This Is Us

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:
The dojo scene for me was pretty contrived. I'm not sure how realistic it would be to see so many black fathers present. I think they wrote the scene b/c they know Milo could do the push ups. Not sure what the point of the "extra" push ups were. Why was white mom the only mom there?

Wasn't it recommended by the black mom? It doesn't surprise me that a black mom, recommending an activity to help a black boy connect with role models that look like him, would recommend a martial arts studio that's majority (or completely) black. The extra push ups were to show he would not stop. He would support Randall until he collapsed. He would support him totally and completely forever. I had the impression it was their first session, which is why white mom was there.

It wasn't clear to me that it was Randal's first day. So if all the dads sitting on the mat were there to do push ups with their sons on their backs presumably it was more than just Randall's first day, so wouldn't there be other moms there?

The other dads were doing push-ups to show that they, too, would support Randall(and Jack). It was about community.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I feel like there are a few loose ends in addition to the obvious (how Jack dies) that should be addressed even in passing. What happened to Miguel's kids - how come he and Rebecca are apparently always with the Pearsons at Thanksgiving. Same to some degree with Beth - we know her father died but she had three siblings and mentioned picking up the girls from her sister's house on Christmas Eve. Maybe Beth's family gets Christmas Day. Kate also mentioned falling in love with a former boss - would love to see that explored too.

I think all of these things would be worth answering the storyline.

I like Sterling K. Brown a lot, but I have to say, I was surprised at the range the actor has who plays Kevin. The meltdown scene on the Manny set and him connecting with the widow at the wake.

They dress the character Sloane like a child and she and Kevin look a little creepy together b/c he looks like he's dating a middle schooler. I also found her character insufferable at her parents' house; she was acting like a middle schooler. The constant whining aimed at her sister and parents. Ugh, shut up. (To really capture the insecure Jewish woman, the writers should study Rhoda Morganstern.)

The writers like neat, parallel story lines, so they were foreshadowing the Toby situation a bit. (I wished either Kate or Toby said the removed the sheets once they were caught--so gross not too.) I feel like they were telegraphing William's character development too. In scenes with the young William and the mom in his apartment, he was lisping more and acting more effeminate than earlier scenes to foreshadow that he's gay or bi. I laughed aloud when the daughter announced it to her dad. I feel like Randal's reaction was more like Sterling K. Brown's reaction--that he'd be cool with it. A straight, black man in search of his identity his entire life to just smile and roll with this news, I don't really see it.

The dojo scene for me was pretty contrived. I'm not sure how realistic it would be to see so many black fathers present. I think they wrote the scene b/c they know Milo could do the push ups. Not sure what the point of the "extra" push ups were. Why was white mom the only mom there?

The scene with their OB-GYN at the hospital got me with the snow globe is the one that got me. At one point you can see Mandy Moore wipe her eye. It seemed more like her natural reaction in tearing up than her acting.

I agree with a lot of this, especially all of the fathers present in the dojo. I think that was all just a bit too "idealized."

The doctor (Gerald McRaney) is a good actor, but I'm getting really tired of his folksy way of talking and telling wise stories. Kind of a cliche. Actually, same with William and his constant "wisdom." Both are likable characters, but really verging into caricature territory.

I wonder about Miguel and why he always looks so made up. I get that they're trying to make him look older, but the makeup looks terrible and unnatural. I wonder why they didn't just find an older actor, the way they did with William.

[Anonymous]

Miguel's make up was awful.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:**** Possible spoiler alert for next season/Toby***

I just read under the cast bios (yes, I am hooked) that Toby is in 13 episodes (2016-2017.) Meanwhile, I think there are only 3 episodes in 2017.....

Last night was episode 10. There are still eight episodes left in the season. However, since being dead doesn't preclude a role on this show, the number of episodes may be irrelevant.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Miguel's make up was awful.

He looks dead! I wonder whether they accidentally hired a mortuary make up artist.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Miguel's make up was awful.

He looks dead! I wonder whether they accidentally hired a mortuary make up artist.

I agree! Why are they making him too tan??

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I have loved Sterling K. Brown since he played Roland on Army Wives. I love this show and I hope it sweeps the Emmys. That last scene in the dojo last week buried me.

+1, loved him then, love him even more now!!1

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:**** Possible spoiler alert for next season/Toby***

I just read under the cast bios (yes, I am hooked) that Toby is in 13 episodes (2016-2017.) Meanwhile, I think there are only 3 episodes in 2017.....

Last night was episode 10. There are still eight episodes left in the season. However, since being dead doesn't preclude a role on this show, the number of episodes may be irrelevant.

They're still making episodes for this season. He can't be in or out of episodes not yet filmed!

[Anonymous]

Why weren't they with Kate after her appendices surgery.

Couldn't 1 person sit with Kate and 1 with the doctor.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:
The dojo scene for me was pretty contrived. I'm not sure how realistic it would be to see so many black fathers present. I think they wrote the scene b/c they know Milo could do the push ups. Not sure what the point of the "extra" push ups were. Why was white mom the only mom there?

Wasn't it recommended by the black mom? It doesn't surprise me that a black mom, recommending an activity to help a black boy connect with role models that look like him, would recommend a martial arts studio that's majority (or completely) black. The extra push ups were to show he would not stop. He would support Randall until he collapsed. He would support him totally and completely forever. I had the impression it was their first session, which is why white mom was there.

It wasn't clear to me that it was Randal's first day. So if all the dads sitting on the mat were there to do push ups with their sons on their backs presumably it was more than just Randall's first day, so wouldn't there be other moms there?

The other dads were doing push-ups to show that they, too, would support Randall(and Jack). It was about community.

Right. Maybe each time a kid joined the dojo, they invited the other dad's to come for that session to participate in the ceremony?

[Anonymous]

I'm hooked on this show and want to know what happens next with everyone. But it's really corny. I think Sterling overacts as does his wife, and I agree the makeup on the "older" characters is terrible. William and the doctor are such cliche caricatures, the fat girl storyline is also cliche.
But I keep tuning in!!
I think the actor that plays the actor brother is a cutie. He and the dad are my favorites. And the kids.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Why weren't they with Kate after her appendices surgery.

Couldn't 1 person sit with Kate and 1 with the doctor.

I think they showed them with Kate after she woke up from the appendectomy and then with Dr. K. Presumably, once Kate was okay and went back to sleep the Pearsons' sat with Dr. K because he thought he would die from the surgery and they didn't want him to be alone.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:
The dojo scene for me was pretty contrived. I'm not sure how realistic it would be to see so many black fathers present. I think they wrote the scene b/c they know Milo could do the push ups. Not sure what the point of the "extra" push ups were. Why was white mom the only mom there?

Wasn't it recommended by the black mom? It doesn't surprise me that a black mom, recommending an activity to help a black boy connect with role models that look like him, would recommend a martial arts studio that's majority (or completely) black. The extra push ups were to show he would not stop. He would support Randall until he collapsed. He would support him totally and completely forever. I had the impression it was their first session, which is why white mom was there.

It wasn't clear to me that it was Randal's first day. So if all the dads sitting on the mat were there to do push ups with their sons on their backs presumably it was more than just Randall's first day, so wouldn't there be other moms there?

The other dads were doing push-ups to show that they, too, would support Randall(and Jack). It was about community.

Right. Maybe each time a kid joined the dojo, they invited the other dad's to come for that session to participate in the ceremony?

Yes. each time a new kid joins, all of the fathers are present to do push ups with the new kid on their back. It's to show their support for the kid and dad.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:
The dojo scene for me was pretty contrived. I'm not sure how realistic it would be to see so many black fathers present. I think they wrote the scene b/c they know Milo could do the push ups. Not sure what the point of the "extra" push ups were. Why was white mom the only mom there?

Wasn't it recommended by the black mom? It doesn't surprise me that a black mom, recommending an activity to help a black boy connect with role models that look like him, would recommend a martial arts studio that's majority (or completely) black. The extra push ups were to show he would not stop. He would support Randall until he collapsed. He would support him totally and completely forever. I had the impression it was their first session, which is why white mom was there.

It wasn't clear to me that it was Randal's first day. So if all the dads sitting on the mat were there to do push ups with their sons on their backs presumably it was more than just Randall's first day, so wouldn't there be other moms there?

The other dads were doing push-ups to show that they, too, would support Randall(and Jack). It was about community.

Right. Maybe each time a kid joined the dojo, they invited the other dad's to come for that session to participate in the ceremony?

Yes. each time a new kid joins, all of the fathers are present to do push ups with the new kid on their back. It's to show their support for the kid and dad.

Yes. I think they introduced Randall as new to the class in the episode?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:**** Possible spoiler alert for next season/Toby***

I just read under the cast bios (yes, I am hooked) that Toby is in 13 episodes (2016-2017.) Meanwhile, I think there are only 3 episodes in 2017.....

Last night was episode 10. There are still eight episodes left in the season. However, since being dead doesn't preclude a role on this show, the number of episodes may be irrelevant.

They're still making episodes for this season. He can't be in or out of episodes not yet filmed!

Actually he can. The number of episodes which he is listed as being in - are those he has been "contracted" to be in. So even if he was only in a flashback, he would be credited with an episode because he appears in it.