By Parker, Just Parker
First an apology. I basically took last week off. Checked out from work and life in general. I didn’t even watch the finale of This is Us until this morning. I wish I could say the week off did me good. 🙁
Anyway, by now you’ve all watched the show. I’m still processing it. Some of it seemed really obvious: Sam earns WHORE status, Rebecca rebuffs him, Jack punches him, Rebecca drives drunk Jack home, they have a big fight (which was awesome) and they decide to hit pause. Jack goes to live with Miguel for a while but delivers a pretty little speech on his way out. About how their story is just starting. It was vintage Jack that we loved but at this point vintage Jack that we loved is starting to get a bit tiresome in my opinion. Maybe I’m just in a bad mood from my non-week off. Anyone else? To me, the most heartbreaking moment of the whole episode was when current Rebecca opens her door and Jack isn’t sleeping outside her bedroom like he did so many years ago.
I know a lot of people have written about the Jack/Rebecca ‘fight’ scene. And, yeah, that’s how I fight with my husband too so I’m onboard with the idea that this may have been the best couples argument filmed on television pretty much ever. And maybe, like my fights with Mr. Parker, the futility and the lack of resolution were the whole point. But it is a weird juxtaposition to me that you can go from that particular scene with its very realistic incoherence, to grandly delivered ‘speeches’ the next morning. I mean, unless he was up all night practicing.
The flashbacks were flat. Don’t hate. The poker thing was stupid, Rebecca was stupid and Jack was basically a cartoon.
If you’re getting the impression that this was the first episode of this show that I didn’t love, you’re getting the right impression. This is not to say that I hated it. That would be a big stretch. But it didn’t really move me like I wanted the finale of this show to move me. In fact, I almost wish that the previous episode was the season finale and we’d been left wondering what happened on Jack’s drive to see Rebecca until the new season started. I did love the Cat Stevens soundtrack though. I am THAT old. lol
So where does that leave us?
First of all, I kind of wish that this had been a one-season series.
I am not that interested in Kate’s storyline and her new desire to sing, I don’t care if Kevin and Sophie are a couple or about his acting career, and I am more than indifferent to Randall and Beth adopting a baby. Now it is entirely possible that the writers pull a “William” storyline out of their hat, but I wouldn’t bet on it. There’s not enough there there in any of the subplots anymore. The argument between Randall and Beth about what color the baby is going to be (c’mon, you know that’s coming) is not exactly going to rise to the William story. Toby drawing out Kate’s story about Jack’s death is already beyond tedious so I can’t imagine that getting any better. And whether Kevin gets casted and can keep his relationships together with Sophie is not all that interesting. And, btw, since I am really not enjoying work right now, why don’t any of these people seem to actually need to earn a living?
And of course, we still have Jack’s death to, um, look forward to. I guess that reddit guy who predicted some kind of fire that wipes out most of Miguel’s old family and makes Jack a hero is probably in pole position now for most likely ‘end of Jack’ theory. At this point the drunk driving thing is entirely too heavy handed, probably. Maybe Kate feels guilty because she was visiting her dad at Miguel’s and left her curling iron plugged in. I kid. Sort of. But I’m also starting to care less, which is usually not a good sign for me staying with a show.
So next season is going to be at least partly about how Jack and Rebecca deal with their separation and how that affects the kids. We have the above mentioned teased storylines for each of the ‘current’ adult children. And, ultimately we have Jack’s death. Or we don’t. The show has already been picked up for two more seasons. As I wrote in my first recap, I can’t imagine the show without the Jack/Rebecca storyline evolution. So maybe Jack won’t die until the show is ready to die. And at that point, I suspect, we’ll all be ready for Jack to DIE IN A FIRE.
Which is why I think it should have been one season. In a nutshell.
First of all, last week was hell for three of my writers. Let’s hope this week is better for everyone. I half heartedly offered to do this recap at the time, but was hoping that Parker would eventually get up to it. I didn’t want to do it because my reactions was basically, “That’s it?”
I would have never thought about the fact that episode 17 was a much better season finale than the one we got in episode 18. But Parker is absolutely right about that.
I didn’t mind Jack’s flashbacks that much. They didn’t really serve any purpose other than to reinforce the close relationship between Jack and Miguel. I didn’t care a thing about Rebecca’s flashbacks. I suppose the fact that Rebecca ends up saving Jack and Miguel from lives of crime is of some interest. We were shown some character flaws in Jack.
I am not counting the days until season two. But I am counting the days until Imposters. Only two more sleeps!
What did y’all think of the finale?
It’s actually a little weirder than that. The young Jack’s friend was some rando named Daryl. We’ve never met him before so I was scratching my head on that one. Maybe he’ll appear later with Rebecca’s bitchy social-climbing friends and mergers & acquisitions Ethan. Gawd, I hope not.
I wondered when I was typing that if it was Miguel. I’ve sort of already forgotten the episode. But then I thought, “Who else would it have been?” I bet you’re right and we see Daryl again next season in some nefarious way. Although he seemed like he was just going along with Jack.
I find turning Jack into a sloppy drunk with alcoholic tendencies very upsetting. Not to mention it’s been done elsewhere so many times. Same with winning at poker and then getting robbed in a back alley. Saw that one coming a mile off. Both of those plot devices really surprised me, well, not surprised really, just wondering why the cliches? This show is so much better than that.
Jack had to meet Rebecca. He went to the bar that held the poker game to rob them and get his money back. That’s how they met. She changed the direction of his life completely at that moment. Otherwise, the robbery plan may have gone so horribly wrong.
More cliches: Ben making the moves on Rebecca. Jack blowing his cool, while drunk, and punching Ben.Yadda yadda yadda.
How Jack dies really makes no difference, at this point. We already know he has died, not a big secret.
I think if it was kept a secret, everyone would be upset when Jack dies at some later point in the series. And ratings would drop if fans abandon the show.
Possibilities include:
Natural causes (heart attack…)
Accidental
Homicide
Suicide
Heroic (rescuing Kate from something?)
I agree, Parker. Jack and Rebecca drive the show. As much as I like Randall and Kate and Kevin, I hope their storylines keep my interest. Having Kate continue to wallow in self-pity will get tiring. Toby needs some depth. Kevin needs to stop being 12. Randall needs to find joy and happiness in his work life, while continuing to be successful.
How Rebecca ends up marrying Miguel should also be interesting…
I think you nailed it. It was cliche after cliche after cliche. And while the writers have always kind of dealt with cliche-making storylines, until the finale they managed to pull it off without it being too cringe-worthy.
I’m not sure I’m ready for how Rebecca and Miguel became Rebecca and Miguel! I don’t much like older Rebecca and I’m pretty sure that watching younger Rebecca getting together with Miguel is going to make me throw up a little. It seems like such a betrayal of all things Jack & Rebecca. I’m just hoping Jack doesn’t have to watch it happen. That would be tough.
I don’t understand why so many people are averse to the Rebecca and Miguel relationship. I feel sure it happens after Jack dies. There was a very tight two couple friendship for years. Miguel’s ex is probably long gone and then Jack dies and it’s down to just Miguel and Rebecca greiving Jack. Their longstanding friendship and mutual loses of their spouse probably brought them together. I don’t see the big deal.
Two things: (1) I think we’re reacting to the family’s obvious discomfort with him so he is getting the bad edit and (2) He seemed a little sleezy early on with his flirting with the woman who worked for him.
That said, in the plus column, he did tell Jack to cut the booze and go to his wife. Miguel was always smitten by Rebecca it seems. And if Rebecca chooses him, well, he can’t be that bad unless he is somehow complicit in Jack’s death, which I doubt.
Good recap, Parker. Ho hum episode. By the way, your recaps got me into this show. Binge watched a few weeks ago just to see the Memphis episode. This one felt anticlimactic.
As for the rest of the cast, I do care what happens, and I love those teen versions, but I can see the argument for a one off. But you know that as long as the ratings are there, they will milk this show for all its worth.
I thought Daryl was Miguel, too. I need better glasses. 😉
I did too!! But then he talked about Pearson and [Something Irish sounding] and I was like, huh?
Glad you got lured in. Hopefully you’ll keep me company in the comments in Season 2. I’m gonna need it!
…and it’s back to watching April The Giraffe…
I felt exactly the same way about this finale and probably won’t tune in to the next season. Maybe I’ll give Imposters a try.
Darryl and his other brother Darryl, surname was Magee.
Also, Jack’s hair looks so much better when it’s clean, like when he saw Rebecca for the first time.
Thanks for the recap, Parker. I’m sure it took a lot to do after this awful finale. I’m in agreement that episode 17 would’ve been a better finale. I was so looking forward to this finale with tissues on hand, only to not shed one tear. What a meh episode. Bored now. I’ll tune in next season but they better punch it up a notch or I’ll be out. Bummer.
Sidenote to Katherine and Legacy,
You guys and a few others I’ve noticed via my email notifications are still viewing the site with an httpS address.
A while back I changed the site to an httpS because it was suggested as the next new thing I’d have to be doing regarding site maintenance. As it turns out the ad publishers hate httpS and most ads are not set up to work on them. It’s a huge tech debate going on right now that is irrelevant to this conversation other than to say that I am back on a url without the S.
The url is the site address you see at the top of your screen in the long box across the top that shows where you are on the Internet.
So, Katherine, Legacy, and I think maybe PJ and others. Check your url. if you see an S after the http delete your bookmarks and clear your cache and then got to
http://tamaratattles.com/
and set a new bookmark.
This will make the site run easier for you and avoid seeing any random warnings about the site being unsecure.
AND then I can click on the link from the notifications directly to your comment.
For those who signed up for email notifications of comments. You will see an unsecure message on comments from people still using the httpS url. Again, there is no safety issue, it’s just kind of annoying.
Hope this makes sense. I’ve been typing out this explanation for eight weeks now and it’s getting kind of old.
Apologies to Parker for the interruption. I just needed a place to post this.
Will do. Had no idea. Thanks for the info.
Checked the header for this comment. No S in sight.
More importantly, how’s April doing?
That’s odd, just checked an email notification. three comments yours, Parkers, yours both of yours had the S Parker’s did not. Sigh. Still not sure why that is happening in notifications if you are not trying to use the httpS url.
Back to the drawing board.
I don’t see the “S” either. Sorry.
FWIW, I was having same issue. The S wasn’t showing up but was still giving me security warning and putting me in moderation. Once I cleared cache, typed http in manually, got warning for first time on new site. Once I got through moderation at new URL, no more security warnings except when submitting comments it just says not a secure form (which I just ignore). Haven’t had any problems since. Hope that helps.
*I also do NOT use a wordpress sign in… don’t know if that makes a difference?
You should not be getting any warnings at if you just use this link after clearing cache.
http://tamaratattles.com/
The only way to still get the warning (which you can completely ignore, but it’s annoying) is to be on the url with the S.
Eating, pooping, doesn’t seem to be in any hurry. I had my money on a St Patrick’s Day baby.
I can’t believe this was the season finale !!! I was like WTF!! I was already sad my fav character William had already passed away, then we had to watch the worst episode of the season so far. I liked seeing clean shaven Jack, only because I think Milos crooked smile is cute. Lol. But I was hoping for something more to happen to somebody in the cast.
The episode was disappointing but the argument between Jack and Rebecca was spot on. That’s how married people fight. Kate wants to sing? How is she going to do that considering she SUCKS. Toby is becoming so very annoying prying into Kate’s life. I’ve been married close to 30 years and I still have secrets from my husband. Why does Toby think he needs to know EVERYTHING about Kate even the painful details and for the love of God, get rid of that stupid patch of hair on the front of your head!