As I did with season 3, I am repeating for season 4 of This is Us. It’s just easier for me to digest this way. That, and the tears scare me. Either way, here’s a brief recap of the Pearson clan.
Holy new characters, Batman! That’s what the very first episode throws at us, but the only one that doesn’t truly fit into the current timeline is a blind musician, who we learn to be Kate and Toby’s son, Jack! So yes, baby Jack is blind, although he can see a bit of light and some shapes. But that means more stress for Kate and Toby. Toby deals with this stress by starting CrossFit and losing some serious weight! This causes Kate some resentment. She gets her’s though, when baby Jack eats his first solid food at their neighbor’s house without Toby present. I just feel like this is all leading to a very bad ending for these two.
Randall and the crew are now living in Philadelphia, where Randall is learning the ropes of politics, Beth opens her studio, Tess has to come out all over again, and Deja falls for a slightly older boy, Malik, who happens to have a baby. Stress levels to the max for these people! A lot of the spotlight was spent on Malik and his family, along with how genuinely nice he is to Deja. I wish nothing but the best for those two, but being how this show is…I doubt it.
Rebecca and Randall get into some heated argument about her being way more forgetful than normal. Rebecca is pissed, which I’m sure is the case for most people being in denial about the start of what is likely dementia. This issue is brought to head in the fall finale, where we see Rebecca get lost twice, during the present and a very short nine month fast-forward. In this fast forward, at the big 3’s 40th birthday party, Rebecca forgets that Randall isn’t coming because they aren’t talking to him right now. Yikes! I wonder what’s happened. We also learn in this flash forward that Kevin is engaged and they are expecting. Whew!
Going back to the present with Kevin, rather than going out to take a role in Hollywood, he stays behind with his uncle. He buys a fancy RV, and goes to AA meetings with him, where he meets a vet, Cassidy. Her life is falling apart since her return from Iraq, and her husband is filing for divorce. Kevin is trying really hard just to be her friend, but obviously they sleep together. While nothing is rainbows and butterflies by the end, I can’t help thinking she’s the fiance in the flash forward. Uncle Nicky finally get to share a fond memory of Jack at Thanksgiving, too, and he’s for sure my favorite character (just like William was!).
I’m very proud of the zero tears I shed for the first half of this season, but I’m still not confident for the rest of it. Also, when I heard about all the new characters being introduced I was VERY skeptical, but those dang writers just constantly prove me wrong. Here’s looking forward to more drama in the new year!