Recently, two of my friends and I re-named our iMessage group chat “The Big Three.” If you are as fanatical as us about the new NBC sitcom This Is Us, you understand. The show is in its first season and critics are already giving it rave reviews. The Critics’ Choice Awards named it this year’s most exciting new series, and it has received an overall rating of 86% by Rotten Tomatoes. For college students, it’s all the rage. Each episode intertwines current issues and relatable themes. This Tuesday, a new episode will air and, if you’re anything like my friends and I, you are counting down the hours. It has been 168 hours since last Tuesday, so here’s a fresh recap for you.
The Valentine’s Day episode takes a deep look into the main characters’ complicated love stories. Throughout the show, viewers swoon over Jack (played by Milo Ventimiglia) and Rebecca’s (played by Mandy Moore) admirable love for one another. They face obstacles, but with strong love for each other, they always seem to jump the hurdles.
This episode seems different. The argument begins when they arrive home from Rebecca’s first music tour performance. Jack is all about letting his wife pursue her passion for singing, until he sees the onstage connection between her and another band member. At first, Jack overlooks the sultry music lyrics. It is not until he discovers Rebecca’s short-lived relationship with the man years before they had married that he feels as though he has been lied to. Rebecca tells Jack she chose not to share the past relationship with him because she did not want him to think too much of it. She says she did not want that to get in the way of her singing dreams. Before storming out of the house, Jack disappointedly says he did not know he had ever stood in Rebecca’s way. This is a painful moment for viewers.
In the episode’s final scene, Jack makes use of their Valentine’s Day dinner reservations. He sits at a table for one and orders himself a drink. As Jack takes a long sip of his drink, viewers have potentially just been handed a small peak into the hours leading up to Jack’s death. This prediction is up for debate.
As for the show’s other characters, Kevin and Sophie try casual dating, Kate and Toby push back their wedding date, Randall’s family fears the death of William, and Miguel, Jack’s best friend, files for divorce from his wife. The Valentine’s Day episode is a lot to handle, and the love stories are not, by any means, blissful.
Viewers are left wanting more. My friends and I always keep a box of tissues close-by, in expectation of the tears. The end of each episode leaves a trail of questions: When is William going to die? Will Jack’s downfall be alcohol? Are Kevin and Sophie going to be able to start their relationship where they left off? Why would Rebecca marry Jack’s best friend?
Tonight at 9/8 on NBC…we just might find out some answers.