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.