Andrew Robinson
Spoilers will mostly be avoided in the review, but minor spoilers may appear.
This Is Us once again graced our screens on Tuesday night. In the penultimate episode of the fall portion of the season, the Pearsons, both in the past and the present, celebrate Thanksgiving.
Summary
In the past, the Teenage Big Three celebrate what they don’t yet know will be their final Thanksgiving with Jack; a recently-divorced Miguel is also in attendance. Teenage Randall struggles with finding inspiration for his college essay. Still in the past, William and Jessie meet for the first time. In Vietnam, during the war, Jack attempts to help an injured local boy. In the present, Rebecca and Miguel go to Miguel’s daughter’s house for the holiday. Randall and Beth continue to work on his campaign, fighting along the way. Kate and Toby prepare Thanksgiving dinner, and Kate has an impromptu heart-to-heart with Tess.
Analysis
“Six Thanksgivings” is easily an elite episode of the third season of TIU.
As the summary above suggests, “Six Thanksgivings” is jam-packed with characters and storylines. While many of our major storylines are not advanced too much, we get backstory into William (portrayed, as always, by a fabulous Ron Cephas Jones in a role that has already netted him two Emmy nominations, including one win) and Jessie’s (Denis O’Hare, returning to a role that garnered him an Emmy nomination for Outstanding Guest Actor in a Drama Series in 2017) relationship. Whenever Jones and O’Hare can get screen time in TIU, the episode is immediately made better, and they prove that to be the case in “Six Thanksgivings.” They’re fantastic.
With the added knowledge that the Teenage Big Three are celebrating their final Thanksgiving with Jack, the episode has a very sad undertone. Watching them happily celebrate with Jack and Rebecca is something that shouldn’t be sad, but it certainly is, given what we know will come. Jack’s speech to Miguel is emotional and raw; our knowledge of the future makes this even more difficult to listen to without tearing up.
Michael Angarano, who plays Nicky, gives what is easily his best performance on the show to date in “Six Thanksgivings.” He is tasked with delivering an emotional speech, but delivering said speech in a very monotonous, matter-of-fact way. This is not easy to do, but Angarano does it very well, and gives the viewer a look into what makes him do what he does, and why he seems to be so emotionless. The war has clearly changed Nicky, and his story, plus Angarano’s delivery of it, shows us one reason why.
Hopefully we saw the entire origin story of the necklace in “Six Thanksgivings.” I actually think we may have, and that makes me very happy. Next week’s fall finale teases an inclusion (conclusion, maybe?) of Nicky’s story, but hopefully the necklace origin story is complete.
I love Tess. Eris Baker is yet another one of the strong, young performers on TIU, and she shines in “Six Thanksgivings.” I’m sure her two entirely separate storylines in the episode hit home for many viewers, and I think it is very important for the show to include both. I’ve said this many times, and I’ll continue to say it, but growing up in today’s technological age is more difficult than in any time period in recent memory, and it is increasingly difficult for children to find – and accept – themselves for who they are. Tess takes a brave, applause-worthy, lovable step in that regard in “Six Thanksgivings,” and I am extremely proud of her.
This is the first time (that I can remember, anyway) that we see Miguel’s family in the present day and… yeesh. Brutal. Seeing Miguel and Rebecca then walk in to Randall and Beth’s home to a loving reception is heartwarming, but wow.
Toby’s, albeit small, role in “Six Thanksgivings” is much-needed. In an episode featuring many emotional moments, Toby provides comedic relief in a way that is really nice to see, given his struggles over the course of the season.
I feel bad for Jae-Won (Tim Jo). Randall’s campaign manager has many good ideas, but is continually shot down by Beth and, by extension, Randall. It doesn’t seem as if Beth is the greatest field coordinator in the world. Randall’s desire to help his wife is commendable, but this may not be the best way to do it.
Teenage Randall’s struggles with his college application essay are every college student ever, lol.
Verdict
“Six Thanksgivings” is a fantastic episode. It features stand-out performances by Jones, O’Hare, Angarano, and, most impressively, Baker. Backstories are made richer, and everything feels real, which cannot be said for many of the other episodes in what has been an up-and-down season.
9.5/10
Be sure to tune in the NBC next Tuesday night @ 9PM for the fall finale of This Is Us.
