This Is Us. Season 3

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I liked this episode, because it starts to point to something that's always bothered me. Jack has, from the first episode, always felt domineering to me. So the general "swoon"-iness around him always confused me. I think showing how Randall is similar and directly comparing it to Jack's treatment of Rebecca is good. It means the show really does understand the nuances of its characters.

It'll be interesting to see how all this plays out. The last few episodes have revealed how much more there is to Beth's past...which makes her current marginalization so much more enraging. I do see how Beth contributed to that, but I guess I'm a little more sympathetic to the person struggling to find space for herself than the person who just won't let her.

Good point about Jack.

I think it’s also revealing that her “strength” isnt really all that. She was dominated by her mother, and she caves in to be the good girl pretty quickly. It’s like there’s a disconnect between her and everyone else’s sense of her strength and how she actually is.

As a Black woman, this statement really resonates with me. I get the Beth storyline 100%. So many white women say to me “I wish I had your strength.” “I’m so intimidated by you!” “You’re so strong.” “I’m afraid of you!” I cannot for the life of me understand that. I’m actually very shy and lack confidence. I think white people confuse speaking your mind with inner strength. I’m not afraid to tell the truth (sometimes to my detriment) but that doesn’t mean that I am this pillar of strength not worthy of empathy and compassion. I don’t consider myself meek or a doormat but I’m actually not that tough and I’m definitely not an angry Black woman with a venoumous disposition. The whole Beth and Randall storyline mirrors my current life; supporting a spouse with high anxiety, finding my place and my voice in my marriage, overbearing mother who did not support my dream, a dream deferred, being consumed by your life, getting laid off, etc... It’s a great storyline for me for personal reasons and I think the writers have done a really good job showing the nuances of Black life. It’s refreshing and honest.

I want to second this (although my DH doesn’t have anxiety, he’s got trust and abandonment issues). I don’t think of myself as strong so much as adaptable. I have adapted to struggle and pain because the only other choice was to not survive. I’m sure I would have flourished without the burdens of racism, sexism, and dysfunctional family life as a child.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I liked this episode, because it starts to point to something that's always bothered me. Jack has, from the first episode, always felt domineering to me. So the general "swoon"-iness around him always confused me. I think showing how Randall is similar and directly comparing it to Jack's treatment of Rebecca is good. It means the show really does understand the nuances of its characters.

It'll be interesting to see how all this plays out. The last few episodes have revealed how much more there is to Beth's past...which makes her current marginalization so much more enraging. I do see how Beth contributed to that, but I guess I'm a little more sympathetic to the person struggling to find space for herself than the person who just won't let her.

Good point about Jack.

I think it’s also revealing that her “strength” isnt really all that. She was dominated by her mother, and she caves in to be the good girl pretty quickly. It’s like there’s a disconnect between her and everyone else’s sense of her strength and how she actually is.

As a Black woman, this statement really resonates with me. I get the Beth storyline 100%. So many white women say to me “I wish I had your strength.” “I’m so intimidated by you!” “You’re so strong.” “I’m afraid of you!” I cannot for the life of me understand that. I’m actually very shy and lack confidence. I think white people confuse speaking your mind with inner strength. I’m not afraid to tell the truth (sometimes to my detriment) but that doesn’t mean that I am this pillar of strength not worthy of empathy and compassion. I don’t consider myself meek or a doormat but I’m actually not that tough and I’m definitely not an angry Black woman with a venoumous disposition. The whole Beth and Randall storyline mirrors my current life; supporting a spouse with high anxiety, finding my place and my voice in my marriage, overbearing mother who did not support my dream, a dream deferred, being consumed by your life, getting laid off, etc... It’s a great storyline for me for personal reasons and I think the writers have done a really good job showing the nuances of Black life. It’s refreshing and honest.

I want to second this (although my DH doesn’t have anxiety, he’s got trust and abandonment issues). I don’t think of myself as strong so much as adaptable. I have adapted to struggle and pain because the only other choice was to not survive. I’m sure I would have flourished without the burdens of racism, sexism, and dysfunctional family life as a child.

+1 I think I understand what you ladies are talking about. It's nice to know others feel similarly. When I would be told how strong I am, to continue being strong, how my strength is inspiring, they could never be as strong as I am... blah blah - I remember feeling so disconnected from those traits. I wasn't strong, I just wasn't done. I was continuing on because that's the option that I have, to continue living or surrender to being a shell of a person. I didn't pick shell, but I don't think that makes me strong. Maybe lucky.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Aside from the sad beginning and end, this episode was hilarious. I actually laughed out loud throughout the scenes of their early life together. So funny.

Makes me sad that they are in such a lonely place now.

Funny, I didn’t notice anything amusing.

You didn’t laugh when they were saying their vows in the bathroom? When Randall proposed after doing that dance? When they were exhausted and up with the baby and started blowing raspberries at each other? When teenaged Kevin was coaching Randall through asking Beth out on their first date? Wow, that’s a great sense of humor you have!

Teen Kevin has always been good, but I thought he was spot on in that phone coaching scene. Every move, every voice inflection, every mannerism was exactly like adult Kevin. Really impressive.

[Anonymous]

Yes! Agree teen Kevin is very spot on with adult Kevin. Terrific young actor!

[Anonymous]

I think all 3 teens are well cast. The boys act like the adults and the Kates have an uncanny resemblance.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Aside from the sad beginning and end, this episode was hilarious. I actually laughed out loud throughout the scenes of their early life together. So funny.

Makes me sad that they are in such a lonely place now.

Funny, I didn’t notice anything amusing.

You didn’t laugh when they were saying their vows in the bathroom? When Randall proposed after doing that dance? When they were exhausted and up with the baby and started blowing raspberries at each other? When teenaged Kevin was coaching Randall through asking Beth out on their first date? Wow, that’s a great sense of humor you have!

Teen Kevin has always been good, but I thought he was spot on in that phone coaching scene. Every move, every voice inflection, every mannerism was exactly like adult Kevin. Really impressive.

PP here and I thought exactly the same thing!! I wonder if adult Kevin rehearses the scenes with teen Kevin, so that teen Kevin can mimic his mannerisms. He totally nailed it.

[Anonymous]

Is this the first we see of Randall and Beth going to Carnegie Mellon?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I liked this episode, because it starts to point to something that's always bothered me. Jack has, from the first episode, always felt domineering to me. So the general "swoon"-iness around him always confused me. I think showing how Randall is similar and directly comparing it to Jack's treatment of Rebecca is good. It means the show really does understand the nuances of its characters.

It'll be interesting to see how all this plays out. The last few episodes have revealed how much more there is to Beth's past...which makes her current marginalization so much more enraging. I do see how Beth contributed to that, but I guess I'm a little more sympathetic to the person struggling to find space for herself than the person who just won't let her.

Good point about Jack.

I think it’s also revealing that her “strength” isnt really all that. She was dominated by her mother, and she caves in to be the good girl pretty quickly. It’s like there’s a disconnect between her and everyone else’s sense of her strength and how she actually is.

As a Black woman, this statement really resonates with me. I get the Beth storyline 100%. So many white women say to me “I wish I had your strength.” “I’m so intimidated by you!” “You’re so strong.” “I’m afraid of you!” I cannot for the life of me understand that. I’m actually very shy and lack confidence. I think white people confuse speaking your mind with inner strength. I’m not afraid to tell the truth (sometimes to my detriment) but that doesn’t mean that I am this pillar of strength not worthy of empathy and compassion. I don’t consider myself meek or a doormat but I’m actually not that tough and I’m definitely not an angry Black woman with a venoumous disposition. The whole Beth and Randall storyline mirrors my current life; supporting a spouse with high anxiety, finding my place and my voice in my marriage, overbearing mother who did not support my dream, a dream deferred, being consumed by your life, getting laid off, etc... It’s a great storyline for me for personal reasons and I think the writers have done a really good job showing the nuances of Black life. It’s refreshing and honest.

I want to second this (although my DH doesn’t have anxiety, he’s got trust and abandonment issues). I don’t think of myself as strong so much as adaptable. I have adapted to struggle and pain because the only other choice was to not survive. I’m sure I would have flourished without the burdens of racism, sexism, and dysfunctional family life as a child.

+1 I think I understand what you ladies are talking about. It's nice to know others feel similarly. When I would be told how strong I am, to continue being strong, how my strength is inspiring, they could never be as strong as I am... blah blah - I remember feeling so disconnected from those traits. I wasn't strong, I just wasn't done. I was continuing on because that's the option that I have, to continue living or surrender to being a shell of a person. I didn't pick shell, but I don't think that makes me strong. Maybe lucky.

Just want to say to all of you that not picking the shell DOES make you strong. Even when it doesn't feel like that. The world's shadows are filled with people who either couldn't or wouldn't pick the survival and ended up surrendered to the broken shell in the shadows.

[Anonymous]

A lot was revealed tonight! I thought it was a great episode. I liked seeing the future.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:A lot was revealed tonight! I thought it was a great episode. I liked seeing the future.

Me, too, but is anyone worried about future Kate?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:A lot was revealed tonight! I thought it was a great episode. I liked seeing the future.

Me, too, but is anyone worried about future Kate?

Yes. There was a lot to unpack in those final moments.

Nicky is alive.
Beth and Randall are together.
Toby was nervous about being there.
No Kate. No Miguel.

They referred to Kevin as Jack’s father right? I was multitasking so not sure I caught that correctly.

[Anonymous]

No, we don’t have a name for Kevin’s kid, who appears to be about 6 or 7. If this is 15-20 years in the future baby Jack would be a teen or young adult.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:A lot was revealed tonight! I thought it was a great episode. I liked seeing the future.

Me, too, but is anyone worried about future Kate?

Yes. There was a lot to unpack in those final moments.

Nicky is alive.
Beth and Randall are together.
Toby was nervous about being there.
No Kate. No Miguel.

They referred to Kevin as Jack’s father right? I was multitasking so not sure I caught that correctly.

I swear it sounded like Kevin's kid was named Jack. I'm definitely going to need to watch that last part again tomorrow!

I was like, did Kate and Toby's kid die and that's why they split up and then Kevin named his later-born son Jack, too?!

[Anonymous]

Toby said he talked to Jack and they are on their way, so I think maybe Kate and Jack are who they are now.

The kid refered to as Kevin’s is not named.

Have R&B always lived in Jersey? Completely missed that all along. Thought they were also in PA.

Will we ever find out what happened to Randall’s birthmom?

[Anonymous]

Did anyone think they intentionally hid Kevin’s kid’s face and kind of blurred him out? His head was down looking at a phone or something as he walked by, and then they kind of blurred him out.

If that’s the case, I can think of 2 reasons why. 1) they haven’t cast the permanent kid yet; or 2) they are being intentionally mysterious about the kid’s race. Is it possible Kevin and Zoe end up together and that was their kid?