For me, this latest episode was a yawn fest. And pretty disjointed. At the start of the episode when the title card read ‘7 weeks ago’ I really thought we were going to get 7 episodes leading up to the election. Alas, much was contrived and not enough details where I felt there needed to be details.
I’ll continue to watch, but I know the show is waning because I haven’t been moved to tears lately…
Why was the election in January? As for the title, was it seven weeks since it was last on? I liked the way it showed the current day and then went back to explain how they got there, kind of like This Is Us Itself.
Yeah, it is half the show it used to be. Also, the shaky filming is annoying to the point i just listen to scenes and do something else simultaneously.
I wasn’t totally engaged in this episode. I’m not really interested in Kevin’s new relationship.
I thought it was good after a long hiatus. I don’t like the t minus 7 weeks, then 5, 3, 2, 1 etc. I read the director likes to play around with the format, but I’m not into gimmicks. Good character depiction and good story lines don’t need gimmicks.
Anyway, I like this show. I loved when Toby had a re-creation made of the football stadium. Those 2 are just so considerate of each other. They are my favorite couple. I like Randall, but am not into him and Beth’s relationship. We missed out seeing the mom and her second husband. They didn’t have a big part. I think Kevin could do better. Not in love with his relationship.
Overall, I was excited to have them back. But not as excited as when Super Store returns after a long hiatus. And what happened to the Fosters? I thought a spin off was in the works.
@preppedparent, “Good Trouble.”
https://www.newyorker.com/magazine/2019/01/21/the-upbeat-appeal-of-good-trouble-and-brooklyn-nine-nine
I still like the show especially comparison to most others. To me, there are still lots of stories to tell as the Big Three and their families continue to grow.
Agree that Randall as public servant is likely a better fit for his personality, just a clumsy way of getting him there. Certainly paves the way for a more interesting storyline than Wall street.
My favorite part was young Randall and Jack. Although I don’t love this program, I like it. I do think there are some more stories to tell. I’ve always liked Kate, but she’s been annoying me lately for some reason. The storyline with Kevin and the girl I find very boring.
Major network broadcast TV has gotten so pitiful that this is my favorite show by far (really the only show I have watched regularly over the past couple of years), but I missed the episode on Tuesday and I haven’t bothered to watch it since. I have generally liked this program a lot, while being annoyed by it as well, but I realize that the story is in a place where I don’t care much about the characters. Randall’s political run (and the stick-figure simplification of Philadelphia politics) leaves me cold, Beth is being a jerk, I have never been into Kate and Toby’s baby obsession, and it’s really hard to care about anything Kevin does. The show doesn’t seem to have anything to say about Rebecca in the present, and I’m a little overloaded on the romantic perfection of Jack and Rebecca way back.
You summed it up, jhs.
Well. SPOILER ALERT, Beth stops being a jerk.
Yes, I too think the show has gone downhill. I don’t think this episode was good. There were a few good moments but overall…meh. I think though that there have been some other episodes like this which simply set the scene for plot lines and which were often followed by stellar episodes. I hope this is the case this time.
I’m going to start my own thread for people who enjoy the show. 
(sorta teasing, sorta not!)
I should add that of course everyone has their personal thoughts about the show and all. It is just sort of stunning to me that so many were on the edge of their seat and in love when the show was on the edge of it’s seat…but once the story settles in…like life, odd turns, bad decisions, kinks in how we should do things…people express dislike and boredom.
And clearly I can just stop reading the thread too. Or start another “fan” thread!
Just had to explain a bit more from my post #1471. I understand that everyone is not all “in love” with the entire show.
@abasket, I agree with you. But stick around!
We need more Milo…let’s hope we see more of him. How can you not like Toby and Kate? They are just real people with all their foibles.
I can’t understand how a show can be excellent one week and boring the next week. We all keep watching it, hoping there will be another excellent show. As someone mentioned upthread, it’s almost like one or two weeks is all set-up writing.
I’m the OP of this 1,475-post thread, starting it right after I was pretty much awed by the first episode. It has had its ups and downs, but I’m still a fan, particularly of the innovative way it plays with time.
I’ve always been a fan of quality family-oriented dramas (Parenthood Friday Night Lights, American Dreams), rather than more violent or profane cable/streaming shows, and This Is Us works for me in that vein. It’s certainly not perfect, and I miss William, but I’m still invested in it.
Did anyone watch tonight? I missed a critical piece. Did the little boy in the boat pull the grenade pin?
I thought the kid just dropped it and it went off by accident.
He tried to grab it out of Nicky’s hands as Nicky was pulling the pin and it fell into the boat.