'This Is Us' recap: Vegas, baby, and a little drama

OK, I don’t know about you, but who was excited for the return of This is Us? And, even more so, who was excited that they were able to get through an episode without an abundance of tears...I mean sobs?

Tuesday’s episode was centered around Toby’s and Kate’s bachelor and bachelorette parties in Las Vegas. We also learned that, even when The Big 3 throws a party, it doesn’t always go off without a hitch…cue drama and tears. But who doesn’t love a little drama on a weekend away in Vegas? It’s basically expected.

Surprisingly, Toby and Kate are not thrilled about their parties and would rather spend the weekend together with their new dog. Turns out, that plan might have been a better idea.

When Randall and Beth arrive, Beth is fully embracing the Vegas vibe and wants to do something crazy. Randall wants to call Deja. When Deja showed up at their door, we learned it was because she needed cash to pay the gas bill so that she could get her and her mother’s heat back on. Since then, Randall has been obsessing over whether or not she is OK. He wanted to bail on the Vegas trip, but Beth was not having it. She wants to let her hair down. Let the woman have a weekend off – sheesh!

The disagreement leads to some tension and an argument on their drive into Vegas where Randall says he is the heart and Beth is the head in their relationship. He also says Beth is able to “detach” herself from emotional things, like the Deja situation. Beth doesn’t like that word. Randall said he meant it as a compliment, but it is clear she is not over it…but I do appreciate seeing Beth chug liquor straight from the bottle before “Magic Mike Live.” (I’m sure she’s not gonna feel great the next morning.)

Toby and the guys head to dinner where Randall gets a call from Deja. She doesn’t say anything is wrong, but Randall’s parental bells rang hard - she’s not OK. He immediately goes to find Beth, who is surrounded by “greased up man meat.” The head and heart argument begins again. It’s about to go down until Kate steps in. Beth tells Kate to mind her business and that this isn’t a “Big 3 moment.” Kate already knows this because Randall has made it clear that Beth is more important to him than she is. Aw.

A little random, but this comment leads to a sweet moment between Kate, Randall, a cosmo and a slot machine. Kate tells Randall how important spending time with “The Brothers Pearson” was to Toby this weekend. So, Randall and Kevin take Toby for a walk to seedy Old Vegas and discuss deep life stuff. (Is this what dudes do on a bachelor party? I’m honestly unsure.) Toby tells them he has a brother who flaked out on the bachelor weekend. He’s 10 years younger and wants nothing to do with him. Thankfully, he now has Randall and Kevin. Welcome to the family, Toblerone.

Meanwhile, Kate heads to Beth’s room to make up. Kate admits that she has always found Beth to be intimidating and flawless (Same, Kate. Same.). Beth opens up about the Deja situation. She cries, they bond. See Randall, Beth has heart too!

I’ve only been to Vegas once and, thankfully, it wasn’t this dramatic. By the end of the episode, Beth and Randall make up. Kevin gets the guts to call Ron Howard - we will come back to this one, and Kate left Beth a sweet gift from favorite sister-in-law.

The episode ends with Beth and Randall stumbling upon Deja and her mom sleeping in a car. Clearly, Randall’s instincts were right. This sets up perfectly for what I expect will be next week’s episode.

A few other important notes: