I'm liking the show overall but I feel like so much of Kate'a storyline (and backstory) is that she's fat. It's almost all we see her talking about (before the football story at least). I'm overweight and I go entire weeks without talking to anyone about my weight, trying so hard to eat well that it's painful for those around me, etc. It makes me sad because I think that's how skinny people imagine it is to be fat-that because it's all they see, it must be all the fat person thinks about.

I just watched the last two episodes again and Kate as a child (at the pool) is chunky, but I think her face is fuller than her body is. This makes her seem heavier overall than she actually is.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Rebecca was reacting the way most parents would if they realized their young child was missing (at a pool, no less). She was frantically running around, trying to find him, and when she did, she was in no mood for chitchat with another mom. She was annoyed with Randall for taking off without letting her know where he was. I've certainly been in that position before, and I don't recall being eager to socialize afterwards.

Sorry, but I don't believe Rebecca (or you) would have been rude to the other mother if she'd been white. The boy wasn't in danger, happily playing, with an adult who was less than three feet away. I can understand being flustered and angry, but not rude.

Unless it just does not occur to you to speak to other mothers at the pool when your kids are playing together.

But don't explain. I get it.

Oh, please; jump down off your pompous high-horse. I've felt frantic and embarrassed on the few occasions my kids have gotten away from me and as a result, I'm sure I was terse with the people around me when I found my kid, no matter their race. Having triplets and keeping track of them has to be really hard and exhausting.

Anonymous wrote:How long can they keep up the flashbacks? After a while, after several seasons, like how long can that keep going?

Don't you regularly recall memories? That's what the flashbacks in the show feel like to me.

Anonymous wrote:Rebecca was reacting the way most parents would if they realized their young child was missing (at a pool, no less). She was frantically running around, trying to find him, and when she did, she was in no mood for chitchat with another mom. She was annoyed with Randall for taking off without letting her know where he was. I've certainly been in that position before, and I don't recall being eager to socialize afterwards.

Sorry, but I don't believe Rebecca (or you) would have been rude to the other mother if she'd been white. The boy wasn't in danger, happily playing, with an adult who was less than three feet away. I can understand being flustered and angry, but not rude.

Unless it just does not occur to you to speak to other mothers at the pool when your kids are playing together.

But don't explain. I get it.

Rebecca was reacting the way most parents would if they realized their young child was missing (at a pool, no less). She was frantically running around, trying to find him, and when she did, she was in no mood for chitchat with another mom. She was annoyed with Randall for taking off without letting her know where he was. I've certainly been in that position before, and I don't recall being eager to socialize afterwards.

I don't know why everyone is flipping out about the black mom at the pool but completely overlooking the way Rebecca's behavior. I can't imagine seeing my child playing (happily) with other kids, marching over and snatching him away without saying a word to the other mother who is sitting right there.

Race relations aren't great in Pittsburgh in 2016; they were downright hostile 30 years ago. And hostile is likely what that other mom thought of Rebecca when she stormed in and stormed out without even a hello.

How long can they keep up the flashbacks? After a while, after several seasons, like how long can that keep going?

Anonymous wrote:Totally the Walsh house!

It is, right? How come I can't dig up some confirmation?!

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:It was interesting seeing the glimpses of Rebecca and jack's childhoods. And the scene of jack's father immigrating was so unexpected for this show. It fits though. Tied in so beautifully with the painting and his theory that the time is no matter. That it's all the same time, or that differences in time are so much closer than we think.

I think that was Jack's grandfather

I liked that a lot and liked the idea that they left themselves open to branch way up and out for some story arcs.

I know its beating a dead horse but they totally confirmed they got the challenger timing wrong unless they skipped grades. Because they were conceived at the steeler's 4th superbowl win- 1980.

Didn't they also win in 1979, though?

They did but the game shown at the bar was Steelers v. Rams that was 1980, not Steelers v. Cowboys in 1979.

OMG. Perhaps this obsession with the Steelers win and the Challenger, etc. warrants a thread of its own.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I love that this show is tackling racial issues. Randall picking a pool that he knows more black people go to because even at 8 years-old he understands that he's different and wants to be around people that look like him. I'm glad that the mother put her ego aside and asked for help from the black woman.

That black woman at the pool was such a snot to Rebecca. Why did she feel the need to humiliate Rebecca, simply because Rebecca was the white adoptive mom of a black child? She could have kindly offered advice re: the rash on Randall's neck, but instead she chose to loudly patronize Rebecca simply because Rebecca hadn't run right over to the black families and introduced Randall. WTF? I was really glad Rebecca went back and schooled that know-it-all.

Of course, we know they'll become friends regardless, but the whole scene made me mad.

I agree. It was over the top. I don't like the idea that someone who is selflessly raising another person's child being ridiculed over something like the child's hair.

A. I understand where the black woman is coming from. A white family with a black child doesn't bother to introduce (or even acknowledge) themselves to the other black families is a big snub. With the history of black-white relations white people adopting black children is still a sensitive topic (rightfully so), the least she could do is be friendly to other black people for Randall's sake.

B. Rebecca isn't selflessly raising another person's child*, she's raising her own child, and she adopted for the same selfish reasons that people have biological children. If her bio son hadn't died they would have went home with 3 white bio kids. She 'selfishly' wanted to come home with 3 kids because that is what they had planned on, period!

*We have to stop looking at adoption as some savior act when it's just as arrogant and selfish as having a biological child.

You are nuts. First of all, Rebecca was not obligated to go and start chatting up a bunch of strangers at a pool simply because they are black. If this was so important to the black folks, then why would they not approach her? Second of all, how is raising another person's child, or for that matter, having one's own biological child, "selfish and arrogant?" Would you prefer that children get tossed around from foster home to foster home rather than living with loving families who happen to be of a different race than the child. Would that be some kind of moral victory? If this is such a concern, then why don't more minority families step up and adopt these children? Or why don't people just not have children at all since, as you say, it is just an arrogant and selfish pursuit.

I dont think the poster is criticising adoption per say, simply the notion that its a "noble" rather than a selfish act. And i agree. My DH was adopted by one of the most selfish, frighteningly narcissistic people i have ever met. You can bet she was motivated by what she "wanted" not what thr noble thing tondo was.

NP here, agree, the pp was not criticizing adoption. I also agree that kate is not selflessly raising another persons child. She had very selfish (I'm not saying it was bad, it's wonderful Randall found a loving family) reasons for adopting Randall. And she is raising him just as she's raising her other children.

I'll add, I don't think the black mother was arrogant or snobbish at all. I think Kate deep down knew she was wrong for not seeking out any AA influences in Randall's life. That's why she reacted like she was so offended but really she should have been thankful to the woman for even offering any advice. And personally, I do think Kate is obligated to ensure she knows how to take care of things that might be unique to Randall, and yes that means trying to befiend other black families with children, especially since there are very few African Americans where they live.

The black mother was horrible to Rebecca. I realize that in later episodes, the two become friends, but in this first meeting, she was definitely way out of line. She could have gone about giving advice to Rebecca in a much kinder way. For instance, maybe the black mother could have approached Rebecca to introduce herself and her own son, and just made friendly conversation. At some point, she could have casually mentioned that she noticed Randall scratching his neck, and then suggested her solution re: the barber. There are plenty of pleasant, friendly ways that interaction could have been handled. Making Rebecca look like the stupid white mom who doesn't know anything about black skin and hair didn't exactly endear her to me. She came across as a patronizing bitch.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I love that this show is tackling racial issues. Randall picking a pool that he knows more black people go to because even at 8 years-old he understands that he's different and wants to be around people that look like him. I'm glad that the mother put her ego aside and asked for help from the black woman.

That black woman at the pool was such a snot to Rebecca. Why did she feel the need to humiliate Rebecca, simply because Rebecca was the white adoptive mom of a black child? She could have kindly offered advice re: the rash on Randall's neck, but instead she chose to loudly patronize Rebecca simply because Rebecca hadn't run right over to the black families and introduced Randall. WTF? I was really glad Rebecca went back and schooled that know-it-all.

Of course, we know they'll become friends regardless, but the whole scene made me mad.

I agree. It was over the top. I don't like the idea that someone who is selflessly raising another person's child being ridiculed over something like the child's hair.

A. I understand where the black woman is coming from. A white family with a black child doesn't bother to introduce (or even acknowledge) themselves to the other black families is a big snub. With the history of black-white relations white people adopting black children is still a sensitive topic (rightfully so), the least she could do is be friendly to other black people for Randall's sake.

B. Rebecca isn't selflessly raising another person's child*, she's raising her own child, and she adopted for the same selfish reasons that people have biological children. If her bio son hadn't died they would have went home with 3 white bio kids. She 'selfishly' wanted to come home with 3 kids because that is what they had planned on, period!

*We have to stop looking at adoption as some savior act when it's just as arrogant and selfish as having a biological child.

You are nuts. First of all, Rebecca was not obligated to go and start chatting up a bunch of strangers at a pool simply because they are black. If this was so important to the black folks, then why would they not approach her? Second of all, how is raising another person's child, or for that matter, having one's own biological child, "selfish and arrogant?" Would you prefer that children get tossed around from foster home to foster home rather than living with loving families who happen to be of a different race than the child. Would that be some kind of moral victory? If this is such a concern, then why don't more minority families step up and adopt these children? Or why don't people just not have children at all since, as you say, it is just an arrogant and selfish pursuit.

+100
Precisely.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I love that this show is tackling racial issues. Randall picking a pool that he knows more black people go to because even at 8 years-old he understands that he's different and wants to be around people that look like him. I'm glad that the mother put her ego aside and asked for help from the black woman.

That black woman at the pool was such a snot to Rebecca. Why did she feel the need to humiliate Rebecca, simply because Rebecca was the white adoptive mom of a black child? She could have kindly offered advice re: the rash on Randall's neck, but instead she chose to loudly patronize Rebecca simply because Rebecca hadn't run right over to the black families and introduced Randall. WTF? I was really glad Rebecca went back and schooled that know-it-all.

Of course, we know they'll become friends regardless, but the whole scene made me mad.

I agree. It was over the top. I don't like the idea that someone who is selflessly raising another person's child being ridiculed over something like the child's hair.

A. I understand where the black woman is coming from. A white family with a black child doesn't bother to introduce (or even acknowledge) themselves to the other black families is a big snub. With the history of black-white relations white people adopting black children is still a sensitive topic (rightfully so), the least she could do is be friendly to other black people for Randall's sake.

B. Rebecca isn't selflessly raising another person's child*, she's raising her own child, and she adopted for the same selfish reasons that people have biological children. If her bio son hadn't died they would have went home with 3 white bio kids. She 'selfishly' wanted to come home with 3 kids because that is what they had planned on, period!

*We have to stop looking at adoption as some savior act when it's just as arrogant and selfish as having a biological child.

A. If Rebecca had made a point of introducing Randall to the other black people at the pool, I think most would agree that would just be weird and awkward. "Um, hi, I have a black child, and you're black, so I thought you should meet!" How ridiculous. Rebecca owed them no explanation, simply because her son was black. If she had done that, I imagine she would've been met with the same scornful, patronizing looks she was met with for not introducing him. They thought it was a "big snub" when she didn't introduce themselves; they would ALSO have taken offense if she HAD made introductions. What if her child was Asian, and there were Asian people there? Are you actually suggesting she should have taken her child around to meet people - just because they shared the same race?? You really can't win when people are determined to take offense, no matter what.

B. She absolutely is raising her own child, that I agree with. Which makes it even more bizarre that you would suggest she make a big deal about what race this child is, instead of just going to the pool with her three kids, period. If she makes friends with black families, great, but that's something that doesn't need to be forced. Friendship should be organic, not deliberately sought out due to shared race.

Anonymous wrote:Totally the Walsh house!

I was noticing a kitchen layout similarity between the kids house and Randall's house. The husband and wife working in the kitchen at that corner to the right. Looks similar in both places. Randall's is a lot larger of course!

Totally the Walsh house!