It’s annoying because it’s lazy writing. Same thing with the ridiculous timelines.
I don’t understand why some think that Jack was ‘perfect’, I certainly don’t. He had some major flaws and issues.
We, the viewers don’t think Jack is perfect. We see a flawed person.
But the kids, Rebecca and Miguel, I feel the narrative has been that they think he was perfect. Kate especially, never sees anything but a perfect father who never did anything wrong.
Memories really are up to the person remembering. I know I had parents who were anxious and short on patience at times, but they were my rock, my cheerleaders; they bailed me out of trouble, supported and more…inspired me. They were the wind beneath my wings and allowed me to soar. They understood I wasn’t perfect and were forgiving. They were loving and giving and funny. They were my best friends. I know what it’s like to savor those good memories.
Just finished watching and at your suggestion, read that Vulture recap. Spot on.
I also just LOVED the scene where Jack tells Randall to order the pizza and Randall CANNOT believe it - and him trying to disguise his voice on the phone to be an “adult” - I could totally see that happening.
I can’t wait to see the Beth story fold out with her mom and clearly something with dance - which is going to relate at some point to the in the future scenes.
Just watched the episode of “The Americans” in which “Toby” plays a German assassin!
Am I the only one who kept thinking, “Dear God, please just leave Nicky alone!”?? I can’t imagine having three strangers show up at my doorstep uninvited, with one determined to fix my life. Why couldn’t Kevin have just sent a letter offering to make contact instead of orchestrating an invasion? The Pearsons are awful buttinskys.
^^^ I took it differently. I was surprised that Nicky was willing to go as far as he did with them - to the hotel, the Vet place, etc. I felt we got a glimpse that perhaps he wanted more out of life but just didn’t deserve the chance.
Poor Kevin can’t win! First posters are complaining previous seasons that he was so self-centered. Now that he is compassionate and wanting to pull someone out of what at least he sees as despair, he’s butting in!
We all judge tv characters. 
It’s part of the role of a viewer I guess.
I think Kevin is still self-centered and not so much compassionate. He’s not listening! He wants to give Nicky what he, Kevin, wants him to have, not what Nicky wants. He thinks he knows better. I immediately realized that being in a center with lots of people always around, lots of light and noise, would be the seventh circle of hell for someone who’s lived alone in a trailer for 40 years. In what universe was that a good idea? Why didn’t Rebecca or Kate realize it? Or were they just protecting Kevin’s feelings again?
If that was what was available in Nicky’s town for vets that would probably be the first place I would stop as well with a family member. You just want to help! Sometimes you want to give them so much when you know they have had so little that you fail to think about the whole picture - initially.
And Kevin DID give Nicky what he wanted after a short try. The life of being alone.
Gosh, even the fact that Kevin minimally wanted to cover the hole in the roof shows a whole (pun!) lot of compassion to me.
Kevin is really turning out to be one of the most interesting and complex characters of the caste. I used to really like Randall, but we’re not seeing too much of him. I love Kate of course because she’s not afraid to be who she is having led a life of fear up until now. I hope we hear more singing from her.
I have always been fascinated by Kevin! Not just a pretty face!
I am wondering how Nicky could go so long without a drink? That was two nights he spent at the hotel and yet we never saw him have a drink. He also said something about the DT’s or shaking or such if he did not drink.
Unbelievably good tonight. Again the casting is superb. Have to look twice at Bethany’s teen self. She looks like Beth. Same face/body shape etc. Where do they find these actors?
The girl playing ying teen Beth really nailed it! The mannerisms and everything. I SO love Beth and Randall! I hope this means everything stays good in their relationship!
Wow, this was one of my favorite episodes.
Good episode—- as much as I saw of it. I keep falling asleep!
I really liked this episode, too. The young actors are so well chosen - they really resemble their older castmates and definitely capture the mannerisms and expressions.
I looooved this episode. Agree, teen Beth was crazy good. Thought it may be a sleeper when it started, but it just finished in CA and I am still emotional. Beth’s reaction - taking her hand to her throat like she almost couldn’t breathe - when her mom apologized for taking dance away from her too quickly - just tore me up. The beauty of this show is it won’t hit you in the gut every week (couldn’t handle it if it did) but it has so many different dynamics and aspects of both experiences and relationships, that something is bound to bring some emotional tug home for so many viewers.
What is a sleeper to some is raw emotional relate-ability for someone else. I like that I am never sure which it will be each week, and certainly wouldn’t want it to be heavy duty every week!
Loved this week’s episode!
Same reaction of many here. Loved the singular focus of this episode, the casting and the chance to know Beth better. Contextualized her relationship with Randall and her sense of being somewhat adrift.