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| Photo Credit: NBC |
Kate's trying very seriously to lose her unwanted excess weight but is frustrated that she's yet to see any change while Toby's managed to lose some pounds. After blowing up at some other members of their fat support group, Kate tells Toby she's stressed about finding something to wear to the Hollywood party her twin Kevin invited her to tonight. After hearing about the party, Toby invites himself along and turns the outing into a date, one in which he hopes they can forget about their weight problems. They get drunk at the party and Kate tells Toby that it'll always be about the weight for her as it's been a battle since she was little. Thanks to flashbacks to 1998, we see mom Rebecca giving Kate fruit for breakfast while we see brothers Kevin and Randall get sugary cereal.
Besides gaining insight into Kate's relationship with food, we also see Kevin and Randall's relationship as kids, which wasn't great. The two brothers fought a lot and Kevin worried about what others thought of him so he wouldn't stick up for Randall when mean kids called him "Webster," choosing popularity over his brother. Their childhood has affected their relationship today as the brothers aren't close.
Even though he's been warned that quitting "The Manny" will have repercussions for his career, Kevin is surprised when he meets with his agent (Katey Sagal) and is told he's contractually obligated for two more years. At the party, he meets with the network head (Brad Garrett) who tells him that unless he returns to "The Manny," his career will be Nagasaki-ed and Kevin won't be able to work in show business.
Besides gaining insight into Kate's relationship with food, we also see Kevin and Randall's relationship as kids, which wasn't great. The two brothers fought a lot and Kevin worried about what others thought of him so he wouldn't stick up for Randall when mean kids called him "Webster," choosing popularity over his brother. Their childhood has affected their relationship today as the brothers aren't close.
Even though he's been warned that quitting "The Manny" will have repercussions for his career, Kevin is surprised when he meets with his agent (Katey Sagal) and is told he's contractually obligated for two more years. At the party, he meets with the network head (Brad Garrett) who tells him that unless he returns to "The Manny," his career will be Nagasaki-ed and Kevin won't be able to work in show business.
After Kevin hears that, he calls his brother Randall, and they have a touching, if stilted, conversation, where Randall advises Kevin that their mom and dad didn't raise any whores. After reciting the "Big Three" chant their dad used to have them do in the mornings, along with a drunk Kate, Kevin decides he's not going back to "The Manny" and will instead move to New York and do theater. Since New York is where Randall lives with his family, we'll hopefully be seeing the two brothers together and working on their relationship.
Meanwhile, Randall's biological father William has been staying with his family, and Beth isn't sold on him. So Beth wakes up Randall for a late-night interrogation in the kitchen, asking him where he goes every day all day, if he's using drugs, and whether he's really sick. After Randall walks into the kitchen, William admits he's been going back to Philadelphia each day to feed his cat, making Beth feel bad about questioning him, but also relieved that William's not using drugs.
In 1998, we see Jack and Rebecca struggling as a couple, since Rebecca feels like she's taking on the bulk of responsibilities with the kids, while Jack's out drinking, causing tension between the two. While Rebecca is tucking in each kid, Jack is slinging back bourbon at the bar alongside friend Miguel (Jon Huertas), who tells him he should appreciate what he has in Rebecca and not screw it up with her or their great family whom he's kind of jealous of. Jack heads back home and after receiving a serious tongue-lashing from Rebecca and sleeping outside their bedroom in the hall, vows to stop drinking and be a better husband and parent. He then gives her a gold moon necklace which she promises to never take off, they make out, and are soon piled on by their kids as they wake up.
We return to the present day at Randall and Beth's house, where the doorbell rings. Their two daughters rush to answer it, only to announce that Grandma and Grandpa are here -- and when we see who's at the door, in a surprise twist, we don't see Rebecca and Jack. Instead, it's Rebecca (still wearing the moon necklace) and her husband, (gasp!) Miguel.
This surprise twist begets lots of questions -- did Jack die? Did someone cheat? WHAT HAPPENED?
Hopefully these questions will be answered sooner rather than later, but NBC just ordered a full season of "This Is Us" consisting of 18 episodes yesterday, so we may have longer to wait and much more to anticipate in the season ahead.
Meanwhile, Randall's biological father William has been staying with his family, and Beth isn't sold on him. So Beth wakes up Randall for a late-night interrogation in the kitchen, asking him where he goes every day all day, if he's using drugs, and whether he's really sick. After Randall walks into the kitchen, William admits he's been going back to Philadelphia each day to feed his cat, making Beth feel bad about questioning him, but also relieved that William's not using drugs.
In 1998, we see Jack and Rebecca struggling as a couple, since Rebecca feels like she's taking on the bulk of responsibilities with the kids, while Jack's out drinking, causing tension between the two. While Rebecca is tucking in each kid, Jack is slinging back bourbon at the bar alongside friend Miguel (Jon Huertas), who tells him he should appreciate what he has in Rebecca and not screw it up with her or their great family whom he's kind of jealous of. Jack heads back home and after receiving a serious tongue-lashing from Rebecca and sleeping outside their bedroom in the hall, vows to stop drinking and be a better husband and parent. He then gives her a gold moon necklace which she promises to never take off, they make out, and are soon piled on by their kids as they wake up.
We return to the present day at Randall and Beth's house, where the doorbell rings. Their two daughters rush to answer it, only to announce that Grandma and Grandpa are here -- and when we see who's at the door, in a surprise twist, we don't see Rebecca and Jack. Instead, it's Rebecca (still wearing the moon necklace) and her husband, (gasp!) Miguel.
This surprise twist begets lots of questions -- did Jack die? Did someone cheat? WHAT HAPPENED?
Hopefully these questions will be answered sooner rather than later, but NBC just ordered a full season of "This Is Us" consisting of 18 episodes yesterday, so we may have longer to wait and much more to anticipate in the season ahead.
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