This Is Us: Last Christmas

I didn't realize this was the last episode out and it makes me sad now because I want to know what happens right NOW! Starting off with The Big Three in the living room getting ready for Christmas, Kate keeps complaining about how her tummy hurts. Rebecca blames it on the cookie dough that she ate but Jack thinks otherwise. He feels her forehead and she's got a fever. They take her to the hospital and she has to get her appendix taken out. I found it funny when Rebecca said "It won't hurt, it's like pulling out a tooth." and ten year old Kate retorts, "But that hurts." 😂

Anyway, back to the point, here goes Rebecca finding some other cute way to make her kids feel better. She plucks a branch off a Christmas tree in the hospital and gives it to Kate telling her that it has Christmas magic on it and nothing bad happens on Christmas Eve. Kate obviously feels better and the look that Jack gives Rebecca after she gave the branch to Kate was priceless. I'm already crying and it's not even ten minutes into the episode.

And what a coinky dink! The surgeon who helped Rebecca with the triplets is a patient in the hospital and who helped them adopt Randall. That sounded a little too happy for the serious moment, but Jack thinks it's a coincidence too haha. So because of the surgeon, Randall wouldn't have been a part of their family. The doctor's family is in Montana and Rebecca and Jack are more than happy to be his family when he goes through surgery. I love this show so much!

This Is Us: The Trip

This episode focuses on The Big Three going back to their roots. What I like about this show is that the seasons correlate with the current seasons such as it's Christmas right now. Randall, Kevin and Kate go back to their family cabin to have a sibling reunion before Christmas. However, something else is on Randall's mind. He just found out that Rebecca, his adopted mother, has kept the secret of knowing his biological father his whole life. Randall becomes bitter and heartbroken at the fact that his wife knew as well so this getaway with his siblings were to help him clear his thoughts.

When Randall was old enough to understand that he's adopted, he yearns to find his birth parents. With the help of their family friend, she tells them that Randall needs a Black man as a role model because he's been daydreaming about his father being the mail man, or a basketball player and Jack confirms that their mail man is a Black man. The family friend tells Rebecca and Jack that he's looking for someone he sees himself in. But, Jack thinks otherwise because that's his boy, regardless of adoption, and he's going to help him know that he is loved.

So, Rebecca and Jack enroll Randall in a martial arts studio that mentors children to have discipline thinking that having a Black instructor will help. However, Jack insists on being his main role model for him. There was a practice where all fathers participate in the exercises with their sons and this part made me CRY! As an "initiation" to the club, the fathers have to do push ups while their sons are on their backs. He's limited to five but Jack keeps going and this was such a special moment in the television series because it shows the bond that Jack had towards his kids. Ugh, I love him.

This Is Us: Pilgrim Rick

This episode is about the Pearson's annual Thanksgiving trip to Rebecca's parents home. It starts off with Rebecca cooking her favorite cranberry sauce in the kitchen and the kids running around her. She seems stressed out that she's going to her parents but Jack reassures her that everything will be okay. Going to the in-laws place seems more of a task than a leisurely trip, haha.

However, their trip doesn't go as planned and they get into a minor accident where their tire blows out on the way. Three hungry children + two anxious adults = no fun. They're all hungry and this was the last thing they wanted to happen. Rebecca calls her parents saying what happened but her mother was more upset at the fact that she cooked everything for nothing. At this point I related with Rebecca 100% because my mom would complain about the food too, not my presence.

Instead of finding some tire replacement shop, the Pearson's walk a bit up the road to these lodging cabins. This is where we find Pilgrim Rick! The most creepiest "hotel" receptionist ever! Of course his name is Pilgrim Rick because of the Thanksgiving theme, but it also makes me think about his other costumes for the different holidays 😂😂 Once Rebecca and Jack walk in the office with the kids, Rebecca immediately puts them behind her because he gives off weird vibes. Jack does the talking and they end up getting a cabin lodge all to themselves. 

Being hungry and missing out on a real Thanksgiving dinner, Jack comes up with this really adorable (might I say innovative) idea for dinner. Jack leaves the cabin for a while to get some food and pretends to be Pilgrim Rick knocking at the door. Now this is the humor I'm looking for in my future husband. Rebecca and the kids, being as scared as they were, didn't allow "Pilgrim Rick" to check their furnace. So "Pilgrim Rick" unlocks the door anyway and surprises them with dinner. They all laugh and eat roasted weenies covered in Kraft Slices and crushed up Saltine crackers. What a funny way to spend Thanksgiving dinner and the start a tradition the kids will carry on in their future.

And to add to the traditions, Kate (their daughter) takes off her knit sweater because it's too itchy. Rebecca notices a thread hanging from it and calls the family to gather on the bed. She takes the thread and throws it to Jack and everytime you throw it to someone, they have to say what they're thankful for. HOW FREAKIN' CUTE IS THAT. That's something so cliche yet so powerful! I only wish to be as awesome as her!

This Is Us: The Best Washing Machine in the Whole World

Okay, just to lay it out, this television show is amazing in its way of production/organization. I haven't been confused with any of the plot or what is implied by the film as sometimes I would with other shows. This episode starts off with images of the Pearson's washing machines transitioning over time with voice overs of Rebecca and Jack's playful bickering with some input from the kids. I'm not sure if I'm explaining this well enough, but you'll just have to watch this beginning scene because it's so heartfelt 😉 This was such a well, thought out plan for the beginning scene because you get to see some inanimate object, such as a washing machine, living with the Pearson's lives.

Fast forwarding to showing the kitchen and having Rebecca's voice over say "I want a remodel" and seeing it while she's saying it is pretty neat. We then go into the children's room and fast forward to when they're teenagers. Randall is up late doing homework and Kevin throws a football at his lamp to get him to shut it off.

However, this is where the tension starts.

Randall, being the adopted child, has been treated a little better because of it. Kevin had to learn to not be selfish and has a problem with Randall always getting the attention. Rebecca comes in to save the day (as always) and asks them if they need to go into separate rooms. Kevin offered to leave while Randall didn't want to cause any problems and told him to just stay. Kevin ended up leaving.

It was a slap to the face to me when Kevin left on his own. In a way I wanted him to stay in the room to talk it out with his brother, but I also could understand how he felt. Picking favorites as a parent is never a good idea, but in this family it seems like they focused a lot more on Randall because of the fact that he's adopted. Rebecca and Jack always wanted Randall to feel included and special. But sometimes their intentions weren't played well with Kevin.

It makes me upset that Randall & Kevin's relationship has always been strained until 30 years later when they talk it out like real brothers do.

This Is Us: Career Days

Episode Six

This episode starts off with a distressed Jack drinking a beer at the dinner table with bills surrounding him. Of course, the lighting is dim with the children running around which gives it more of a struggling feel. Fast forward to the part when Jack's putting a tie on and Rebecca asks him "Why a desk job?" he retorts, "To make money for us." That was the part that stuck to me the most.

Even though he seems to escape by drinking, he remains responsible taking care of his family. I see myself falling for a Jack persona (minus the drinking) but he just sounds like a dream to me. Who wouldn't want to have a husband who cares so much about his family and encourages the children to exceed their limits?

During this episode, Randall (the adopted child) gets an opportunity to move schools because of his academic success. However, the two other children are not qualified. Jack and Rebecca attend a meeting at their school and the principal talks to them about switching Randall over and not the other two. Jack complains by saying the other two are exceptional as well. Now that's what I find in a father, always being proud of your children and never comparing them.

Another reason why I am so clingy to Jack is because he gives hope to his children when they're young. I can't repeat this enough but I am so attracted to the way he parents with Rebecca. He's always trying to find the positive in every situation which makes his persona more desirable. I guess his character helped me add standards to whom I want to share my life with. Sounds a little mature for my 21 year old brain, but I know someday I'm going to want kids. And I'm going to want my husband to be the most encouraging and loving person ever.

I see some qualities in Jack that I want in my future husband. And that's it.

This Is Us: The Game Plan

Fifth episode, woohoo!

So this episode is taken place before the Pearsons have their triplets. It shows an energetic, partying Rebecca and a responsible Jack (which is a reverse in personalities when they have their children.)

This young couple is the epitome of GOALS. Jack is so lucky to have Rebecca as a wife. She is cute, smart, a great mother AND she knows football. Wow, I wouldn't be able to follow but she seems to be the whole package. I love the way that Jack looks at Rebecca when she's doing karoke at the Steelers game, that is a prime smile.

They start talking about having children at the bar and it starts getting a little too real. I think it's so attractive that Jack really wants to start a family but Rebecca is afraid of getting caught up being a mother. Which I kind of "told" her "You'll be a great Mom. You'll see."

During that awkward conversation in the bar, a man trying to watch the game gets angry at the two of them bickering because he can't hear the game. A couple of words get thrown back and forth and Jack punches him and Rebecca storms off saying, "Yeah, we're responsible enough for having kids right now."

BOOM. That was a slap to the face towards Jack. I understood exactly what Rebecca meant when she said she wasn't ready. It's a big responsibility and I think they really needed that conversation to set things in stone. But they knew what they wanted eventually so that's all that matters.

This Is Us: The Pool

Onto the fourth episode!

Here's an episode where the Pearson family goes on an outing to the local community pool. It's a hot day and Rebecca is complaining that the air conditioning is broken so Jack surprises the kids by going to the pool!

As I mentioned from my Episode 2 blog, Kate has been struggling with her weight on and off. She wants to fit in and wear a bikini just like her other "friends" do. She's a little chubby girl but I can relate because when I was that young, I had trouble with my weight because I loved food too much.  But that's not a bad thing 😉

But what was great about this episode was when Jack steps in being the greatest Dad EVER. Kate's peers gave her a note saying, "We don't want to hang out with you, we're embarrassed." And then drew a piggy face on it. They were making fun of her body and Jack steps in and tells her that she's the greatest and if she wants she can wear his shirt because his shirt helped him through his tough times too.

 

Watching his pep talk to his daughter made a little spark go off in my head thinking, "I want this mentality in my future husband." Right then and there I wanted to give Jack a hug for great parenting. He reminds me of my father in a way because he wouldn't ever judge me. Something this relatable keeps the viewers around.

This Is Us: Kyle

Episode Three

This television series shows flashbacks of the children's childhoods (to give background to the situations happening) and is also filmed in the present. In this episode, Rebecca and Jack have been trying so hard to get their newborns to settle down and get used to their new home. Rebecca finds out who the father of her adopted son, Randall, is at the hospital. She gets overwhelmed with the fact that Randall won't accept her breastfeeding so she feels like giving up.

I saw a look of desperation in her eyes when she didn't have the motivation to have hope for Randall. It was almost heartbreaking because I'm an adopted child and I wondered if my mother had any difficulties learning how to make me cling to her. It's kind of a bizarre concept but motherhood is hard any other way.

Rebecca is often found to be alone most of the time having to take care of the children (this is foreshadowing something!) BUT fast forward to the present, she appears at Randall's (adopted son's home) to say hello with this guy below!

So who is this new guy? This is DEFINITELY not Jack. This is MIGUEL! Miguel is Jack's coworker but this means Rebecca got sick of Jack's lifestyle and wanted a change. As soon as Randall opened his front door to them, I was immediately shocked. I was sad because I thought Jack had the potential to be a great father. Which he was, aside from the drinking.

We don't know how Rebecca ended up with Miguel, but I guess we'll find out soon!

This Is Us: The Big Three

Episode Two! 

Fast forwarding to the morning before grade school, you see a flustered Rebecca trying to get "The Big Three" (the triplets) breakfast and lunches ready to go. I could see the draining look on her face from dealing with her kids and it made me worry about her well being. I didn't want her to look like a Shar Pei by the time she turned 35. 

Jack is the last one to come down for breakfast and he looks at Kate's (one sibling of the big three) meal compared to his two sons. Rebecca thinks Kate has been struggling with her weight so she gives her fruit instead of eating cereal like the boys. 

But WAIT, this is the best part. Jack takes the melon out of her bowl and pours her some tasty cereal. Mhm, cereal. I relate in whole about this situation. My mother use to restrain my eating habits too. I was a chubby kid who loved food so when I saw what Jack did, I clapped and was on #TeamJack for the remaining of the episode until...

 

Until Jack's drinking habits distract him from coming home earlier each night. This is no good because Rebecca is already tired from taking care of the children alone. I was feeling a sense of abandonment when they were talking out in the hallway about her concerns.  Maybe a little foreshadowing going on, too.

From that scene, I had put a negative label on Jack being an alcoholic father who had issues of his own. I felt bad for Rebecca always having to take care of the children and the look of despair on her face really caught my attention. It made me want to confront Jack as if I were a family friend, "What makes you think you can hideaway the rest of the night?"

 

Anyway, I've been invested with Rebecca's and Jack's relationship for these whole two episodes so let's see what happens on the next!  

This Is Us: Series Premeire

*CONTAINS SPOILERS*  
This NBC television show casts the two attractive characters played by Mandy Moore and Milo Ventimiglia. I remember listening to Moore on my Sony Walkman when I was in elementary school. She wasn't as good as Hilary Duff at the time, but we'll go on.😁

Milo Ventimiglia (RED HOT ALERT) is her husband in the show. You might recognize him as Peter Petrelli in the television show Heroes or Jess Mariano from Gilmore Girls.

 

I decided to follow both characters throughout the episodes because of familiarity. The first episode is a full ride through the couple's journey into becoming first time parents. Rebecca Pearson (Moore) is pregnant with triplets. She goes through a difficult delivery and ends up losing one baby. 

My face melted just like Jack Pearson's (Ventimiglia) when the doctor told them the heartbreaking news.

It made me think about the complications of pregnancy and Rebecca's screaming made my body ache. I thought about my future and how the father of my children would react to the news too. Of course, any person who has a heart would react hysterically, but I was intrigued with how upset Jack got. OKAY, that sounds kind of weird to say, but I connected with his emotions to the point where I was already crying out, "WHY?! HOW?!"😟 My heart was sinking with Jack's when the news came out.

Short after the delivery, Jack walks to the nursery and checks on his two newborns. Looking in from a glass window, a firefighter walks up next to him and talks about how he just entered a safe surrender newborn into the nursery. Jack glances at the baby and I knew what was about to happen and shrieked, "YES! DO IT!"

 

Because of the passing of their last child from delivery complications, the Pearson's adopted the safe surrendered baby. I was ECSTATIC at this point. I KNEW they were both good people with good hearts whom cared for other human beings. 

They brought home their three new children and I couldn't have been more happier. This episode ended on a beautiful note and I was looking forward to watching the next one!