This is Us : New NBC drama starring Mandy Moore etc.

Just watched the last couple episodes and am all caught up. Really like where the storylines and back stories are going. Wished there was more for William to do though as he was one of my favorite characters.

 

i LOVE Mandy Moore but I just can't get into this show.

 

The good thing is that the way they develop the back stories we still might see a good bit of William in future episodes.

 

Ron Cephas Jones is still in the credits every week. Bodes well for more William.

 

She is so pretty.

 

I've been enjoying this season, but the introduction of what we assume is Jack's deceased brother seemed rather forced and tacked on. Almost like the writers at the last minute said "what new character can we introduce". In all the flashbacks of Jack's younger days, there was absolutely no mention or hint of a brother.

 

^Agreed. That's the danger of using dual timeframes as part of the normal storytelling. The flashback sequences can become a crutch for the writers to introduce a whole variety of storylines. Too often it expands the width of the story-verse, but does little to delve into the depths.

 

Maybe he was always asleep in the back seat

 

Yeah, like maybe he lived there, hoping their Dad wouldn't notice him...

 

Sam Anderson was incredible tonight as William’s judge. Wow.

 

Wow. No reaction to the post Super Bowl show? Are you all in shock?
This show is such a major button pusher. I often turn to it as a palate cleanser from watching things like Ray Donovan or You're The Worst.

Spoiler

As many suspected Jack didn't actually die in the fire, and there were many clues that pointed to that. I thought Mandy Moore's reaction was well played, and I think combined with the rest of the season so far should get her an Emmy nomination. It's hard for this cast to get any notice when you've got Sterling K. Brown around. This show is expert at twists, and the Tess reveal at the end had me yelling at the screen (something no other show makes me do). I do wonder long term how you cope with a major character dying so early in the series, especially with a show that doesn't give up dead characters very easily. The show takes place in many different time spaces, so we've already seen dead Jack in flashback mode for a long time-so I wonder why even show him dying when it probably won't affect anything we're going to see going forward. What's the point of that? Maybe other than to show the motivation for the actions of present Kate and Kevin.

 

I haven't watched it yet, maybe it ran a bit late for those who had to get up & go to work this morning. I guess it started 15 minutes later than expected and some folks who DVR'd it didn't get to see the end. I'm running sick bay for a granddaughter today, I'll watch it later tonight.

 

The DVR ratings for this episode will probably be the highest ever recorded.

 

Spoilers about Jack dying so stop reading now if you don't want to know.

Spoiler

Which is weird because we already knew how he died, mostly. Honestly I'm pretty disappointed that he didn't directly die in the fire (an odd sentence to read I'll grant you!). I think that would be the worst way to die and obviously brutal but I thought they way played it was too softball.

It did make me wonder, when Toby had his heart problem, was there any clues in that episode about a heart attack being Jack's end? Because if not it would suggest they didn't know at that point or else poorly wrote it. Kate is massively affected on super bowl sunday because that's the day her Dad died, it would obviously be extra hard to have your man suffer with heart troubles when that's what killed your father.

Did anyone else find it really bizarre that the doctor says (after Jack is dead) that heart attacks are a risk when you have suffered smoke inhalation, but Jack didn't seem to be hooked up to any monitors or anything? Or that they said they were going to send him home right away?

I was really disappointed with the acting job by Kevin when he was at his father's tree in present day. I mean, he gave absolutely the flattest performance ever while we're being told it's the first time he's been there in 20 years and confronting his demons and emotions. I felt the same way previously when he talked to his old girlfriend outside her apartment when he was making amends and she said 'goodbye forever'. Obviously the previous times when he's mustered up some red eyes/tears it's been unnaturally done. Honestly I'm getting to feel like it's enough already with Randall (even though he's my favorite character along with Rebecca) but every time a tear comes rolling out of his eyes it gets you right in the heart.

They did well in the casting and performance of Toby because he's really propping up the Kate character who is all but unwatchable. When she said "it's the one day of the year I beat myself up" I thought they were going to have Toby say "seriously? just one day a year" because it would have been accurate, obvious and he could have pulled it off in his own way.

I'm going to beat a dead horse and say this could have been an epic two season story, one for the ages. It'll be interesting to see the ratings going forward.

 

Can somebody tell me the origin of the Jack "tree"? What is it's significance? Where do we first see it?
Also this bit of story serendipity:

Spoiler

In episode one, the firefighter offers Jack a cigarette and says "Smoke?" And how did he die? Smoke.

 

It was in the episode where Randall takes William back to his home town. They stop and pay their respects on the way. Since Jack was cremated, it is the closest thing they have to a grave to visit (they had spread some of the ashes there). Not sure if that was the first time it was mentioned as I still haven't seen the earliest episodes.

 

Well that was powerful. In a time when so much network tv is given over to some sort of competition/game show, what a treat to see something this well done--you know, writers that can write, actors that can act.

 

I remember this episode but I don't remember any mention of spreading Jack's ashes there, but that would explain it.

 

In shock about what? The handwriting was on the wall in the previous episode. And, in the kitchen outlet, and, doodling on the floor.

I only hope that nice couple with the garage full of stuff find out what they did to them all...and why nobody's gonna cast them in any nice family programming again until the target demographic settles down a bit.

 

my wife loves this show, raves about it and constantly tells me i just have to watch it.

well, i watched it after the super bowl.

gotta tell you, reminded me very very much of a daytime soap opera, acting and writing.

i doubt i ever watch again.

 

I love it...it's like Arby's fighting back Jon Stewart with free food for the staff! "#CrockPotIsInnocent!"

1: Label on video attributes it as a, This Is Us promo, as oppsed to Sunbeam, or Rival, West Bend, etc...so, why does he say, "The Big Game"? His network kinda has the rights to it for this year. If Jimmy Fallon can say "Super Bowl", why can't Milo?
2. Up until the end, I kept thinking, "Okay, Peacock, you're getting a little full of yourself, crocodile-tearing a politics message for YOUR exclusive event...this should have aired back in Thanksgiving..." Yeah, timing was right here, but still I think it's a more appropriate message for a real holiday, when family are all sitting down looking at each other instead of eyes glued forward in one direction. Hell, Will & Grace coulda knocked that idea out of the park in November.
3. Then Jack dips him a bowl of chili...from... !

All-in-all a well-"executed"* viral!

*Sorry!

 

The promo for tonight’s episode shows Jack and Rebecca talking by the tree, so maybe we’ll finally get the backstory on it.