Andrew Robinson
After a two-week layoff, This Is Us returned to NBC on Tuesday night with the second part of the monumental “Songbird Road” story arc. “Songbird Road: Part Two” is TIU at its best.
Summary
In the present, Kevin continues to try to get through to Nicky, with a few assists along the way. Randall and Kate reminisce about their childhood. In the past, Young Kevin and Rebecca go on a mother/son road trip, while Jack, who’s still dealing with the fallout from his interaction with Nicky, watches the preteens Randall and Kate.
Analysis
“Songbird Road: Part Two” is peak-TIU. It features great acting performances, including what is Justin Hartley (Kevin) at his best in the waning moments of the episode. Besides Hartley, Sterling K. Brown (Randall) and Chrissy Metz (Kate) provide some comic relief, as well as some poignant moments, while Mandy Moore (Rebecca) once again handles her task of playing Rebecca in two different time periods admirably. Griffin Dunne (Nicky) is haunting as Nicky, a very troubled, yet stoic, older man. And, of course, Milo Ventimiglia (Jack) is fantastic.
All of the storylines in “Songbird Road: Part Two” are enjoyable to me, which is a far cry from what I’ve been saying all season. For the second consecutive episode, TIU delivers a tearjerker in every sense of the word, and does so intelligently: it doesn’t feel forced, as it has a few times this season. And, in typical TIU fashion, the final few minutes of the episode feature an event that will likely alter the trajectory of the show.
I’ve been consistent in my comments about Hartley as Kevin underwhelming me throughout the entire run of This is Us. However, I’m willing to give him props tonight: he brought it, and he delivered. Not only is he fantastic at the end of the episode, but he carries the same amount of acting prowess throughout the entire duration of the show. He’s been given quite the story arc this season and, in “Songbird Road: Part Two,” he shows that he can handle the pressure.
Kate and Randall’s place in the episode is low-key huge, as well. They are tasked with some of the more comedic scenes, but they also deliver in poignancy. Many people can relate to their desires throughout the episode, and their conversation at the house is one that I imagine many siblings have about events long in the past. In an episode heavy with drama and tension, Kate and Randall’s scenes lighten the mood, yet also provide a sense of love and confusion.
This is one of the first times that I can remember Jack not being a superhero around his kids. It’s slightly uncomfortable to watch him struggle as he does throughout the episode, solely because we’ve come to expect Jack to be the best person possible all the time. However, “Songbird Road: Part Two” does a good job at reminding audiences that Jack is just as human as we are. Still, it’s nice to see the episode end the way it does for him and the kids.
Verdict
“Songbird Road: Part Two” sets the stage for big episodes to come, and also provides just a little bit of closure to some of the storylines that have dominated the season. It is one of the best episodes of the season, and gives me faith in the show moving forward.
9.25/10
