This is us..

[Dentam]

The Thanksgiving episode was so good! I absolutely love this show and there's always a part that makes me cry every week. This time it was William's poetic response to being asked what it feels like to be dying.

 

[bethbuchall]

I thought she said she would speak to her again about it.

I did rewatch the episode, and you are right. She did say she'd talk to her again about it.

 

[poohfriend77]

I know I'm in the minority but I hated that they let Miguel wear the hat. That to me is a memory that should be reserved for the boys. My heartbroke for Toby

I'm with you. I hated that Miguel even asked. It's one thing to want to be part of the family activities, but it seemed disrespectful for him to want to take over Jack's job.

I'm sure something is coming to make us see Miguel differently, but right now every time he opens his mouth, I dislike him more!

 

[wenrob]

I loved seeing where all the Thanksgiving traditions came from, it was so sweet. I was like "why on earth is Randall sending Kevin to the store for hot dogs and saltines?" Then it was interesting to see that they had to walk 3.4 miles as kids to the gas station, so that is why they do the 3.4 mile hike.

That said, I wonder if they should keep these traditions going. I mean it was probably fine when they were all younger and after Jack dies (we don't know how old the kids were at the time of Jacks death, but it was at least after high school since we saw them last week in hs), it may have helped them to re-live that iconic Thanksgiving for a while, but now that they are grown, Randall is married, has kids, Rebecca re-married etc. It seems like maybe they could stop some of the traditions (like the pilgrim hat, hot dogs and saltines, yarn throwing, Rebecca saying word for word what Jack said that night) and make new traditions with the new members of the family. I don't know, but it just seemed like they were so intent on reliving it exactly as it happened word for word, minute to minute instead of maybe taking a few of the highlights as an homage to Jack, (like the hike and the movie) and starting new traditions that would have include and have meaning to Beth, the kids, Miguel, and whoever Kevin and Kate wind up with.

Don't get me wrong, I thought it was cute, just like they were trying too hard to recreate that day years ago.

Well, Randall is the most enthusiastic about Thanksgiving and that Thanksgiving is the one that made him love it instead of hate it so I can see why he in particular wants it exactly the same. We also have to remember that Rebecca has always gone out of her way to make him feel like he is one of them to the point of overdoing it and making him the favorite so I can see everyone just kind of going alone to keep them both happy. Although with that thought process it's hard to believe she would let her parents exclude him during the holidays.

 

[mdb78]

I'm with you. I hated that Miguel even asked. It's one thing to want to be part of the family activities, but it seemed disrespectful for him to want to take over Jack's job.

I'm sure something is coming to make us see Miguel differently, but right now every time he opens his mouth, I dislike him more!

Yes! I'm with you both on Miguel. He knows about the tradition and I also found it disrespectful. Not a fan of him either. Im sure part of the reason is that he reminds me of my mil's ex whenever he speaks.

 

[ronandannette]

Yes! I'm with you both on Miguel. He knows about the tradition and I also found it disrespectful. Not a fan of him either. Im sure part of the reason is that he reminds me of my mil's ex whenever he speaks.

See, here's the thing - the writers have purposely left the whole "Rebecca is now married to Miguel" storyline shrouded in mystery, and we're obviously all emotionally invested in the original nuclear family. But I can't help comparing this to real life. I don't blame him AT ALL for wanting to be recognized as a legit part of the family after all these years - his response was written very realistically, IMO.

I also think that if this was an IRL thread on the CB, many of us would would find it unreasonable that a new spouse was expected to sit down and shut up as the "family" relived this convoluted Thanksgiving routine year after year. Are any of you re-married with step-kids? It's a tough, tough row to hoe and you can really always be the underdog in every situation even if you do everything 100% right.

 

[Mrs. Ciz]

I am devastated knowing we will be losing William soon. I love his character more and more each week.

Next week looks good, grown-up Randall was talking to Jack! Must be a dream, but still, I can't wait!

My sister and I watched it together last night. Both of us yelled "What?" when we saw this in the previews for next week. We were really confused!

 

[bethbuchall]

I guess I don't dislike Miguel as much as many of you. I didn't think that he asked disrespectfully. We don't know how long he's been part of the family. He was obviously hurt when Kevin told him that he couldn't do it, but he didn't press the issue. He knows he'll never be Jack, but he wants to feel like part of the family and is still navigating how to do that best. I think that to him be able to wear the hat signified acceptance, not replacing Jack. But I've never been part of a blended family, so maybe I'm looking through rose-colored glasses.

 

[anniemae]

See, here's the thing - the writers have purposely left the whole "Rebecca is now married to Miguel" storyline shrouded in mystery, and we're obviously all emotionally invested in the original nuclear family. But I can't help comparing this to real life. I don't blame him AT ALL for wanting to be recognized as a legit part of the family after all these years - his response was written very realistically, IMO.

I also think that if this was an IRL thread on the CB, many of us would would find it unreasonable that a new spouse was expected to sit down and shut up as the "family" relived this convoluted Thanksgiving routine year after year. Are any of you re-married with step-kids? It's a tough, tough row to hoe and you can really always be the underdog in every situation even if you do everything 100% right.

This was my point up-thread a bit. I felt like it was almost selfish of Rebecca and the kids to go through all these traditions every year since there are multiple people there who were not "in" on that special Thanksgiving. The traditions only apply to Rebecca, Kevin, Randall and Kate. Everyone else (william, beth, the two girls, kevin's date, Miguel) is kind of just going along and indulging them. I would feel uncomfortable if my family re-lived a day from sun-up to sun-down, word for word, every year that I was not a part of. Kind of like not being in on a private joke, or coming to work on a Monday morning to hear all about a party that everyone attended, but you didn't. You kind of nod and laugh along, but don't really feel part of it.

I get it that to many Miguel seemed to be over-stepping boundaries and trying to "take" something that belonged to Jack, but at some point you have to change traditions to accommodate new family members and changing family dynamics.

 

[Squirlz]

She didn't want to lose Randall! It makes sense now. And Randall...he be trippin'.

 

[kimblebee]

I think I watched this whole episode with my breath held, only breathing at commercials lol

I'm glad Olivia is gone, I didn't like her, but I think there's more to her story that we don't know. Maybe she's adopted or was abandoned too.

I think Kate will get back together with Toby, I like him, BUT, him pushing the whole football thing made me not like him.

Randall being high on shrooms was hilarious. Seeing him with Jack, as an adult was really, really well done.

I missed seeing 'now' William.

I will miss this show over the summer. It's my favourite show right now by far.

 

[wenrob]

The push up scene, oh my heart! That last scene when Rebecca starts to cry just did me in. I feel her as a mom but I feel Randall too. I hope Olivia is gone for good but I don't think so. I think there's a lot more in store for Kate and Toby but it's going to be a long time in coming.

 

[PollyannaMom]

Wow!! I do think Randall will forgive Rebecca, but it's going to be a process.

I'm going to miss this show so much between seasons!

 

[QueenIsabella]

I thought last night's episode was very well done.

I bet when William dies, Randall finds those poems he was holding at the end--the sheaf of paper that he put the letter and photo in.

I also liked that Rebecca and William didn't have an ongoing relationship, just small amounts of contact throughout the years.

The martial arts stuff was really sweet.

Randall will forgive Rebecca, he seems to understand where she was coming from. He just needs time to process.

 

[anniemae]

The push up scene, oh my heart! That last scene when Rebecca starts to cry just did me in. I feel her as a mom but I feel Randall too. I hope Olivia is gone for good but I don't think so. I think there's a lot more in store for Kate and Toby but it's going to be a long time in coming.

Wasn't she in bed with Kevin at the very end? Kate walked in and said, "is someone in bed with you?" Was that Olivia?

 

[anniemae]

I hope we don't lose Jack next week. I got that feeling while watching the preview for next week. Rebecca says something like, "Nothing bad happens on Christmas Eve." I just hope we don't lose William too.

 

[elgerber]

Wasn't she in bed with Kevin at the very end? Kate walked in and said, "is someone in bed with you?" Was that Olivia?

No it was the playwright. I don't think she is gone for good though either.

 

[anniemae]

No it was the playwright. I don't think she is gone for good though either.

Ah okay so it was the other girl that they left behind. I also don't think we have seen the end of Olivia. She has issues to work through that I am sure we will see.

 

[bethbuchall]

I hope we don't lose Jack next week. I got that feeling while watching the preview for next week. Rebecca says something like, "Nothing bad happens on Christmas Eve." I just hope we don't lose William too.

"Nothing bad happens on Christmas Eve" has me concerned, too.

 

[elgerber]

The push up scene, oh my heart! That last scene when Rebecca starts to cry just did me in. I feel her as a mom but I feel Randall too.

Me too, I think that's the hardest I have cried since this show started!