank you all for reading my most recent TV Talk, I am extremely excited for the second season of This Is Us, to come back from it's hiatus. This show has easily become one of my all-time favorite tv shows, and it's only on its second season. I am really curious to see Kevin's character arch as he tries handling his addiction, and I am also excited to see who will be entering Randall and Beth's household next. I also hope that Toby and Kate will get their child, whether it be trying to get pregnant again or trying out adoption. Unlike most people who watch This Is Us, I really don't want to see how Jack dies. I think that will only break my heart even further, because I did not handle seeing William die very well. All in all, the second season of This Is Us, is living up to the hype of the first season. And I can't wait for it's return this Tuesday!

TTFN,

Chynna Williams @TheCWTorch