This Is Us – Unhinged

By: Maddie Ruby

In the beginning of this episode we get an inside view on the life of Nicky (Griffin Dunne). He has decided to go to therapy, but he isn’t able to speak much about what’s going on.  We see him start to progress: talking more, taking care of his home and even putting a picture of baby Jack up on the fridge.

We see him finally opening up. That is until his therapist tells him she is being transferred. He goes home, drinks and then throws the chair through the AA meeting we saw in the first episode. He is belligerent as he is put in the back of a cop car. The next morning Kevin (Justin Hartley) is at his door.

In the past it’s the first day of Junior year for Randall (Lonnie Chavis) at his private school. He decides to slip out of his school uniform shoes and put on some Air Jordan sneakers instead, which is against the rules. He tries to bond with a new teacher who is African American, thinking he won’t care what Randall has done. He points out that even though he is new Randall has been there for three years and knows the rules. He writes him a yellow slip, causing Randall to have a panic attack. He calls home where Kevin (Parker Bates) answers. Kevin leaves to visit Randall to calm him down instead of telling their mom.

At work Jack (Milo Ventimiglia) signed off on a permit that forced a project that is being worked on to have to restart.  He is at high risk for losing his job. He decides to admit this to his boss, who apologizes but has to let him go. He tells Miguel (Jon Huertas), who goes to the boss to fight for Jack. He tells him Jack has been there for twenty years and that he should not be let go. He tells him if he fires Jack that he leaves. Jack later calls Miguel and tells him that he should know that he will always be here for him and he’d be offended if Miguel tried to ask anyone else for help first.

Kevin is trying to help Nicky out so that he doesn’t get charged and fined. He has to continue treatment and show he is not a threat.

Kate (Chrissy Metz) goes out to eat with Toby (Chris Sullivan) and friends from work. When they’re showed to their table it is a booth and Kate, being of a larger size, can’t fit into it. Toby tries to say it is because of the air conditioner being right above the table, but the hosts says they have nowhere else for them. That is until Kate awkwardly has to speak up and tell the truth.

While Nicky is being evaluated by his new therapist Kevin is in the waiting room and meets a young boy (Noah Salsbury Lipson) who he plays Mario Kart with. It ends up being Cassidy’s (Jennifer Morrison) son – a/k/a the vet mom that Nicky inadvertently threw the chair at. She doesn’t feel very comfortable with Kevin hanging with her nine-year-old son. Nicky is approved to keep going to therapy.

Kate notices how much thinner Toby looks. She makes him take off his shirt and show her how much weight he’s lost. She doesn’t understand how she is gaining and he is losing. He admits his secret gym sessions, saying he didn’t want her to feel bad for not being able to focus on losing weight right now.

Malek (Asante Blackk) tells Deja (Lyric Ross) about his daughter. She decides to confide in Tess (Eris Baker) about how she doesn’t know if she still likes him, what to do and that’s its complicated. Tess says she seemed complicated too when she showed up. Tess tells Deja she doesn’t know how to be out at her new school and doesn’t feel comfortable talking to Beth (Susan Kelechi Watson) as much anymore.

Randall and Jae-Won (Tim Jo) have become more than just politician and chief of staff, but the best of friends. There are morning runs together and hanging out. It’s like Randall is shaping Jae-Won up to be a true Pearson. One of Randall’s staffers mentions that he should fire Jae-Won and promote her instead. At first it seems like he maybe took her advice, but we know the Randall believes in Jae-Won and what they’ve done together. He fires her instead. He has been doing a great job so far with Jae-Won by his side. He has even taken off his office door so that concerned citizens can stop by at any time and talk about problems they’d like to see fixed. This sometimes causes Randall to miss business meetings, but his real focus is the people and always has been.

Kate is on the porch sad over Toby being so trim and her gaining weight. Their neighbor Gregory (Timothy Omundson) walks over using a cane to tell her to have Toby move his car. Kate lashes out at him saying she’s upset and now not the time to bother her. He says he is recovering from a stroke and needs access so he can go on daily walks to get better. Later we see Kate taking the baby in a stroller for a walk with Gregory.

Kevin attends a meeting where Cassidy and Nicky are both there. While Kevin is telling his story, reasons for being sober and his struggles Cassidy starts laughing. This causes Nicky to laugh and Kevin then to laugh even harder.

The episode ends with a super sweet moment between the young big three and Rebecca (Mandy Moore) and Jack. They all watch “The Arsenio Hall” show together, which Kevin suggests they do because Randall likes him.