Just About Write
It's not wrong -- it's just about write.
TV Reviews & Recaps
Book Reviews + Author Interviews
TV MVP Series
Wanna Write For Us?
This Is Us 1x11 Review: "The Right Thing To Do" (The Ends, The Middles, and The Means)
9:48 PM s01.11, this is us recap No comments
"The Right Thing To Do"
Original Airdate: January 10, 2017
We've all done things we don't want to do because it's the "right thing." That's why most of us showed up for our SATs in high school, and try to get our daily eight hours of sleep each night. Sometimes doing the right thing is easy — it comes naturally and we do it happily. But sometimes we have to do things we don't want to do in order to become better people or better the lives of the people around us. In this week's This Is Us episode, we got the chance to witness a few of our key characters making difficult decisions for the greater good. When Olivia reappears in Kevin's life, he rejects her presence in the play and her advances, citing that choosing Sloane isn't what he necessarily most wants, but it's the right thing. And in the past, when Jack and Rebecca find out that they're having triplets, Jack decides to do something unthinkable in order to get enough money to buy a house for Rebecca and their growing family. As always, This Is Us was a return to (emotional) form, with the core emotional story being Jack/Rebecca (and a few sub-stories in Kate/Toby and Randall/William).
DO THE ENDS JUSTIFY THE MEANS?
We open this week's episode with a flashback of a young Jack standing up to his abusive dad for his mom. When they're alone, his mother asks Jack to promise that he'll never be like his father. And honestly, Jack isn't. His dad is physically abusive and angry and selfish, venomously tearing down his son and Jack's mother. When Jack and Rebecca learn that they're having triplets, it's not ideal. They just paid the deposit on a two-bedroom apartment with a six floor walk-up. The couple begins to panic and struggles to come up with a way to make their new situation work.
Over lunch, Rebecca gets passive-aggresively berated by her mother who is, in fact, the worst. Jack tries to ask for a raise at work, and gets a minimal one — not nearly enough to cover the cost of a new place, since they won't get their deposit back on the apartment. So both Jack and Rebecca are driven to the edge of a cliff, and it's one that we've all been to: what are they willing to do in the short-term in order to achieve their goals in the long-term? Because the truth is that Jack and Rebecca are smart, wonderful characters who want to make their marriage and family work. They want to be able to provide for their kids and unfortunately, it's just not a possibility. So what must they sacrifice in order to put their children first?
For Rebecca, it's legitimately contemplating an offer for her and Jack to move in with her mother for a month or two after the babies are born. Rebecca's mother is insufferable, and Rebecca knows it. Living with her would be toxic, and undoubtedly put a heavy strain on Rebecca and Jack's marriage and their future as parents. Jack dismisses the option to move in and then accidentally hears Rebecca breaking down crying under the stress of their future. So that is when Jack makes a decision: he drives to a house, removes his wedding ring, and knocks on the door.
It's his father.
Jack is so desperate to provide for his family — to be the kind of man who Rebecca needs and deserves — that he asks his deadbeat father for money. The ends justify the means to Jack, even if he has to lie to Rebecca about how he got enough money to afford the fixer-upper home that he purchases, he will be the kind of father who is there for his kids. Jack, as a character, is characterized by his sacrifices. He is willing to do whatever it takes to be the very best dad he can for his children. They are his world and they are his priority. Asking his father for money and selling his car are sacrifices Jack is willing to make and wounds he's willing to re-open if it means he will create a home for his family. That's why I love this character so much. Where Jack is more idealistic, though, Rebecca is more pragmatic. When he takes her to their new home (which is barely constructed), Rebecca thinks he's crazy.
But there's a moment in which Jack asks Rebecca, "can you see it?" as he points out where a bathroom will be and what a nursery will look like. And in that moment, Rebecca CAN picture it. It's a work-in-progress, and it required sacrifice. But it's theirs. And so are their future triplets.
In case you forgot what happened before the show's hiatus, Toby was hospitalized and underwent surgery. We were meant to believe he probably died (he did not). As it turns out, Toby had arrhythmia, and brushes it off as nothing. Kate, of course, is worried about his health and even more so when Toby's doctor reveals that Toby has a small hole in his heart that requires surgery to repair, lest it cause him issues. Toby refuses to have the surgery because he's scared, leading to a fight between him and Kate. But he changes his mind, has the surgery, and confesses his love to Kate right beforehand. After he wakes up from surgery, Kate reciprocates his love, Toby tells her he would marry the crap out of her, and all is well in their story for this week.
As you might have guessed by the brief synopsis, I'm not really a fan of the whole Toby/Kate relationship. Personally, I find Toby to be absolutely insufferable and nothing he does endears me toward him. Kate deserves better, and I want her to be with someone better. Alas, it looks like Toby is here to stay.
Meanwhile, Kevin literally says the words "the right thing to do," in regards to his relationship with Sloane. I appreciate the way Kevin has seemed to grow since the pilot episode. He's definitely not the most emotionally available person, but spending time with his siblings seems to have made him more empathetic. He really does care about Sloane, but when Olivia reappears, Kevin becomes conflicted. They had a powerful connection, but Olivia is self-absorbed and dangerous because of it. She didn't care about Kevin as much as he did about her, and — as he pointed out — she didn't know how do do or be anything real.
When Olivia tries to get back into the play and reignite her relationship with Kevin, he rejects her and tells her that he cares about Sloane — that being with her is the right thing to do, even if it's not necessarily what he wants. Sloane, of course, overhears this and is hurt. Though Kevin tried to be admirable, I think his focus was misaligned. He's spent so much time around Randall, who always (almost) does the right thing, that Kevin didn't realize your motives for your actions say more about your character than the actions themselves.
I hope Kevin and Sloane can repair their relationship though, because they're quite cute.
And finally, Randall — under Beth's recommendation — tries to get to know William's former flame, Jesse, better. The two men have started to spend more time together again and it makes Randall uncomfortable. At first, he can't figure out why and incorrectly assumes it's because he has some deep-seated homophobia (he does not). But at the end of the episode, Randall confronts the real reason for his reluctance to get to know Jesse: he feels like William is just distancing himself again by getting closer to someone he used to be comfortable with.
After all Randall and William have already been through, the former feels slighted and doesn't want William's half-hearted excuses again. He doesn't want to be placed on the back-burner in favor of comfort and familiarity. But what William confesses is even more painful than anything Randall could have imagined: his medicine has stopped working. Instead of feeling better, William constantly feels sick. Jesse has been taking him around to visit care facilities so that Randall doesn't have to watch him die.
While Randall is surprised by this news, unsurprising to us all is his unwillingness to let his father die alone. They are a family, however unconventional, and Randall will remain by William's side as long as William still has breath. It's a powerful final scene between Sterling K. Brown (who should have won the Globe for this role) and Ron Cephas. Their relationship feels so real, so raw, and so intense that each week, I forget Randall and William aren't real characters. William decides to stop chemotherapy, and you can tell that the decision breaks Randall's heart in two (and deeply hurts William, who is scared, sick, in pain, and also rapidly approaching the end of his life).
But sometimes — This Is Us reminds us — the right thing to do is also the most painful.
Stray thoughts & memorable quotes:
You might notice that I'm not Bibi. She's unable to continue to write This Is Us recaps, so I'll be taking over in her absence! Be patient with me as these may not be as timely as this week's was.
"I could ask." "They were pretty firm about it." "I could CRY." That's my life motto, really.
I don't say enough how amazing Milo Ventimiglia is as Jack. He always nails the emotional beats of the episode and the scene where Jack accidentally hears Rebecca crying was just so painfully real. (Bonus fun fact: I've just started my first ever binge-watch of Gilmore Girls, and I recently approached Jess' first episodes so now I appreciate young Milo and adult Milo!)
Beth and Randall are relationship goals. Seriously.
"What's wrong with Long Island?" "... I don't know, I've just heard other New Yorkers slam it and I wanted to fit in."
I love scenes where The Big Three are together. More please!
"I'm trying to be taking seriously for the first time in my adult life."
What did you think of this week's episode? Sound off in the comments below!
Our Followers
Blog Archive January 2020 (7) December 2019 (7) November 2019 (8) October 2019 (8) September 2019 (3) August 2019 (5) July 2019 (2) June 2019 (4) May 2019 (9) April 2019 (11) March 2019 (8) February 2019 (16) January 2019 (12) December 2018 (7) November 2018 (18) October 2018 (26) September 2018 (15) August 2018 (12) July 2018 (12) June 2018 (16) May 2018 (28) April 2018 (35) March 2018 (42) February 2018 (26) January 2018 (24) December 2017 (25) November 2017 (36) October 2017 (33) September 2017 (11) August 2017 (28) July 2017 (24) June 2017 (27) May 2017 (61) April 2017 (40) March 2017 (59) February 2017 (56) January 2017 (40) December 2016 (31) November 2016 (51) October 2016 (80) September 2016 (40) August 2016 (32) July 2016 (29) June 2016 (44) May 2016 (74) April 2016 (79) March 2016 (79) February 2016 (85) January 2016 (55) December 2015 (42) November 2015 (65) October 2015 (85) September 2015 (52) August 2015 (48) July 2015 (44) June 2015 (30) May 2015 (26) April 2015 (23) March 2015 (25) February 2015 (24) January 2015 (26) December 2014 (14) November 2014 (18) October 2014 (23) September 2014 (11) August 2014 (12) July 2014 (10) June 2014 (13) May 2014 (10) April 2014 (9) March 2014 (12) February 2014 (13) January 2014 (13) December 2013 (4) November 2013 (7) October 2013 (5) September 2013 (5) August 2013 (4) July 2013 (4) June 2013 (7) May 2013 (5) April 2013 (4) March 2013 (6) February 2013 (12) January 2013 (7) December 2012 (8) November 2012 (6) October 2012 (9) September 2012 (3) August 2012 (4) July 2012 (6) June 2012 (6) May 2012 (8) April 2012 (5) March 2012 (5) February 2012 (5) January 2012 (3) December 2011 (5) November 2011 (4) October 2011 (4) September 2011 (2)
misc: just for fun community jenn's pick s01.01 top 10 post movie review top 5 post s01.02 s03.01 s03.05 s03.04 s03.06 s02.01 s03.03 once upon a time s02.04 community fun countdown: season 4 s03.02 s03.07 s04.01 s03.11 s04.02 s04.04 s01.06 s02.02 s02.05 s03.09 s03.10 s04.03 top 15 post s03.12 s04.05 misc: news s01.07 s03.13 s01.09 s03.08 s03.15 s03.16 s04.06 s04.08 new girl s02.09 s03.14 s04.07 s04.09 community news doctor who misc: press s01.10 s03.17 s03.18 s04.10 s04.11 s04.12 character appreciation post female characters parks and rec s01.12 s02.08 s02.10 s04.13 s02.12 music s01.13 s02.11 s03.21 s02.15 s03.19 s03.20 s03.22 album review community relationships s01.15 jeff x annie joel mchale s01.18 summer rewatch taylor swift blog birthday christmas how i met your mother s01.20 suits the lizzie bennet diaries ben and kate episode grades misc: shameless plug misc: writing s01.19 2012 annie edison broadway friends glee john green matt smith misc: emmys 2012 misc: emmys 2013 nick x jess personal: friends personal: races room s01.21 s01.23 sherlock six seasons and a movie art show the big bang theory DCOM PARTY POST Q and A post andy bobrow celebration character: ben wyatt character: winston bishop disney channel firefly go on i just have a lot of feelings jake johnson les miserables megan ganz misc: politics misc: press releases misc: video personal: book personal: fan testimonial personal: moving personal: vacation personal: weddings renewal romantic comedies s01.24 s01.25 smash spoilers! squaresville the color run tv couples twitter
Grimm 6x04 Review: "El Cuegle" (All the Better to ...
The Man in the High Castle 2x07 Recap: "Land O' Sm...
Arrow 5x10 Review: "Who Are You?" (I Really Wanna ...
Scorpion 3x14 Review: "The Hole Truth" (I Don't Ha...
Lucifer 2x12 Recap: "Love Handles" (Real vs. Manip...
Grey's Anatomy 13x10 Review: "You Can Look (But Yo...
The Flash 3x10 Review: "Borrowing Problems from th...
Timeless 1x12 Review: "The Murder of Jesse James" ...
The Bachelor 21x04 Roundtable: Do You Call This Im...
Suits 6x11 Review: "She's Gone" (Change is in the ...
Supergirl 2x09 Review: "Supergirl Lives" (Under a ...
New Girl 6x14 Review: "The Hike" (Cousins and Part...
Grimm 6x03 Review: "Oh Captain, My Captain" (This ...
Series: This Week's TV MVPs -- Week 50
New Girl 6x13 Review: "Cece's Boys" (Growing Apart...
Blindspot 2x12 Review: "Devil Never Even Lived" (H...
Scorpion 3x13 Review: "Faux Money Maux Problems" (...
This Is Us 1x12 Review: "The Big Day" (Another Big...
The Bachelor 21x03 Roundtable: OMG We're Back Agai...
Lucifer 2x11 Recap: "Stewardess Interruptus" (Well...
Timeless 1x11 Review: "The World's Columbian Expos...
Grimm 6x02 Review: "Trust Me Knot" (The Ties that ...
Making History Is Exactly What You Would Expect It...
The Man in the High Castle 2x06 Recap: "Kintsugi" ...
Blindspot 2x11 Review: "Droll Autumn, Unmutual Lor...
The Bachelor 21x02 Roundtable: A Secret Gets Out [...
This Is Us 1x11 Review: "The Right Thing To Do" (T...
Maddie's Pick: Top 10 Female Friendships on TV [Co...
New Girl 6x12 Review: "The Cubicle" (Cece's Boys!)...
9 Reasons Why You Should Watch Twin Peaks and Its ...
Grimm 6x01 Review: "Fugitive" (The Symbols in the ...
2017 Golden Globe Awards: Film and Television Pred...
The Man in the High Castle 2x05 Recap: "Duck and C...
The Bachelor 21x01 Roundtable: Here We Go Again [C...
Scorpion 3x12 Review: "Ice Ca-Cabes" (He's My Fath...
Blindspot 2x10 Review: "Nor I, Nigel, AKA Leg in I...
New Girl 6x11 Review: "Raisin's Back" (Jess in the...
Shadowhunters 2x01 Review: "This Guilty Blood" (Ne...
10 Underrated TV Shows You Should Binge-Watch in 2...
Brooklyn Nine-Nine 4x11 and 4x12 Recap: "The Fugit...
Copyright © Just About Write | Powered by Blogger