I was actually really sad seeing their dad before he was a drunk. The effects of alcoholism is just intense and that was a huge eye opener. He was such a sweet guy, and I feel like Jack's whole life could've been different if his dad hadn't started drinking. You can just feel his love for his kids and his wife. And Jack could've been just as likely to be the sweetheart he is with or without a shitty dad, but he could've been a happier kid without a shitty dad. I don't know. I'm just rambling.
Definitely a filler episode. I think they could have told the story just as well with less air time. I do wonder if we will see more, like what happens to the brother, but the preview looked like we are back in the "present" in the next episode.
Also, the constant mention of October 18th has really messed me up! It put in my brain that yesterday was the 18th, so now that today actually is the 18th, I'm all screwed up. I was thinking they should have used the date the show aired, or a date completely different, like April 24th. But then my mom (when I was complaining about it to her) told me that that footage was real, that was the actual lottery that really aired on TV. My uncle's birthday was pulled late enough that he ended up never being drafted. It's pretty weird for me to think that living members of my family actually watched that exact airing to determine their fate.
@eatinwatermelonseeds I feel like Jack is probably a lot like his dad was before drinking. I also thought it was revealing to see (again) that alcoholism and addiction runs in the family. I know they've included it plenty and it's a central theme, but I don't know that it's been blatantly said that addiction is an inherited trait.
@liliumstargazer13 I didn't even correlate it to a current date! I feel like such an idiot haha.
The previews for next week show that Randall is running for office. Beth is standing by trying to support him. That made me sad.
Finally able to join this thread! I have been avoiding as I wasn't caught up, but DH had a work dinner last night so i went into full binge mode
Agree the last episode felt like filler. I appreciate the background on Jack's life but I typically like how they flip back and forth between past and present. This was too much past, too much war, too much Jack.
My heart breaks for Beth. Randall needs all the attention and focus, and she just stands there and suffers in silence. Agree, @mariposa_767s, that scene from the preview is hard to watch.
I enjoyed the episode overall, but I wish they could have fit everything in one. I'm sure there will be more since we know the fate of his brother and don't know how he reacted to seeing Jack.
Seeing their dad as a kind loving husband and father really messed me up. It's so awful what alcoholism can do to a wonderful person. I am also curious to know what triggers him to start drinking. I feel like he really wants his dad's approval, so maybe it's when he dies?
I'm super pissed to see Randall running for city council and hoping that he decides to stop so he can support Beth. Their family doesn't need that stress right now. Also, really hoping that now that Kate knows Toby isn't on his meds, he will get back on them ASAP. I REALLY don't want the future part with him laying in bed all sad to happen.
*TW*
Me: 32 │ DH: 35 Married 8/16/13 BFP#1 DS 11/13/16 BFP# 2 MMC dx @ 13w 10/30/18 BFP# 3 Preemie DD born at 38w (IUGR) on 8/28/19 weighing 5.5lbs. Our little miracle
I read his brother's expression as broken. Jack said earlier he was in trouble. So now here his hero big brother shows up when he couldn't be the superhero and he's grateful but broken. That's how it appeared to me.
On Randall running for City Council - he doesn't even live in Philadelphia much less in the district he's running in. Why would anyone take him seriously? I am fully aware this is a fictional TV show and thus not real life haha but this detail really bugs me.
agree with all of you. I would have have liked if this was a big flashback episode that told us the whole story of what happens in Vietnam but instead the timeline was kind of sloppy and a lot of parts really dragged on and didn't seem essential to the big plot. Way too much emphasize on Oct. 18th and how Jack is the best big brother ever. We get it! I was kind of annoyed at the end because clearly this was just a buildup to what I'm sure will be a very dragged out, traumatic war episode in our future. I love This is Us but sometimes I get annoyed with how hard they try to hit us where it hurts.
Me: 33 DH: 34 Married: Oct 2015 TTC #1: Sept 2016 BFP: 10/19/16 ~ blighted ovum ~ D&C 11/23/16 BFP: 3/24/17 DD1 born 12/2/17 TTC #2: July 2018 BFP: 8/26/18 DD2 born 5/16/19
On Randall running for City Council - he doesn't even live in Philadelphia much less in the district he's running in. Why would anyone take him seriously? I am fully aware this is a fictional TV show and thus not real life haha but this detail really bugs me.
I was totally thinking the same thing. The crowd that he was speaking to did not seem impressed with him either.
I am really wondering what triggered Jack’s dad’s drinking as well.
Definitely not my favorite episode and it did seem like a filler. Next weeks looks good though.
I think I’m the odd one out and really liked the last episode. Maybe because I love history. I really liked the drawing of birthday days scene. But I do wish we would have found out more about Jacks brother.
Ivy: July 2010 | Stella: Dec 2012 | BFP#3: MMC at 11Wk's, July 2017 | Wyatt: April 2019 | BFP#5: Twin Girls due Sept 2020
@MelissaMay82 I was thinking that maybe his father passing away triggers his alcoholism.
@robyn2201 I enjoyed it too! I admit that I don’t know much about the Vietnam War (studied French history) and I found the draft procedure so shocking and heartbreaking. No wonder people hopped the border.
FFSC I feel really weird about the Vietnam War so I had a hard time watching the episode without feeling icky. It was the main reason I did not like the episode.
I finally watched with DH last night (he'd been traveling and had so much to catch up on while I go to bed early so we could finally watch the "new stuff").
It's interesting that in a span of 5-6 years Jack's dad goes from not drinking at all to a total drunk. Agree with everyone else that I'm curious what caused it.
Definitely not super into this episode. DH's dad was an officer in Vietnam but older than Jack and Nick and an Air Force pilot so his experience was nothing like this episode. I remember talking to my mom about watching the lottery. She was more than a decade younger than Nick so no risk of any cousins, brothers, or anything being called but kids in the neighborhood were potentially going to get drafted.
I'll be watching the new episode tomorrow, not tonight...way past my bedtime
Idk how I felt about last night's episode. Maybe I just haven't processed it yet...Toby makes me sad. The Adele thing makes me sad. Randall makes me sad. Beth's situation makes me sad.
Also, @kvh22, your ticker makes me want Ferrero Rocher now.
First time I cried this season! The Adele song that Kate sings is my favorite. Having a strained relationship with my mom, I cried when Kate and Rebecca were at the piano. Something about how Rebecca was being so gentle and understanding really got me.
We were up watching the world series (west coast) and somehow I ended up staying up and watching last night since the game ended right at midnight ET (9p PT).
I thought it was a good episode (better than last week) but not great.
Spoilers below, don't read if you haven't watched yet!!!!
I'm super curious about the letters Jack's buddy gave Kevin at the end of the episode. And I was all sorts of confused when Kate was playing the piano but seemed really emotional at the end. I was like "wait, she doesn't play/sing when she's sad so did it work?????" She didn't seem happy but I'm so excited for that story line to move forward. I'm sad for Beth and hope that next episode things move forward there with Randall helping her and pulling out of the election (that's the plan, right?).
My heart hurts so much for Toby. I actually didn't dislike Kate in this episode at all, which is new. The preview for next week where she's saying "I don't know whether to push him or let him work it out himself." 😭
Poor Beth. She is always Randall's rock and now she needs him and I'm really afraid he's going to drop the ball here. I know he means well, but he tends to get tunnel vision and forget he's affecting her and the kids too.
Omg I'm a blubbering mess after this episode. I was proud of Randall pumping Beth up before her interview but am bummed that she didn't give him the chance to be there for her when things go wrong.
So happy Kate's pregnant, worried for Toby of course. I'm happy Kate stepped in and spoke with the doc and made the appointment.
I'm loving that Kevin is having to learn what it looks like to not be automatically accepted but growing up open-minded and thinking of such ignorant people who don't see people as equals or see love as love is heart wrenching.
The racism stuff with Randall and Beth’s cousin cut me to my core. Especially the subtle racism. I’m also sad Beth didn’t let Randall be there for her during a tough time. And my heart hurt for Miguel when he was trying to talk racism to Randall but he got brushed off.
Finally had time to watch this past week’s episode. I am so happy that Kate is pregnant and I am really hoping that Toby will get back on his meds. I think that Randall should just give up on the election, and poor Beth, hopefully Randall can focus on her. I’m intrigued by the letters at the end from Jack’s buddy.
I really loved this episode because it was so deep! A lot of learning and growing. I’m hoping that Toby gets back on his meds soon. I’m really interested to hear about the story behind the woman in the photo with jack!
*TW*
Me: 32 │ DH: 35 Married 8/16/13 BFP#1 DS 11/13/16 BFP# 2 MMC dx @ 13w 10/30/18 BFP# 3 Preemie DD born at 38w (IUGR) on 8/28/19 weighing 5.5lbs. Our little miracle
UO here: I think it's complete nonsense that Kate got pregnant (though technically happy for her). They had a freaking 90% failure rate, yet it worked the first try? I have already had a successful pregnancy, "perfect ovaries and the uterus of a 25 year old" according to my doctor, am only "overweight" compared to the characters' morbid obesity (not a drop of fat shaming here, just the fact), and it still took me 7 iui's to conceive this time around. I don't want to think about how that miracle affected people who are in a similarly hopeless situation to hers. I also think it could have been a much more interesting story line for the show to follow (how they deal with the infertility/wanting children) than another pregnancy. That being said, I am happy for them and hope everything goes well this time.
@liliumstargazer13 From an intellectual perspective I feel exactly the same as you. I have good friends who tried IVF and had to move on to donor eggs who were younger than her with fewer confounding factors. It breaks my heart when I think of them watching this episode knowing how far from reality this situation really is.
From a selfish, show watching perspective, I really couldn’t take anymore heartbreak for these characters. She better not lose this baby. As a loss mom, I’m always happy to see miscarriages accurately represented on TV. But right now, I need happy news.
@liliumstargazer13 From an intellectual perspective I feel exactly the same as you. I have good friends who tried IVF and had to move on to donor eggs who were younger than her with fewer confounding factors. It breaks my heart when I think of them watching this episode knowing how far from reality this situation really is.
From a selfish, show watching perspective, I really couldn’t take anymore heartbreak for these characters. She better not lose this baby. As a loss mom, I’m always happy to see miscarriages accurately represented on TV. But right now, I need happy news.
This. I will be really upset if she doesn't end up with a baby in 9 mo (show timing).
@chloe97 same. I am also a pgal mama. I almost couldn't finish watching this week's episode, because I was sure there was a loss coming. And I'm probably going to need to pep talk myself for future episodes. I was blindsided by a miscarriage on a different show when I was newly postpartum and my husband came back from the store to find me sobbing about it.
I love the subtle ways they tackle big issues like alcoholism, racism, mental health, and obesity. I say "subtle" and maybe it's not extremely subtle but it's more part of the story than spoken...if that makes sense. It all fits into the story line as unfair but part of life...which is telling. These things happen so often irl and I feel like they're generally only tackled in a comedic fashion.
I love the subtle ways they tackle big issues like alcoholism, racism, mental health, and obesity. I say "subtle" and maybe it's not extremely subtle but it's more part of the story than spoken...if that makes sense. It all fits into the story line as unfair but part of life...which is telling. These things happen so often irl and I feel like they're generally only tackled in a comedic fashion.
Agreed. I can't speak to the other issues, but racism is often subtle IRL. It's a slight comment here or there that makes you go "wait, what?" and you don't always react in the moment because it blind sides you. They portray it very accurately, in my opinion. Like Beth's cousin at the gas station. So real it hurt, so subtle it went unnoticed by Kevin.
Toby's storyline really hit home with me. I was so proud of him at the end! And I'm glad Kate was able to find the strength within herself to help him and stop throwing herself a pity party.
It was nice to see Kate and Toby’s story notnrevolve around Kate for once. After all the support he’s given her it was nice to see her return that support.
I wish they would get to the future and show us who Randall and Tess are going to see! Why tease it and then wait a whole season to move forward with it!!!!
Yesss! I was glad to see Kate being supportive of Toby too. It was nice to see her taking care of him for a change. I’m also glad Randall caught a break and got a campaign manager. His campaigning has been a bit painful to watch. Also glad Beth finally talked to Randall and seems to be happy joining him on the campaign. Little bit surprised Beth’s cousin is just up and going to Vietnam with Kevin, but I’m interested to see what he finds out about the woman in the photograph.
@megsb615 I think I'll be irritated if the woman in Vietnam was a love interest. The story revolves around his love for..blanking on Mandy Moore's name...anyway, I hope it's something where the locals really hated the soldiers (because they did), but he was so kind to her and her child that he won her over. As a thank you, she gave him the necklace. The story would then continue that he was just an overall good and caring guy. Idk...just my two cents. I hope it's not something sad
@mariposa_767s I feel the same way. I guess his time in the war was before he met Mandy Moore, so if it was romantic with the woman, it wouldn’t be as bad I guess. I still just love Jack and Rebecca’s story. The way he looks at her just makes me melt. My husband is always like, you do realize it’s just tv right? 😂
This weeks show was good! I liked how Kate was less whiney and was really there for Toby. And it seems like Randall is finally figuring out this running for office thing and that the district has different neighborhoods and people that live in it.
Ivy: July 2010 | Stella: Dec 2012 | BFP#3: MMC at 11Wk's, July 2017 | Wyatt: April 2019 | BFP#5: Twin Girls due Sept 2020
Biggest waterworks moment: you are my son son! Ugh I bawled! I wish Randall's idea of giving Beth a purpose wasn't centered around him but I like that he gets to be there as her team mate.
@megstevens92 it hit home with me as well, and I really appreciated how Kate reacted to him. She was so sweet and supportive and patient with him. I love that she recognized how often he pulls her up out of her funks, and was there for him. Also, when she said "Toby, I think you should come for a walk with us" I was really proud of her. It's so hard to know boundaries in that situation. How hard to push. My husband does what she did sometimes. Well, not as nicely and isn't as sensitive lol but it works.
I enjoyed the latest episode. Is it just me though, or does anyone else wish that Kevin would get back with Sophie? I’m interested to see what he finds on his trip though.
Toby being depressed is so tough to watch because he is usually such a positive character. I hope he snaps out of it soon.
Re: This Is Us
@liliumstargazer13 I didn't even correlate it to a current date! I feel like such an idiot haha.
The previews for next week show that Randall is running for office. Beth is standing by trying to support him. That made me sad.
DS1 is 7. DD is 1. DS2 is coming in late April.
Agree the last episode felt like filler. I appreciate the background on Jack's life but I typically like how they flip back and forth between past and present. This was too much past, too much war, too much Jack.
My heart breaks for Beth. Randall needs all the attention and focus, and she just stands there and suffers in silence. Agree, @mariposa_767s, that scene from the preview is hard to watch.
Seeing their dad as a kind loving husband and father really messed me up. It's so awful what alcoholism can do to a wonderful person. I am also curious to know what triggers him to start drinking. I feel like he really wants his dad's approval, so maybe it's when he dies?
I'm super pissed to see Randall running for city council and hoping that he decides to stop so he can support Beth. Their family doesn't need that stress right now. Also, really hoping that now that Kate knows Toby isn't on his meds, he will get back on them ASAP. I REALLY don't want the future part with him laying in bed all sad to happen.
Married 8/16/13
BFP#1 DS 11/13/16
BFP# 2 MMC dx @ 13w 10/30/18
BFP# 3 Preemie DD born at 38w (IUGR) on 8/28/19 weighing 5.5lbs. Our little miracle
Married: Oct 2015
TTC #1: Sept 2016
BFP: 10/19/16 ~ blighted ovum ~ D&C 11/23/16
BFP: 3/24/17
TTC #2: July 2018
BFP: 8/26/18
I am really wondering what triggered Jack’s dad’s drinking as well.
Definitely not my favorite episode and it did seem like a filler. Next weeks looks good though.
Married: 8/10/13
BFP- 12/18/15, D&E- 4/8/16 @ 21w5d- confirmed Thanatophoric Dysplasia
BFP- 11/7/17, M/C- 11/18/17 @ 4w6d
BFP- 8/25/18 ~ EDD- 5/9/19 ~ DD born 5/2/20 *Lillian Hazel*
BFP- 10/9/20 ~ EDD- 6/21/21
@robyn2201 I enjoyed it too! I admit that I don’t know much about the Vietnam War (studied French history) and I found the draft procedure so shocking and heartbreaking. No wonder people hopped the border.
DD: 8/20/14; DS: 11/13/16; DD: 5/3/19; DD: 8/31/21; Baby #5 (team green) due 3/24/24
It's interesting that in a span of 5-6 years Jack's dad goes from not drinking at all to a total drunk. Agree with everyone else that I'm curious what caused it.
Definitely not super into this episode. DH's dad was an officer in Vietnam but older than Jack and Nick and an Air Force pilot so his experience was nothing like this episode. I remember talking to my mom about watching the lottery. She was more than a decade younger than Nick so no risk of any cousins, brothers, or anything being called but kids in the neighborhood were potentially going to get drafted.
I'll be watching the new episode tomorrow, not tonight...way past my bedtime
Also, @kvh22, your ticker makes me want Ferrero Rocher now.
DS1 is 7. DD is 1. DS2 is coming in late April.
We were up watching the world series (west coast) and somehow I ended up staying up and watching last night since the game ended right at midnight ET (9p PT).
I thought it was a good episode (better than last week) but not great.
Spoilers below, don't read if you haven't watched yet!!!!
I'm super curious about the letters Jack's buddy gave Kevin at the end of the episode. And I was all sorts of confused when Kate was playing the piano but seemed really emotional at the end. I was like "wait, she doesn't play/sing when she's sad so did it work?????" She didn't seem happy but I'm so excited for that story line to move forward. I'm sad for Beth and hope that next episode things move forward there with Randall helping her and pulling out of the election (that's the plan, right?).
Poor Beth. She is always Randall's rock and now she needs him and I'm really afraid he's going to drop the ball here. I know he means well, but he tends to get tunnel vision and forget he's affecting her and the kids too.
So happy Kate's pregnant, worried for Toby of course. I'm happy Kate stepped in and spoke with the doc and made the appointment.
I'm loving that Kevin is having to learn what it looks like to not be automatically accepted but growing up open-minded and thinking of such ignorant people who don't see people as equals or see love as love is heart wrenching.
Married: 8/10/13
BFP- 12/18/15, D&E- 4/8/16 @ 21w5d- confirmed Thanatophoric Dysplasia
BFP- 11/7/17, M/C- 11/18/17 @ 4w6d
BFP- 8/25/18 ~ EDD- 5/9/19 ~ DD born 5/2/20 *Lillian Hazel*
BFP- 10/9/20 ~ EDD- 6/21/21
Married 8/16/13
BFP#1 DS 11/13/16
BFP# 2 MMC dx @ 13w 10/30/18
BFP# 3 Preemie DD born at 38w (IUGR) on 8/28/19 weighing 5.5lbs. Our little miracle
From a selfish, show watching perspective, I really couldn’t take anymore heartbreak for these characters. She better not lose this baby. As a loss mom, I’m always happy to see miscarriages accurately represented on TV. But right now, I need happy news.
DS1 is 7. DD is 1. DS2 is coming in late April.
I wish they would get to the future and show us who Randall and Tess are going to see! Why tease it and then wait a whole season to move forward with it!!!!
DS1 is 7. DD is 1. DS2 is coming in late April.
I enjoyed the latest episode. Is it just me though, or does anyone else wish that Kevin would get back with Sophie? I’m interested to see what he finds on his trip though.
Toby being depressed is so tough to watch because he is usually such a positive character. I hope he snaps out of it soon.
DD: 8/20/14; DS: 11/13/16; DD: 5/3/19; DD: 8/31/21; Baby #5 (team green) due 3/24/24