This Is Us – The Last Seven Weeks

By: Maddie Ruby

The newest “This Is Us” starts out at the night of the election results being revealed and Randall (Sterling K. Brown) anxiously hoping he wins. At the party, we notice Zoe (Melanie Liburd) giving Kevin (Justin Hartley) the cold shoulder and returning something that looks like a keychain with a picture on it. Kevin apologizes for “pushing” Zoe. He looks upset and stressed out. Go figure since he has the biggest revelation of the season on his shoulder – that Nick Pearson (Michael Angarano) is still alive. Pushing her to do what exactly though? Well, we find out sooner or later as the flashbacks begin. We start seven weeks before the election night and the get closer to the beginning of the episode as it goes on.

Seven weeks before the election is the night Beth (Susan Kelechi Watson) and Randall get into a huge fight because he refused to give up on the election even though Jae Won (Tim Jo) says that he doesn’t have enough votes to win and most likely won’t before the results are in. Despite this, Randall has no intention of dropping out, which isn’t surprising. He is a Pearson, afterall. He sleeps on the couch that night and in the morning Beth is shocked to hear he is still going to Philly. This causes a strain between them during the next couple months.

There is also a few different flashbacks throughout the episode of Jack (Milo Ventimiglia) and a young Randall (Niles Fitch) in Washington, D.C. They are having some heart to heart conversations about how focused Randall can get (like now with the campaign) and how Jack knows he will do great things one day. Jack does not want to go look for Nicky’s name on the list of soldiers that passed in Vietnam, saying it is too sad for him, but we find out the real reason soon enough.

Five weeks before the election Randall has been extremely distant from home and constantly in Philadelphia. He isn’t being a very good dad…and he knows it, but he is so focused on this campaign and working so hard. Kate (Chrissy Metz) and Toby (Chris Sullivan) are trying to clear out their stuff for the nursery for their baby. Kate accidentally sells Toby’s cherished 1977 Star Wars collectible figures. To make things even worse, they were ones he was looking forward to giving to his future child. They try to get them back from the guy at Kate’s college, but even with her sob story he doesn’t budge. The good news, for a little bit, is that Zoe and Kevin decide to move in together…kind of. Zoe says she will if it will make Kevin happy and accepts his John Stamos keychain. He is frustrated though because he can’t find out much about Nicky except that he signed his release from rehab papers “Clark Kent.” Keep that in mind!!!

It’s New Year’s Eve. Randall is working late in Philly, missing yet another night with his kids. Realizing he is not being the greatest father and husband he can be, he heads home to spend the night with his wife and children. They are obviously annoyed with the way they’ve been treated the last few weeks. He apologizes to them and admits his wrongdoing.

Two weeks before the election. we see Kevin and Zoe fight. She says he “pushed” her to move in. She leaves. Kate tries to surprise Toby with a 1977 Star Wars collection just like his, that she bought on eBay, but he knows they aren’t his. She says it is okay that their stuff is gone like the stadium her dad built her that she lost in the fire because their child’s favorite thing is going to be Toby.

It’s now election night. Toby has the stadium rebuilt for Kate with the new Star Wars figures. Understandably, she starts crying. But, it goes on a bit too long for Toby’s likes. It goes on for so long, in fact, that Toby calls Kevin for help. Unfortunately, he is dealing with something…Zoe. She is over Kevin or so it seems. She gives back her keys, as mentioned earlier. We then see her as she follows Kevin outside. Thankfully,  we see her open up and she admits to Kevin, “I’m in love with you. And I want John Stamos back.”

Sometime later, Zoe is going through some of her stuff that has been mixed up with Jack’s. She finds a letter to Jack…that is signed “C.K.” – as in Clark Kent! Jack knew Nicky was alive and didn’t say anything!

The election results are being tallied overnight. Beth and Randall wake up to Randall ending a phone call with, “Thanks for letting me know.” I take this as a loss for Randall and immediately get upset. I’m just a sucker though, as he turns to Beth and says, “I won.”