First episode in awhile that had me in tears.
@NJWrestlingmom I was half hiding during the scene since I knew it would be sad. Tonightâs episode upset me.
Yes, this is the first time I cried in a while!
St. Jack wasnât so much of a saint after all. Kevin had more compassion than he did.
I thought last nightâs was one of the best episodes of the season. How Nicky ruined the entire arc of his life is heartbreaking. I am curious to see where this goes from here.
I would re-word this as how the draft/Vietnam War ruined the entire arc of Nicky's life is heartbreaking. And probably reflects real life examples also.
Although at first I was upset that Nicky was still alive and that Jack knew about it, I liked last nightâs episode and how they explained what had happened and the insights it gave about Jackâs character. Even if Nicky had been able to explain to Jack what happened I donât know if heâd have understood. I think, am hoping, we get more insight into Jackâs father and the ways heâs like him as well as the ways heâs consciously trying to be different. Also, wasnât Jack buying alcohol before he turned right? Is that when the drinking that led to the separation, etc. began?
I liked last nightâs episode, and a lot better than the Randall political campaign story line which I havenât been enjoying. Although I was in the middle of reading Michelle Obamaâs book Becoming when I watched last weekâs episode and darned if Beth and Randall arenât Michelle and Barack. Joking, but there were some similarities.
Since I whined about the show a few days ago, I should report that (a) I watched it last night, and (b) I liked that episode. I liked the character they established for Nick. I liked knowing what happened with Nick in Vietnam. I liked the incomprehensibility of Jackâs lies to Rebecca (and I really liked that they are apparently going to let present-day Rebecca have a point of view about that). I loved the set-up to Kevinâs flashback to his fatherâs advice the very morning of Jackâs last meeting with Nick, when Jack told Kevin that part of his job in life was not to repeat his old manâs mistakes, and what Kevin did with that in the present. I also loved Randallâs serial attempts at a pep talk to Beth.
The only thing I didnât like was Kate suddenly showing up on Randallâs doorstep without calling ahead, despite having said no she wouldnât come for perfectly valid reasons.
How interesting! Yes!
And, wow. Griffin Dunne. Now THATâs acting. The other actors are adequate. Griffin Dunne out-acts all of them combined. Makes the rest of them look like amateurs.
I really enjoyed it, but find it hard to believe that Jack wouldnât have known it was an accident.
I didnât even realize there were two Nickys until I read about it. The two actors have very similar looks, and both acted their parts well. I liked this episode, especially since it showed that Jack isnât perfect.
I think Jackâs fondness/compassion for the boy and his family overrides it mattering if it was an accident or not. Nicky was a screw up and it was that event (whether intentional or accident) and all he had tried to do for Nicky that solidified in Jackâs mind that Nicky did not warrant redemption. The switch was flipped, it was time to give up on him and move on, and make the right turn as he did again later.
I love the show by the way, never waned on it. There will always be some episodes better than others, but still a great show imo.
And then Kevin did the right thing and turned left.
Even if Jack knew it was an accident, it does show a complete lack of reason to take a kid fishing with grenades!
I too was riveted last night. Although I generally like to see all the characters lives, it was worth staying on this one storyline for the whole episode. Love Nickyâs character. He was such a loved little brother, such a screw-up and doofus young adult, and such a likeable piece of hard luck old man. The story of his life has been portrayed very well. Love all the Nickyâs who play their parts so credibly. What a love story between Rebecca and Jackâloved what I heard I think from Kevin which is a family hopes that âthe good things stickâ in the memories of the kids when they look back on their lives. Thatâs all we can all hope for. When I think of my parents, I remember magical Christmases with ribbon candy, board games, date nut bars, homemade sugar cookies, a snow man in the front yard and a coloring book in my stocking. I hope my kids think back on their childhood just as fondly, and forget some of the bad.
Just to add: agree Griffin Dunne gets the Emmy for best supporting actor in a television series. Well done!
Just finished it and I think it was the best weâve had in a bit. Iâm willing to tread water with the set up episodes as long as they pay off with a good one like this every so often. I really liked Kevin in this episode.
That was a difficult episode to watch - tore me apart in so many ways.
The Nicky-Jack relationship has ALWAYS pulled at my heartstrings so strongly - even when they didnât get along.
Nope, Jack wasnât perfect. Nope, Kevin is not always into only himself. Nope, Jack and Rebeccaâs relationship wasnât always based on honesty. These are the things that make a story a story. A life a life. This is why you have to - if youâre invested - right the wave of This Is Us EVERY episode. Each episode isnât going to be as emotionally strong as last night - but each episode will lead to more discoveries - in this thing called Pearson life.
One more thing. It was so touching when Jack showed Nicky the pic of his family. And Nicky was so interested.
I have actually liked Kevin all along, but especially last night.
Did I hear them say Nicky would be 70? Canât figure out the math.
I can list a million little things that are totally unrealistic about the show but in the end, I just enjoy sitting back and watching another familyâs ups and downs. Real families lives would be boring to film. So we need to invent road trips and political contests and tensions to keep us interested.
@surfcity I did hear that Nicky would be 70. I donât know as that is unreasonable as his niece and nephews are what, 35? Though I did do a double take when I heard that, I was maybe expecting him to be in his early to mid 60s.