It’s getting harder to suspend disbelief, this is a case of the writers trying to hard to get them all in one room though it wasn’t realistic or logical it was dramatic. I’d let the writers off the hook if the argument between Randall and Beth wasn’t so stupid. First off, they should move to wherever Randall will be in office. Plus, If Beth got another high paying job, wouldn’t she be away from the family more and that cost more in child care? If she did teach dance, why couldn’t Beth take her girls to the studio with her when she taught? They could take a class, or do homework, read whatever… In my experience there were always extra kids in the waiting areas. It seems like they’re just arguing to argue when there are so many easy ways to manage their schedules. I’m liking Kevin’s drinking story less and less.
Beth’s kids are teenagers, or close to it. They are not going to sit around doing homework outside the dance studio for hours without a full-scale revolt. If they wanted to take dance classes, they would have been doing it already. And not with their mother. (I can’t imagine how awful it would be to take a traditional ballet class with your mother.)
But, yes, there are many other ways to approach the problem. And Randall should live in his damn district. It is soooo offensive to think that there would be a Philadelphia city councilperson who lives two hours away in Alpine NJ.
re Zoe and Kevin, yeh, Beth told her she wouldn’t judge Zoe for flying the coop, when Zoe replied “Would you judge me IF I STAYED?”
I agree relationship on the rocks, but Zoe seems to know more and more what she is taking on, and STAYING, true it is a show, and she is under contract.
Just love Toby’s response to the baby: fear, joy, exhaustion, worry, disbelief…he played the gambit of emtions perfectly. Of course the baby’s name is Jack, could it have been anything else? That one is not a surprise…Ginsburg might have been more of a surprise.
I wonder how far the writers think things out – for example did they decide upfront that Randall and Beth would have two daughters so the name Jack would be available down the road for Kate?
It wasn’t my favorite episode and I’m super positive about the show. BUT in many ways, it was very realistic to me. Waiting rooms can be unbearable. No one eats. You talk about random stuff. Try to get your mind off it. Get annoyed easily. I would have FLIPPED with that woman there eating the chips!
And time wise, wasn’t it really just overnight? So, day she arrived at the hospital, overnight, next day? It little out of the ordinary that they would all be there but would it be an episode if we just saw Kevin and Zoe and one or two others in the waiting room?
Also not sure why it was such a big deal to leave the girls. I mean, yes it was across the country but I don’t think it’s unusual to think that Randall and Beth would have friends that the girls could stay with for a couple days.
I find myself worrying about lots of things. Rebecca’s state of mind, Kevin’s drinking, baby Jack, Toby handling it. Randall and Beth are the least of my worries - they will figure it out!
Finally, I was worried about Kate’s friend! Who brought the donuts! It was SO important for her to be there for Kate. To be her support. Didn’t this friend have a history of depression or suicide attempt or something? I was worried that story - and her feeling not welcome, and eventually realizing she missed the baby’s birth - would lead somewhere bad for her.
For once, I didn’t like this episode. And I’m usually ready to suspend belief.
Glad I’m not the only one. I still really like the show but this episode made me really impatient for it to get to the point. I don’t think it is realistic for everyone to fly cross country when the baby wasn’t due for a while and it may well have been days or weeks until the baby came. Rebecca being unwilling to leave to even rest or eat made no sense.
I understand Beth wanting to do what she wants to do, but either she supports Randall or doesn’t. At one point she asked him not to run but then appeared to be on board. I really hope this isn’t leading to a split between them.
I think it was intentional for us to not like this episode. How we the viewer felt was uncomfortable, annoyed and short tempered and the writers and director nailed it.
I should rewatch it but does anyone remember if Zoe took a drink from Kevin’s water bottle and then he told her that he needed her to help him? If so, he knew she knew he is still drinking. And him asking her to stay and help is a very manipulative action. Very narcissistic and imo a very realistic action by an alcoholic
Madison is Kate’s friend, I’m pretty sure the story is that she has an eating disorder. I think her portrayal is very realistic. She’s very needy
@JHS I agree…Zoe was all in until she took a drink from the water bottle. I think she is done.
I thought it was rude of them to ask Madison to leave. She is Kate’s best friend, and her being there was part of Kate’s birth plan.
I think @deb922 nailed it in that it many of these things we mention are exactly what the show intended - for us to feel uncomfortable, edgy, etc.
Yes, it was rude to ask Madison to leave. I don’t think we’ve seen the last of that story line. There will be more.
I liked that the episode was very different from previous ones. All took place in one location, all the adults there (except Jack), no flashbacks, more character development about Miguel, although I really hated the ranch or chocolate game but maybe I was supposed to. I liked the way we were supposed to think that Rebecca was developing dementia with her observations about the outlets and chair fabric but then she told the story of the waiting room the night Jack died. Although maybe she also is developing dementia?
I don’t like Madison and never have. I just don’t see her and Kate as friends. The location issues bother me every week. Maybe they did and it will all make sense at some time, but I wish the writers had put some thought into the locations before the very beginning. The William was in Pittsburgh when Randall was a baby but then in Philadelphia so that’s where Randall who now lives in northern NJ has to become a council member has never made sense to me. Why couldn’t it all have been set in northern NJ, William from Newark or wherever and Randall becomes a council member from distance of under 30 miles. Kevin could film a tv show or movies out of New York and Kate be living there as his assistant. They have computer work for Toby too. Going with the current situation, though, I feel like Beth and Randall will / should move their family to Philly especially if Rebecca is moving to California. I’m sure they have dance studios there. Ok, enough random thoughts about this show!
@deb922 As I remember it, the sequence was: First, Zoe essentially tells Beth she plans to stay in the relationship (after Kevin had promised never to lie to her again). Second, Zoe takes a sip of water that turns out to be vodka. Third, Kevin tell Zoe he can’t make it without her. And, yes, it’s super-manipulative, and typical of an addict.
I’m going to miss Zoe.
Kevin’s perpetual girlfriend problems let the producers rotate a series of really great-looking actresses through the show. Zoe is probably on the way out, but this week’s tease of next week tells us that Sophie is coming back, probably as a temporary fill-in.
My DVR cut off again when Kate and Toby were at the baby’s side and Kate was talking to God/Jack. Did anything happen last minute there? And I didn’t see any previews - can you fill me in on previews??
A synopsis of Madison’s character. Indicates we may see her more! (no spoilers in this article)
https://www.bustle.com/p/madison-from-this-is-us-went-from-being-kates-nemesis-to-her-bff-shes-needed-more-than-ever-16949327
What are everyone’s thoughts/impressions of Miguel? I find it hard to get attached or like him.
In most ways he seems TOTALLY opposite of Jack. And interesting that the “fun” side of Rebecca - the more carefree side - that she had with Jack- seems to be gone as Miguel’s wife. I understand that she has been through a lot…but it is now decades later.
Clearly the kids haven’t been the most welcoming of Miguel…but also does he seem to lend himself to being “likeable” to them???
I appreciate him, but just don’t love him (his character).
I understand why she’s different. She changed after Jack’s death. Different love, different reason to get married. I think I would profoundly change. The girl that my DH sees when he looks at me, if he died, would be gone forever. That’s what I meant when I’d like them to explore this relationship. I really like Miguel. I’d like to see why, even at this age, the kids won’t really warm up to him.
Plus, I’m tiring of the storylines, mostly Kevin.
Rebecca gave Miguel a tolerantly amused smile when he told her the answer to the game was that you can’t put ranch on chocolate or whatever. I think she’s with Miguel for loving companionship vs Jack THE love of her life. I also would like to see more stories of their relationship.
I didn’t think Kevin knew that Zoe knew there was alcohol in the water bottle as I don’t think he saw her take the drink. Also I couldn’t figure out why Randall and Beth were making such a big deal out of Rebecca’s status and how she was sort of zoning out. But then I thought that when Jack died she wasn’t with him because she was at the vending machine getting a candy bar. So maybe they were trying to show us that she was afraid to get up at all because she didn’t want anything to happen to Kate or the baby while she wasn’t there???
I thought Rebecca might be having a stroke.
I think maybe she was afraid to eat because when she left Jack to eat he died or maybe she is getting dementia and Miguel is kind of covering for her.