Thoughts about Season 5 premier (27-Oct-2020) - This Is Us (2016) Discussion

[–] exithereplease (3553) 3 years ago

Randall behaved like an ass. He's always talking about being the hero of the family but he's also the first one to always bail out.

Suddenly his family have now become objects of racism and hate. Hug your damn sister and wish her a happy birthday you prick.

I didn't pick up on the Trump jabs.

Once again, we see a church in TV land without a cross.

The ending was jaw dropping awesome though.

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[–] [deleted] 3 years ago

I agree with you on that ending.

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[–] exithereplease (3553) 3 years ago

Yes, I'm looking forward to see what's going to happen. I did not expect that at all.

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[–] davebuffalo (3009) 3 years ago

I agree on the ending! That redeemed the first two hours of the show for me! That brings up a LOT of questions on how that could evolve!

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[–] exithereplease (3553) 3 years ago

I did not expect that at all.

It was awesome. A complete throwback from TV's yesteryears.

So many questions...

A real not expecting cliffhanger...

I just hope the producers don't drop the moment and say...hey she died in 1985.

How much baggage can poor old Randall take anyway?

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[–] exithereplease (3553) 3 years ago

I really like this show. It's my favorite. I wish more people watched it...

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[–] Who (5146) 3 years ago

Agree on Randall’s bad behavior. His anger is turning me off his character and he has always been the reason I liked the show so much. The way he treated Kate was too harsh. It’s like Kate had to be the evil “Karen” in that conversation. Kate is far from it. Her kind heart and her own experience with fat shaming, etc makes her a very empathetic person, even if she underestimated the depth of Randall’s pain.

I didn’t like the surprise ending. It’s something you’d see on a cheesy soap opera. How many more dead relatives are going to turn up undead? Is Jack out there somewhere wandering around still? Also, it makes no sense. Why wouldn’t William have found out she survived? Maybe she got amnesia being out so long but the EMTs could have poked through the stuff in that apartment to trace William’s identity and track him down. Also, asking the neighbors and landlord.

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[–] Jennie_Portrait (804) 3 years ago

Once again, we see a church in TV land without a cross.

It wasn't a church per se-- it was a hospital chapel. These are deliberately kept ecumenical so any faith may pray there.

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[–] GordonGartrelle (1267) 3 years ago

Honestly, I began zoning out last season.

Something has been off about this show and the premiere didn't help that.

To me, the show is coming off more like a soap opera than a primetime drama.

I will continue to watch, I don't hate it. But I'm not going out of my way to watch at its first run.

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[–] TheArgentinian (6424) 3 years ago

The fact that you think they took jabs at Trump with those generic but reasonable lines says everything about his incompetence in dealing with Covid that even Trump supporters like you can see it but won't admit it.

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[–] davebuffalo (3009) 3 years ago

I'm not denying he has handled it poorly. I just don't appreciate, knowing that this would be their last chance before the election, that they had to weave a subtle campaign ad for Biden into the show.

SNL is a bit more "non-subtle", with Pete Davidson yelling out "Vote Biden" during Weekend Update. That's half to be expected.

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[–] FilmStar (405) 3 years ago

This episode really pissed me off. Randall making Kate feel guilty for reaching out to him about George Floyd just because she hasn't in the past about other tragic events like that one. It's because she didn't want to treat Randall like her black brother. Just her brother. I don't see anything wrong with that. But it's like Randall did want everyone to treat him special for being black instead of like everyone else in the family. It was wrong for him not to spend time with his family for his birthday just because he would prefer to be with his all-black family. And then to tell his therapist who's always been there for him that he wants a black therapist instead was horrible too. He shouldn't have to feel like he should hold anything back from his therapist for being white. It's like Randall is looking at white people like a different species than him or something when white people saved his life. I have a feeling Randall is gonna want to drift away from the family that raised him. Especially when his black mom comes back into the picture again.

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[–] Artisan (3464) 3 years ago

Randall has never made much sense to me. His birth parents - both black - abandoned him. He was raised by white people and had a much better upbringing and opportunities because of them than he would ever have had with his birth parents both of whom were pretty messed up.

He is actually very racist and yet feels he can call everyone racist due to his colour.

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[–] Keelai (31786) 3 years ago

Randall's birth mom died during childbirth. That's not abandonment.

Rebecca knew the identity of Randall's birth father, but kept it a secret even though she knew they were desperate to be with each other. Rebecca is the reason why Randall's father began drugs, again!

Not only were Randall's adoptive family white. his neighborhood, classmates and coworkers too. And remember, Kevin rejected him. They didn't deal with it on the show, but realistically there would be racist incidents which Randall would experience as a black person that white parents wouldn't understand. His parents introduced him to some black people, but it's not the same as a supportive family who can teach lessons that black children need to know about growing up in America. I believe Randall is only reaching out to black people now because he didn't have that when he was growing up.

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[–] FilmStar (405) 3 years ago

His mother has been revealed to be alive. So yeah, they both abandoned him.

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[–] Keelai (31786) 3 years ago

No, the writers abandoned us with bad writing. How would Randall's father be mislead at the hospital and why would they give a baby to a guy who isn't married to her? If she didn't want the kid, she could put him up for adoption.

I hate bad writing!

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[–] davebuffalo (3009) 3 years ago

How would Randall's father be mislead [sic] at the hospital and why would they give a baby to a guy who isn't married to her? If she didn't want the kid, she could put him up for adoption.

I'm not following any of this. Randall was misled at the hospital? Huh?

Why would they give a baby to a guy who isn't married to her? Who is "they"? The writers?

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[–] Keelai (31786) 3 years ago

Randall's FATHER

Hospital staff, of course!

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[–] davebuffalo (3009) 3 years ago

I meant Randall's father, sorry.

He only went to the hospital to see the baby out of curiosity, and to see if he was OK. He didn't speak to anyone. What do you mean that Randall's father was misled by hospital staff? I'm so confused.

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[–] Keelai (31786) 3 years ago

My fault. We were discussing two different things. I was focused on the original simpler storyline when William (Randall's father) was on a bus and it was understood he couldn't care for a baby so he left him at the firehouse. I assumed he left a hospital with the newborn after the baby's mother died.

Now, the creators come up with this convoluted nonsense about delivering a likely drug-addicted baby in an apartment. How many men would volunteer to do that, anyway? He runs out with the baby in order to give it away? Laurel (Randall's mother) never looks for her baby? Two paramedics see a drug addict run off with a newborn and don't file a police report? William doesn't go to Laurel's funeral? Laurel and William never show up at each other's apartments? No money, but they can afford to take care of a baby on their own without help? None of it is realistic.

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[–] davebuffalo (3009) 3 years ago

Just curious, have you watched all four seasons?

We've known up to this point, from Randall's discussions with William, that William left the baby at a fire department, and from there he was taken to the same maternity ward as Kate & Kevin.

William probably thought he was in trouble for causing her to OD, so he probably bailed and never came back.

As to your questions, they are all unknowns.

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[–] Keelai (31786) 3 years ago

I watched the first two seasons which were excellent. I bailed when the quality appeared to drop off and the "triplets" became annoying. William leaving Randall at the firehouse and the maternity ward episodes were among my favorite episodes.

"William probably thought he was in trouble for causing her to OD, so he probably bailed and never came back."

That doesn't bother me. It's everything before and after which makes no sense. I get the impression the answers are going to be as silly as the premise of her having the baby in the apartment.

I'll stick it out for a few more episodes to see if it gets better, but the writing is still disappointing.

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[–] Artisan (3464) 3 years ago

The writers make it up as they go along. Like Jack being in Vietnam, never mentioned before they decided that they needed some more flashback ideas.

Now they are deciding that the mother should still be alive, cue more drama. It's like there was never any long term vision for this show.

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[–] davebuffalo (3009) 3 years ago

I think it was mentioned that Jack was in Vietnam. Rebecca complained that he never wanted to talk about it. I don't think Vietnam and Nicky were "made up as they went along". I think that was a foundational part of the story.

As for Lauren being alive, yeah I do question if this wasn't absolutely "made up" to be the season-opening cliffhanger. It does raise a lot of questions and will keep viewers guessing. Of course viewers are going to feel robbed though, if this story is not continued in multiple episodes this season.

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[–] FilmStar (405) 3 years ago

Yes exactly! Like him saying he needs a black therapist! What if a white person said to their black therapist they prefer a white one? They would be considered racist, so why wouldn't Randall?!

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[–] exithereplease (3553) 3 years ago

What if a white person said to their black therapist they prefer a white one?

In the real world, this would get it cancelled almost immediately.

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[–] Artisan (3464) 3 years ago

It is very racist, I don't care that he is black but I know we are supposed to be understanding of his racism because he is black. Double standards and more attempts at white guilt.

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[–] davebuffalo (3009) 3 years ago

At least this very liberal show is calling out Randall for being a racist.

But I have to concede, even as a Conservative, that I kinda get it. I understand that a black therapist can better relate to the struggles that a black man endures. I've heard liberals say that blacks can't be accused of racism, because they were the ones being oppressed. It's an interesting debate topic.

Maybe we need a different word for "reverse-racism". He's definitely being discriminatory. He's firing her specifically because of her race.

Racism
prejudice, discrimination, or antagonism directed against a person or people on the basis of their membership in a particular racial or ethnic group, typically one that is a minority.

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[–] FilmStar (405) 3 years ago

But that's why I think it's wrong that black people say it's impossible for them to be racist. They can be if they have the same prejudices against white people like white racists have towards blacks. And yes, I understand Randall probably feels like a black therapist would understand his struggles more, but I'm sure his therapist would have related to his struggles if he gave her a chance. For example, I may not be black but I am Jewish so I can therefore relate to the struggles minorities have.

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[–] Jennie_Portrait (804) 3 years ago

If a woman said to a male therapist that she wanted to speak to a female therapist, would that be seen as wrong too? For something as intimate as therapy, it is whatever makes the patient feel most comfortable.

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[–] ItalianBuju (793) 3 years ago

I thought the episode was fantastic.

This is a drama based on reality so they have to deal with things that happen in real life. And they hit that nail right on the head.

Even mixed children that are primarily raised by one side of the family often have identity crisis because they don't really connect with either side and then are not familiar with one heritage at all.
Being raised by a family of a totally different race that doesnt know how to deal with the problems your heritage feels and deals with has got to be more than difficult.

Always feeling out of place in your own family cannot be easy.

Also, a lot of white people finally woke up when the Floyd murder happened and it is exhausting when people that just discovered racism a few months ago overwhelm people that have been sounding the alarm for decades.

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[–] Artisan (3464) 3 years ago

I found I wasn't the least bit interested in the characters anymore. Randall is just overbearing and annoying and now has a BLM thing to justify himself.

The flashback with Randall's mother at the end, oh great... so she might still be alive now. What difference will it make, meeting his father didn't seem to make any difference to him.

Kate is still depressed and just looking at her size makes me exhausted. Toby is still the desperate optimist. His depression shining through his mock joy.

Sick of the flashbacks too, you know Randall's mother will get one too now.

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[–] Ripkens25 (1898) 3 years ago

Just too, TOO much....effing DRAMA. Do these people ever laugh? And that stupid music playing in the background of every scene...don’t get me started. I think people are going to get tired of this sappy, overly-serious downer of a show. Life is hard enough. I’m switching to Cobra Kai.

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[–] Artisan (3464) 3 years ago

I know right? There is no joy in that family, unless you count Toby who is kind of like a manic form of happy. It is a downer of a show and seems to need to keep upping that drama to keep going.

I'm over it.

I love Cobra Kai now that is a fun show.

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[–] ajm2259 (128) 3 years ago

THANK YOU! I thought I was the only person who noticed that background music ! It’s worse than that though- like in that flashback to Beth and her cousin in school with some kind of music blasting in the background, then in the present Zoe hears a song on the radio and says “ Remember when we used to sing along to this?” And then started singing. I think the writers have been using music as a crutch throughout the whole series.

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[–] davebuffalo (3009) 3 years ago

Do these people ever laugh?

I thought the same thing watching this episode! What a downer. I guess there was a lot of turmoil throughout, with the Alzheimer's, Pregnancy, William, and BLM.

Other than Kate's initial joy at Kevin's announcement, everyone was pretty down the whole show, until the cabin birthday party at the end. Those were the first group smiles I saw the whole show.

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[–] janelsenor (2042) 3 years ago

I was on board until the final surprise in the episode. This show got extra stupid in 1 second.

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[–] Jennie_Portrait (804) 3 years ago

Agree. Are we supposed to believe that William didn’t know she lived?

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[–] janelsenor (2042) 3 years ago

Pretty sure that’s what they’re going for.

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[–] Jennie_Portrait (804) 3 years ago

That is approaching a “jump the shark” moment.

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[–] Artisan (3464) 3 years ago

I'm out, bored with them all to be honest. Just the non stop drama. Also, since some shows have returned, I don't think I really care to see CoVid stories being played out in all of them. We get the same thing over and over, Asian abused for bringing CoVid over, people in masks not liking it, people dying, the applause when someone beats it, poor health system.

I get it and I know many countries are still going through it but do I really need to see that much reality in fictional TV shows?

Same with BLM and Trump/election.

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