Andrew Robinson
As always, this review will be as spoiler-free as possible, though minor spoilers may be present.
The second episode of the third season of the NBC drama, This Is Us aired on Tuesday night. Boy, is it nice to have the Pearsons back in our lives weekly at 9 PM.
Summary
Kevin’s new movie premieres, bringing the Pearsons together for the celebration. Kate and Toby deal with outside commentary on their decision to get fertility treatments. Toby’s past decisions bring forth issues. Randall struggles to help Deja feel comfortable with her new life. In the past, the Teenage Big Three make college decisions, and Rebecca, Randall, Kevin, and Kate all deal with Jack’s death in their own, often self-destructive, ways.
Analysis
Ron Cephas Jones (William) with the special guest starring role! I always (always) love seeing Jones in the role that netted him an Emmy for Outstanding Guest Star in a Drama Series in 2018. Creator Dan Fogelman could create a storyline for William that makes him into a ghost that haunts the Pearsons, and I’d still be on board, just to see more Jones (well…. maybe not, but the point remains the same). His story arc in “A Philadelphia Story” is simple, yet beautiful and, as always, Jones nails every line, and every facial expression. Here’s to hoping he pops up more often than not!
I am probably the only one thinking this, but I am extremely interested to see if Fogelman has Kevin interview with non-NBC news anchors, assuming a few real news anchors make guest appearances, about his new movie in future episodes. Little things like this always peak my interest, as the inner-workings of television networks are fascinating to me. Is NBC willing to allow its most-watched show use news anchors that represent the competition? This will be a fascinating subplot for me.
Speaking of Kevin, as much as I’ve documented my dislike for the character in the past, it is nice to see him happy, for a change. After his difficult story arc last season, complete with alcoholism and a messy breakup, it is really good to see him doing well. While the lingering of the camera on a particular item that he is gifted is a bit concerning, a happy Kevin is something that we should appreciate. Hopefully his movie is a success!
This whole idea, of course, is made difficult to actually practice because of the presence of Teenage Kevin, and his struggles in the aftermath of Jack’s death. It is difficult to watch him do what he does throughout the episode, especially with knowledge of where it leads in his future. Logan Shroyer, who I’ve been critical of many times and don’t consider to be one of the more impressive actors on the show, turns in one of his better performances in TIU with “A Philadelphia Story,” even though his arc is in the background.
Hannah Zeile and Niles Fitch, who portray Teenage Kate and Randall, are the MVPs of the episode. Fitch in particular, shows extreme range throughout the episode, as he is given an arc that encompasses many different emotions. He delivers in all of them, and his mini-speech to Rebecca is heartbreaking. While Teenage Randall’s decision at the end of the episode is rash and could come off as a tad unrealistic, given all that we know about Randall and his drive to succeed, Fitch makes it seem like a viable, albeit unfortunate, twist.
Teenage Randall’s concerns about Teenage Kate are also a key point in the episode. These concerns, which are brought on by Teenage Kate’s habits after her father’s death, make up something that the audience could definitely see coming, but the way that Zeile performs throughout the episode makes the revelation all the more heartrending. Zeile has been one of the most impressive performers on the show since its beginning, and she puts forth a great performance in one of her most important moments to date.
Mandy Moore, who is one the only main actress on the show constantly tasked with performing in different time periods, has a really difficult job. In “A Philadelphia Story,” we see how drastically her demeanor changes following her husband’s death. Moore portrays a suffering woman very well, showing little emotion and a ton of stoicism, but in a way that makes the audience realize just how broken she is. In a show with many outstanding actors and actresses, it is easy to overlook Moore, but if she continues to make efforts like she does in “A Philadelphia Story,” she could vault up the list of the best performers on the show rather quickly.
Kate and Toby’s interactions with Rebecca throughout the episode feel incredibly authentic to me. Chrissy Metz, Chris Sullivan, and Moore all do a brilliant job at portraying exactly what their characters feel in the moment, and make the story arc entirely relatable to the audience. Plus, unlike what usually occurs (for me, at least), it’s hard to see Rebecca as the bad guy of the situation. Instead, unlike what has become increasingly typical for the present day Rebecca, her thoughts feel entirely valid and justifiable. This authenticity is what makes This Is Us so special, and Fogelman nails it again with scenes involving these three.
Speaking of Toby, I worry about him moving forward. As the flash-forward from the season two finale revealed, things are going to get difficult for everyone’s favorite Damon (sorry, Matt). While he does what he does with good intentions, it appears that it will turn out to be a huge mistake. I really hope that things don’t get as bad for him as I think they may.
It was a very small piece of the episode, but Randall and Deja’s interaction outside her new school is an important one for the show moving forward. While Deja has accepted Randall and Beth’s option to adopt her, she is still, understandably, a bit of a wild card behaviorally-speaking, and her ability to fit in at her new school is something that Randall and Beth must be worried about.
Verdict
“A Philadelphia Story” feels like peak This Is Us. There are heartbreaking moments, fights amongst family members that feel entirely authentic, inspiring moments, and impressive acting performances.
8.75/10
