This Is Us- Season two

[Minnesota!]

I LOVED this episode. My very own husband had a breakdown a few years back...very, very, very much like Randall's. And another one last year. The recovery I witnessed Randall/Beth going through, tiptoeing through - is SPOT on. And, the scene in the fan store. OMG. I just couldn't breathe. It was fantastically done.

Loved all the parts of last night - I was still doing stupid stuff like that at 28 and 29. It wasn't until my 30's that life became a bit clearer for me. So, I can see Kate and Kevin doing what they did. Idiots for a bit. It happens.

 

[lisaviolet]

I found the dynamic between Rebecca and Beth the most interesting part of the episode.

Fast forward in years, something something has happened between them. It wasn't just finding out about about Rebecca's lies about William. Beth had an edge in her voice about Rebecca before that moment.

The actress that plays Beth was incredible with those scenes. You could see how innocent she was at that age and how much she seemed to love and respect her mother-in-law - wide open to their relationship. Incredible acting. Her eyes, facial expression - everything.

 

[lisaviolet]

The hardware store scene was brilliant!!

Yes.

And I loved that they had a character who is Sikh. We live in countries with an incredible amount of diversity yet they always leave so many out of shows. When it is supposed to show reality.

Things are really changing on so many shows in the last couple of years. Good sign.

 

[lisaviolet]

Kevin and Kate making terrible choices... I loved it. This is why this show draws us in. They are not perfect. They do stupid things, just like we all do at times.

Bang on.

I can't stand Toby but his character is well written. And I appreciate it. He certainly lives in many people's lives. Always a need to be seen so they keep with that in every way. Doing outrageous things and then whining when Kate pays attention to her family or herself. Continuity in character.

 

[lisaviolet]

Kevin didn’t just seem like a douche he WAS a douche. The assumption that this guy would want him to read for him (after it had been cast, no less) because he was prettier than his friend was sheer arrogance.

Absolutely. Totally arrogant.

But they have shown that throughout his life. How flawed he is like many in the world. He's thirty-seven and before the breakdown Randall feels that they had never felt like brothers ever - ie. Kevin having his back. He screwed his marriage. He had a lack of empathy for Randall. And no empathy/kindness for Miguel, way after he should have known better. Even with his father gone. High school football star, used to being about him. Over and over and over.

Most people don't change. So I am hopeful that they don't do a complete reboot on his character over time.

 

[lisaviolet]

I heard that in Canada they still said Kevin Spacey.

Yep. Did on mine.

 

[elgerber]

Absolutely. Totally arrogant.

But they have shown that throughout his life. How flawed he is like many in the world. He's thirty-seven and Randall feels that they had never felt like brothers ever - ie. Kevin having his back. He screwed his marriage. He had a lack of empathy for Randall. And no empathy/kindness for Miguel, way after he should have known better. Even with his father gone. High school football star, used to being about him. Over and over and over.

Most people don't change. So I am hopeful that they don't do a complete reboot on his character over time.

I agree that Kevin has always been a jerk, but I thought he grew immensely last season, and that he has been changing.

 

[lisaviolet]

I agree that Kevin has always been a jerk, but I thought he grew immensely last season, and that he has been changing.

I completely agree.

But I do hope that they don't change him too much, over time. As I don't think that is realistic.

 

[lisaviolet]

I really thought Kate's interaction was going to be about a man who was attracted to her but couldn't accept that fact in his regular life. Not strong enough in character. Ie. Wanting to be in secret because of judgments from his friends and loved ones that Kate wasn't traditionally beautiful (can't think of the correct words here). Stupid judgments obviously. But it happens.

 

[lisaviolet]

It was fantastically done.

It was. I was very still, watching it. So well done. to your entire family Minnesota.

 

[kimblebee]

Where did you watch it? They cut the Kevin Spacey for the broadcast airing and replaced it with Christian Bale.

I did watch it in Canada. It's funny..I watch the show with captions on because sometimes my hearing isn't great and I miss things. The caption of that line said Christian Bale and the actual words were Kevin Spacey.

Yes.

And I loved that they had a character who is Sikh. We live in countries with an incredible amount of diversity yet it is always regulated to leave so many out of shows. When it is supposed to show reality.

Things are really changing on so many shows in the last couple of years. Good sign.

I actually wondered if they specifically has a Sikh actor for that part. I guess so because of the name but I thought it was a perfect decision.

I also thought it was very interesting that Randall said "I hope it's not racist but..." when talking about the mans turban. Randall seems to be sensitive about racism and he goes and makes an assumption about someone based on what they're wearing. That whole scene was perfection.

 

[cabanafrau]

I thought it was interesting that they showed us both Kevin and Kate knowing what they were doing was wrong and going ahead and doing it anyway. IMO Kevin did feel guilty and that's why he leapt at the opportunity to get out of town. Unfortunately he cannot run away from himself. Kate accepted the guy wanting to leave immediately as what she deserved for sleeping with a married man.

Once again Kevin was the kid left to his own devices while Jack fretted over Kate's feelings being hurt or not and Rebecca did whatever she could to make sure Randall's plan happened. What mother of three children, especially three the same age, makes that kind of blanket promise to one kid about trick or treating, knowing she has two others with their own expectations?

Beth is absolutely the perfect mate for Randall. The more we see of her, the more I like her.

 

[anniemae]

I found the dynamic between Rebecca and Beth the most interesting part of the episode.

Fast forward in years, something something has happened between them. It wasn't just finding out about about Rebecca's lies about William. Beth had an edge in her voice about Rebecca before that moment.

The actress that plays Beth was incredible with those scenes. You could see how innocent she was at that age and how much she seemed to love and respect her mother-in-law - wide open to their relationship. Incredible acting. Her eyes, facial expression - everything.

I thought the same thing. There is a rift between Rebecca and Beth in present day. In 2008 they got along wonderfully. I am curious to know what happened between them.

 

[soccerdad72]

Loved the line from the home improvement store guy, "I was just about to have a baby named after me until then, wasn't I?" (or something like that).

 

[jdb in AZ]

Ten-yr-old Randall trick-or-treating and has a conversation with the neighbors about adoption? Um, no. Our kids are both adopted and about the same age as the Pearsons. We were taught in a pre-adoption parenting class that you tell the kids as babies, "I'm so glad we adopted you." So that they become accustomed to hearing the word adoption and it doesn't hit them from left field when they're older. Rebecca and Randall were close "you always talk to me" and there's no way he would have waited til age ten to bring up the fact that he looks different from the rest of the family. Maybe when he was five? The kid was brilliant -- if he had discussed the adoption with Jack and Rebecca earlier, he would have had an appropriate comeback for the Larsens.

Kevin trying to steal his friend's job, and Kate sleeping with a guy she knew was married -- totally obnoxious.

 

[elgerber]

Ten-yr-old Randall trick-or-treating and has a conversation with the neighbors about adoption? Um, no. Our kids are both adopted and about the same age as the Pearsons. We were taught in a pre-adoption parenting class that you tell the kids as babies, "I'm so glad we adopted you." So that they become accustomed to hearing the word adoption and it doesn't hit them from left field when they're older. Rebecca and Randall were close "you always talk to me" and there's no way he would have waited til age ten to bring up the fact that he looks different from the rest of the family. Maybe when he was five?

Kevin trying to steal his friend's job, and Kate sleeping with a guy she knew was married -- totally obnoxious.

I don't think it was the fact that he was adopted, he obviously knows that, but it was that he "replaced" their other child that they "lost". But yeah, he probably should know that at that age.
But how cute was Randall as Michael???

 

[soccerdad72]

I don't think it was the fact that he was adopted, he obviously knows that, but it was that he "replaced" their other child that they "lost". But yeah, he probably should know that at that age.
But how cute was Randall as Michael???

I was just going to say the same thing - I assume they always talked to him about being adopted, but maybe didn't ever bring up the third baby who didn't survive.

 

[lorimay]

He was the cutest Michael Jackson!

 

[anniemae]

Ten-yr-old Randall trick-or-treating and has a conversation with the neighbors about adoption? Um, no. Our kids are both adopted and about the same age as the Pearsons. We were taught in a pre-adoption parenting class that you tell the kids as babies, "I'm so glad we adopted you." So that they become accustomed to hearing the word adoption and it doesn't hit them from left field when they're older. Rebecca and Randall were close "you always talk to me" and there's no way he would have waited til age ten to bring up the fact that he looks different from the rest of the family. Maybe when he was five? The kid was brilliant -- if he had discussed the adoption with Jack and Rebecca earlier, he would have had an appropriate comeback for the Larsens.

Kevin trying to steal his friend's job, and Kate sleeping with a guy she knew was married -- totally obnoxious.

It wasn't about being adopted. I think they were very open about that - except for the fact that William was interested in meeting Randall when Randall was young. They seemed to have the story where they were all meant to be etc. It was more about Kyle dying and Randall "replacing" Kyle, as horrible as that sounds, it seems that's how the neighbor phrased it. They lost a baby and adopted a baby so they still came home with three. I think they made it sound like the neighbor was gushing about how magical it all worked out. They def should have had that conversation with Randall sooner. It's like it was the first time he had heard there was three babies born to Rebecca and Jack.

 

[KristiMc]

It wasn't about being adopted. I think they were very open about that - except for the fact that William was interested in meeting Randall when Randall was young. They seemed to have the story where they were all meant to be etc. It was more about Kyle dying and Randall "replacing" Kyle, as horrible as that sounds, it seems that's how the neighbor phrased it. They lost a baby and adopted a baby so they still came home with three. I think they made it sound like the neighbor was gushing about how magical it all worked out. They def should have had that conversation with Randall sooner. It's like it was the first time he had heard there was three babies born to Rebecca and Jack.

I was thinking this also. These kids are 10 and they don't know that they had a sibling that died? Sad to think they never talk about Kyle - like he was just forgotten.