This Is Us recap: Graduation day brings tears, uncertain future
OK, guys, last night's episode of "This Is Us" was sad. Not like huge-moment-someone-dies sad, but just gut-wrenching-you-felt-it sad.
Watching Rebecca buy a video camera to record important life moments without her beloved Jack by her side was not fun to watch. And watching sad Rebecca have a panic attack outside of Randall's high school graduation was also pretty terrible.
I've always found graduations to be extremely emotional. A ceremonial end to one chapter and the beginning of the next. I am not good at change, and neither are the Pearsons.
Tuesday's episode, "The Graduates," didn't make us sit through cliché speeches, but instead gave us a glimpse into the deep connection between Kevin and Kate and a look at the growing bond between Deja and Randall.
Kevin has fallen off the wagon. He wakes up in an L.A. hotel room after a bender to a phone call from Zoe. She is in L.A. and is on the way to surprise him. She can't possibly see him surrounded by liquor bottles, so he tells her to meet him at Kate's graduation ceremony.
Kate has finished her remaining credit hours, and Toby is throwing her and the other three graduates a (quite elaborate) graduation celebration.
This episode really takes a deep dive into the twin connection thing as flashbacks from the Big 3's final days of high school are beautifully blended with present day.
During her party, Kate immediately notices Kevin is not OK. He's jittery and a bit all over the place. After an impromptu toast, Kevin lies about a work meeting and leaves her party.
Thankfully, Kate tracks him down at his hotel room and discovers that he has relapsed. The two have a moment before Kate tells him that he must tell Zoe. He can't bear the thought and says he will do anything. He agrees to go to an AA meeting in Hollywood later that afternoon. Kate says she will drive.
On the way, Kate's water breaks, but she’s only 28 weeks into her pregnancy. In a panic, they pull over. Kevin calls Toby and confesses he can't drive her to the hospital because he's been drinking all day. Toby is not happy, rightfully so, and meets them at the hospital after they call an ambulance.
The doctors give Kate a shot to slow down her labor, but it is unclear what will happen next. It is really early. Then, Randall shows up. The Big 3 is always great in a crisis.
This ending scene is spliced between a teen Big 3 moment at a high school party. Kevin and Kate are sitting on the front steps of a house party discussing what's next. Teen Randall joins them and says that, as long as they stay in each other’s lives, everything will be OK.
All I wanted to do right then was give my brother a hug! I am keeping my fingers crossed for this baby! I cannot go through another death.
Meanwhile, back in 2019, Randall is continuing him attempts to be Superdad, although he seems to be doing more harm than good.
Deja calls him. She's upset, and he rushes to her school. Instead, he finds her walking home, and she explains that her teacher shared her personal essay on the school's website without her permission.
She says everyone is now calling her "Pontiac" after she wrote about the time she and her mom lived in their car. Randall speaks with her teacher and finds out that Deja is doing quite well in school. The essay was shared because her teacher was proud - actually all of Deja's teachers think she is ready to skip a grade and head to high school next year.
Deja is not interested in skipping the 8th grade. She loves her routine. For the first time in her life, she has stability. I get it. And Randall can't argue with that.
After Beth's first day as a dance teacher, she comes home more excited than ever. I love seeing the fire back in Beth! But Randall is quick to put out the flame.
He explains that he has looked in to getting a sitter to help with the girls' busy schedules. But after an evening of research, he doesn't think they can afford it. He tells Beth that he think she needs to put her dance dream on hold for a little bit while they figure it out. NOT COOL, RANDALL. Beth looks like she may hit him, but thankfully he gets a call from his mom about Kate's labor.
Other things:
- Rebecca's panic attack outside Randall's graduation was awful. Miguel steps in to help and suggests she talk to somebody or attend a grief group. He tells her that he will hold the camera to record the ceremony, and they head back into the auditorium. Later on, while Rebecca is home alone, she watches some of their old home videos. She calls Miguel and says that she wants to attend one of those meetings. It is clear Miguel is there for Rebecca...I am still so interested to find out when things turn romantic.
- Will Zoe catch on to Kevin's lies? Or maybe she found out when Kevin told Toby he couldn’t drive Kate to the hospital. I really love Kevin and Zoe...I am not ready to see that end.
- How will Beth react to Randall's absurd request? She looked less than amused by his idea.
