This Is Us -- Season 2

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Really? I hated last night's episode. Talk about lazy story telling - let's just have Kevin have a drunk monologue where he tells the audience everything he is angsty about it.

No way.
Until that point that’s what I was thinking. Whiny Kevin making dumb decisions. But as it moved towards the field scene. ..you start to see how ppl have objectified him since high school. He gave a terrible speech and still had cheers and fans. The field was him explaining the context of all his success and failure. It’s constant ups and downs. The ups are great but then he feels pressure. He doesn’t deserve good opportunities, but they land in his lap, each one bigger and better. He’s sabotaging it each time because he knows he’s done nothing to deserve it.

+1. We are starting to see how insecure he is and how little he thinks of himself.

This. I loved how during his horrible speech, he was gracious enough to note that his fellow honorees - the doctor who selflessly helps burn victims with her surgeries, and the journalist - had actually DONE things to help people, unlike him. And yet, he's the one who gets all the adulation.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I thought the Kevin episode was fantastic. I think that actor is really good. Yes, definitely resorted to a monologue, but I think it was necessary for the storytelling -- you couldn't write an episode where he says that to another character, because a huge part of his problem is that he can't talk about any of this to anyone. I loved how the doctor followed him out of the reception, and you thought she was a kind person who would maybe break through to him, but no -- she just wanted to hook up with him, and I think she was he was in a moment of weakness and she might have a chance. Shows how almost nobody cares what's beneath the exterior with Kevin, and how that makes him feel.

I am not a crier, but I did tear up at the end when he is begging that doctor for his necklace back. And you think about how devastating it would be to have your dreams crushed (football) and then just a few months later lose your dad, and in particular how hard that would be after you spent 6-12 months being a total jerk to him because you can't handle his weakness (being an alcoholic). And how much you'd give anything to do it over again.

It was heartbreaking when he was finally ready to confess everything to Randall -- and then Kate's tragedy upending his, and the light at the end of the tunnel went out.

Love this show and the characters. Are there moments when they're self absorbed, whiny, or annoying? Sure. Just like real people.

+1,000
Well said! I actually think Kevin's storyline is the most poignant, now that we know how awful he was to his dad shortly before he died, and how it's been haunting him all these years.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Really? I hated last night's episode. Talk about lazy story telling - let's just have Kevin have a drunk monologue where he tells the audience everything he is angsty about it.

No way.
Until that point that’s what I was thinking. Whiny Kevin making dumb decisions. But as it moved towards the field scene. ..you start to see how ppl have objectified him since high school. He gave a terrible speech and still had cheers and fans. The field was him explaining the context of all his success and failure. It’s constant ups and downs. The ups are great but then he feels pressure. He doesn’t deserve good opportunities, but they land in his lap, each one bigger and better. He’s sabotaging it each time because he knows he’s done nothing to deserve it.

+1. We are starting to see how insecure he is and how little he thinks of himself.

This. I loved how during his horrible speech, he was gracious enough to note that his fellow honorees - the doctor who selflessly helps burn victims with her surgeries, and the journalist - had actually DONE things to help people, unlike him. And yet, he's the one who gets all the adulation.

White male privilege is behind that to some extent. I see it in classrooms when students present their projects.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Really? I hated last night's episode. Talk about lazy story telling - let's just have Kevin have a drunk monologue where he tells the audience everything he is angsty about it.

No way.
Until that point that’s what I was thinking. Whiny Kevin making dumb decisions. But as it moved towards the field scene. ..you start to see how ppl have objectified him since high school. He gave a terrible speech and still had cheers and fans. The field was him explaining the context of all his success and failure. It’s constant ups and downs. The ups are great but then he feels pressure. He doesn’t deserve good opportunities, but they land in his lap, each one bigger and better. He’s sabotaging it each time because he knows he’s done nothing to deserve it.

+1. We are starting to see how insecure he is and how little he thinks of himself.

This. I loved how during his horrible speech, he was gracious enough to note that his fellow honorees - the doctor who selflessly helps burn victims with her surgeries, and the journalist - had actually DONE things to help people, unlike him. And yet, he's the one who gets all the adulation.

White male privilege is behind that to some extent. I see it in classrooms when students present their projects.

[Anonymous]

Mandy Moore is killing it this season. I’m still a little weepy from when old Rebecca appeared at Kate’s door.

Moore did not receive an Emmy nomination for last season, but I don’t see how she can be denied this season.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Really? I hated last night's episode. Talk about lazy story telling - let's just have Kevin have a drunk monologue where he tells the audience everything he is angsty about it.

No way.
Until that point that’s what I was thinking. Whiny Kevin making dumb decisions. But as it moved towards the field scene. ..you start to see how ppl have objectified him since high school. He gave a terrible speech and still had cheers and fans. The field was him explaining the context of all his success and failure. It’s constant ups and downs. The ups are great but then he feels pressure. He doesn’t deserve good opportunities, but they land in his lap, each one bigger and better. He’s sabotaging it each time because he knows he’s done nothing to deserve it.

+1. We are starting to see how insecure he is and how little he thinks of himself.

This. I loved how during his horrible speech, he was gracious enough to note that his fellow honorees - the doctor who selflessly helps burn victims with her surgeries, and the journalist - had actually DONE things to help people, unlike him. And yet, he's the one who gets all the adulation.

White male privilege is behind that to some extent. I see it in classrooms when students present their projects.

Why the eye roll? I know exactly what the PP is talking about. In the office, it was routine for the women to lead all the “soft” extra-curricular projects, like United Way, but if a man happened to head it up, he was treated like the king of the world.

[Anonymous]

I was a bit disappointed with tonight’s episode. Perhaps last week set the bar too high for me. I don’t have a better understanding of why Kate is who she is, although I do like how they are portraying the mother-daughter relationship over the years.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I was a bit disappointed with tonight’s episode. Perhaps last week set the bar too high for me. I don’t have a better understanding of why Kate is who she is, although I do like how they are portraying the mother-daughter relationship over the years.

I agree. The idea seems to be she didn't consider herself as good as her brothers and couldn't live up to her mother. And yet her childhood isn't flushed out much. Did she have friends at this point? What did she do besides listen to music on her Walkman? She just tagged along behind Kevin?

[Anonymous]

Yes I feel like there is more to explore with Kate.

But I cannot say I am disappointed - last night was soooo good. I have never seen the topic covered like that before

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Yes I feel like there is more to explore with Kate.

But I cannot say I am disappointed - last night was soooo good. I have never seen the topic covered like that before

I totally agree. There's is still a lot to learn about Kate, but the mother/daughter relationship in last night's episode was one of the best in the whole series so far. I LOVED seeing Kate collapse into Rebecca's arms.

[Anonymous]

I just want to add, I think Chrissy Metz is really beautiful.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Yes I feel like there is more to explore with Kate.

But I cannot say I am disappointed - last night was soooo good. I have never seen the topic covered like that before

I totally agree. There's is still a lot to learn about Kate, but the mother/daughter relationship in last night's episode was one of the best in the whole series so far. I LOVED seeing Kate collapse into Rebecca's arms.

Last week I was able to keep it together even as Kevin fell apart. I think because his problems didn't seem as relatable despite how difficult it was for him. When Kate wept into Rebecca's arms though - I cried a flood.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Yes I feel like there is more to explore with Kate.

But I cannot say I am disappointed - last night was soooo good. I have never seen the topic covered like that before

I totally agree. There's is still a lot to learn about Kate, but the mother/daughter relationship in last night's episode was one of the best in the whole series so far. I LOVED seeing Kate collapse into Rebecca's arms.

Last week I was able to keep it together even as Kevin fell apart. I think because his problems didn't seem as relatable despite how difficult it was for him. When Kate wept into Rebecca's arms though - I cried a flood.

Yep. I finished watching the episode about half an hour ago, and I still feel kind of choked up.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Really? I hated last night's episode. Talk about lazy story telling - let's just have Kevin have a drunk monologue where he tells the audience everything he is angsty about it.

No way.
Until that point that’s what I was thinking. Whiny Kevin making dumb decisions. But as it moved towards the field scene. ..you start to see how ppl have objectified him since high school. He gave a terrible speech and still had cheers and fans. The field was him explaining the context of all his success and failure. It’s constant ups and downs. The ups are great but then he feels pressure. He doesn’t deserve good opportunities, but they land in his lap, each one bigger and better. He’s sabotaging it each time because he knows he’s done nothing to deserve it.

+1. We are starting to see how insecure he is and how little he thinks of himself.

This. I loved how during his horrible speech, he was gracious enough to note that his fellow honorees - the doctor who selflessly helps burn victims with her surgeries, and the journalist - had actually DONE things to help people, unlike him. And yet, he's the one who gets all the adulation.

White male privilege is behind that to some extent. I see it in classrooms when students present their projects.

Why the eye roll? I know exactly what the PP is talking about. In the office, it was routine for the women to lead all the “soft” extra-curricular projects, like United Way, but if a man happened to head it up, he was treated like the king of the world.

This is a little off topic, but most be said - I work at United Way in a really senior position. We are some of the toughest broads you'll ever meet!!

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Yes I feel like there is more to explore with Kate.

But I cannot say I am disappointed - last night was soooo good. I have never seen the topic covered like that before

I totally agree. There's is still a lot to learn about Kate, but the mother/daughter relationship in last night's episode was one of the best in the whole series so far. I LOVED seeing Kate collapse into Rebecca's arms.

I wasn’t as into the episode as I expected. That’s ok. I’m practically drooling over Randall’s upcoming ep. and loved loved loved kevin’s.
Some thoughts, in no order.
-I realized, again, that Kate almost has no job. Gigs here and there. And THEN I realized that Kevin and Randall are also in between jobs, sort of. Just made me laugh. I am a sahm btw ha ha. As a sahm, I just see the daytime activities of the characters and it reminds me of me. Daytime errands and stuff have a different vibe
-^to the poster above, I happen to think that Kate’s relationship with Kevin is even MORE complicated than Kate/Rebecca. So that would be interesting should they ever get a chance to let it all out.
-Rebecca’s onion breakdown in the store. Discuss. I feel like I’ve been in that place, postpartum, with young kids, but didn’t act out on it.