'This Is Us' recap: Toby reaches rock bottom
This week's episode of 'This Is Us' was jam-packed full of story lines. I'm not even sure where to start. "Toby" worked to fill in some of the blanks leading up to the moment our sweet Toblerone went off his meds.
Posted — UpdatedThis week's episode of "This Is Us" was jam-packed full of story lines. I'm not even sure where to start.
"Toby" worked to fill in some of the blanks leading up to the moment our sweet Toblerone went off his meds.
We see Toby as a cute 10-year-old reciting lines from "Ghostbusters," all while his parents fight. He bites his fingernails down to "nubs" and turns on a fan to block out the yelling.
During a trip to buy some new school clothes, Toby's mother, who also suffers from depression, looks like she is about to lose it with a crying baby in her arms, but it is Toby's Rodney Dangerfield impressions that put a smile on her face.
Clearly, Toby's depression worsens as he gets older, as he spends day after day in bed following a break-up. His mom shows up after he calls his brother and says “some pretty scary things,” and she urges him to get up and get some help.
At the beginning of the episode, we learned that, out of Kate's eight eggs that were harvested during the IVF retrieval process, three are viable. So, on the day the doctor promises to call and tell them if they are indeed pregnant, Toby reaches rock bottom.
He skips work and heads to the pharmacy to beg for more anti-depression medication. The pharmacist tells him to reach out to his doctor, but instead, Toby heads to a nearby arcade and winds up being late to meet Kate for the doctor's phone call.
He rushes home, but the doctor has already called. "It worked, baby. I’m pregnant,” Kate says. They hug and cry for a moment before Toby rushes to the sink to pour himself a cup of water. Then – the flash forward scene from last season's finale – Toby is in bed (he does not look well) and Kate, who has just gotten off the phone with the doctor, tells him that he has an appointment and the doctor plans to adjust his medication.
I really hope this works, because I need fun-loving Toby back in my life.
Next.
Kevin and Zoe travel to Baltimore to meet Don Robinson, Jack's buddy in Vietnam.
While on the way down, Zoe mentions that she forgot her silk pillowcase. Kevin dismisses this statement by making a joke about how she can't sleep on cheap hotel sheets, but in fact, it is because the cotton pillowcases will dry her hair out.
Kevin also doesn't realize the subtle racism Zoe experiences while at a gas station. Zoe doesn't bring this up until near the end of their trip because she doesn't know if it is worth trying to explain to Kevin what it is like "to be black."
After a full day of storytelling and looking through old photos with Mr. Robinson, the two head to their hotel. Someone knocks at the door, and it is a delivery for Zoe – Kevin surprises her with a silk pillowcase.
Zoe is thankful for the gift and explains the reason for needing the pillowcase, along with the incident at the gas station. AW! She thinks he just may with worth it!
Tears.
Randall heads to Philadelphia to kick off his city council campaign. And OK, I have to be honest; this story line really bothers me. I know Randall is always trying to help others, but this just seems like a bit too much.
He throws an event at a local barbeque joint, and his presence is not well received. He deliverers a Randall-like speech, and people begin yelling. For once, I am glad to see that you cannot fix every problem with a well-delivered monologue.
We learn that Councilman Brown basically helped save the restaurant and that his roots run deep in the community. I am not sure how Randall is going to win this fight...but I have a feeling he might.
Other things:
- Poor Beth. Beth seems to be moving on quickly after getting let go of her previous job and has lined up another interview. After teasing Randall about not crying during his campaign speech, we see Beth have a mini meltdown during her interview. I love Beth's character, and I loved seeing her a bit vulnerable. Cheer up, Beth. You’re gonna be alright!
- Prom night nightmares. During a flashback scene, we learn prom night was not smooth sailing for "The Big 3." Kate refuses to go, but Randall and Kevin head to the dance with Allison and Sophie, their dates. Upon arriving at Allison's (Randall's girlfriend) house, Randall and Allison as a couple are not accepted by Allison's dad because Randall is black. Randall heads home, where he receives some unsolicited kind words from Miguel. Those kind words are quickly dismissed. Meanwhile, Kevin gets drunk and ends up crashing at Miguel's house.
- Miguel keeps popping up – he also picked up a piano at a yard sale and took it to the apartment where Rebecca and the kids were staying after the house fire and helped repair their refrigerator – and we see it's because Jack made him promise to look out for the family if he wasn't around.
- Who is this woman in Vietnam? During Kevin and Zoe's trip to see Mr. Robinson, he shows them a photo of Jack with a Vietnamese woman. If you look closely you can see she is wearing the necklace that Kevin was given by his father. So, I think it is safe to say – more on that to come later.
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