Chanandler Bong

Yes! I loved the finale, but I’m feeling such a lack of closure from that alone. I don’t understand why they didn’t add a quick scene with Gary and Javi before he left. When Gina started walking out the door with the baby I was like, “Wait! What?? No!” As a mom, I’m feeling so unsettled. Overall it was a beautiful finale. I loved the full circle band of dads moment at the game at the end. The aging up was a little all over the place — some hadn’t aged at all (Maggie, Eddie). Some had aged 30 years apparently (Rome, Katherine). But whatever — I’ll let it slide. Eddie and Rome walking into a HOSPITAL and practically saying to Nurse Kevin, “Hey there! Gary said you’d know how to take care of things. You know — assisted suicide…you got anything for that? We’ve heard you’ve done it before.” Read the room, guys. Theo weighing in on the situation was weird. Or, I guess, perfectly apt for Theo. Colin just about did me in.

I’m sorry, but Hen going to medical school at this stage in her life is INSANE. We’re talking 4 years of med school, followed by a 4 year residency, possibly more if she wants to be a surgeon. She’s, what, late forties, early fifties? So, she won’t be done until her mid-fifties at best. Then she’ll probably retire 10-15 years after that. Will she even be done paying off her mountain of loans by retirement?? Not to mention the emotional toll it’s taking on her and her family. She has a good career where she gets to do something medical adjacent, helping to save lives every day. I don’t get her unrelenting desire to do this and I don’t really want to watch it. Buck saying to Hen, “I hadn’t thought of that” when she pointed out the very obvious fact that donating his sperm would essentially mean watching someone else raise his biological child. *face palm* Just further proof that Buck should definitely not be doing this.

Right?! It made NO sense whatsoever. She’s lived with this for years then literally minutes after receiving the flyer, she can’t handle it anymore and leaves her pregnant teenage daughter?? Also, she wrote ‘A’ in the wall in blood before dying? What??? The Waters house — are we to assume that Archie (strange name choice given that they had a Riverdale tie in, but whatever) was developmentally disabled and Rose kept him in a cage as a child and tied him to the bed because she didn’t know what to do with him…or something? And the only reason Archie is ‘A’ is because his dad is taking advantage of his intellectual disability? Or am I reading too much into this? The bed/cage thing…I just really need answers. So, Joe’s death was a staged suicide by principal whatshisname? But what was Joe’s involvement and whose corpse was on the bed? I also have questions about Angela arriving to the rave in such disarray, but that’s so far down the list of plot holes, I guess I’ll just chalk it up to the fight with her mom. I feel like there should have been more backstory with Davie and why she was such a monster in HS. I just have a hard time believing someone that unbelievably cruel would do a total 180. And, lastly, the baby is going to Ezra and Aria *eyeroll*. I was surprised she was still giving the baby up for adoption after spending so much time with her. That would be gutting to say the least. As trash TV goes, I didn’t think this was that bad (until the end) and I guess I’m in the minority thinking that Bailee Madison is a good actress. I kind of enjoyed the series up until this last episode, but they did an atrocious job tying up all the loose ends.

Mouse’s mom said that? I guessed I missed that. That’s…a weird thing to do.

Right?! I felt like a huge part of the conversation was missing. Why did she take her? Is she also the mom or was it another woman’s eggs? Did she take her before or after the birth? Did she make up a lie to get out of the surrogacy or just vanish without a trace? Does her other mom know and, if so, why did she go along with it? Are they all living under false identities? Where’s the other couple now? Would they be more furious that she took their baby or that they unofficially named her Mouse? But most importantly WHY?!?!?!?!

No. Thank. You! Though the finale was a disappointment, the series should stand on its own. A Randall spin-off would be dull and unrelentingly saccharine. And, quite honestly, SKB is so talented, he would be doing himself a disservice not moving on from This is Us.

That was so unsatisfying to watch. When the screen went black after the last shot I thought for sure it would go to commercial. But was sorely disappointed when the credits started rolling. What a letdown! What This Is Us has done best since the pilot is creating symmetrical episodes, tying the past, present, and future together in a beautiful and often unexpected way. They’ve taken small, seemingly insignificant moments and made them matter. It’s like that was the whole message of this episode, yet they ironically couldn’t pull it off for the series finale. I loved the beginning scenes of the swings with all the different families and generations. If only they could have continued that mirroring throughout the episode. I wanted flash forwards. Deja and Baby William. A cap off to Jack Jr. The Big Three continuing to the dreams they talked about on the porch. Weaving together the generations and the stories with a connecting thread that binds it all together. A full circle last moment with the family I’ve become so invested in. I did NOT want a finale shot of Randall (ugh!) looking at Jack. This show at times has, yes, felt like The Randall Show, but to me it was always a show about a family — a mom, a dad, their three kids, their lives, and the legacies they leave behind, both big and small. So, why oh why put most of the focus on one of the kids instead of the ensemble?!? For a show that I truly think has some of the best writing, acting, and casting, that created one of the best pilots of all time, it’s baffling how much they missed the mark on the very last episode.

Oh my gosh, I did not expect that episode to absolutely wreck me, but I was sobbing by the end. Jack would have been so proud and grateful to have Miguel by Rebecca’s side, especially in their old age. What a beautiful example of enduring love. The morning coffee and slippers, the daily routines and still enjoying each other’s company, the patience and selflessness. The part in particular where she started calling out for him the minute he left the room just killed me. Their love story from start to finish felt so believable to me. I could knit pick some character choices (Kevin…), but I don’t want to. What a beautiful and poignant episode!

Sounds like I’m probably in the minority here, but I loved this episode (well what this episode resulted in at least). It helps that Justin Hartley and Alexandra Breckenridge have such great chemistry. I love that Kevin and Sophie found their way back to each other. I love love loved Rebecca’s talk with Sophie — almost an unintentional time traveling moment that gave Sophie the insight she needed. I loved the Valentine and the simple “I’ve always carried you with me, Soph” (instead of a typical Pearson speech). I loved the cheering after the kiss. I loved it all. (Except Randall’s analogy about the Super Bowl merch — what a weird, meandering way to get to “The world is crazy amiright?” I thought he was going somewhere like their losses seemed pointless, but it actually had an even more meaningful purpose after all. It just took some time to get there…or something. Also a reach, but not a total left turn.) We finally get the full Miguel/Rebecca story next week!!!

Sophie saying to Danny “I knew Charlie and MOM would be ok because you were with them” just further confirms what a crappy mom Delilah is. Also, “Oh, hey daughter, I know you’re still recovering from your sexual assault and are also barely an adult, but could you prepare our huge ass house to be sold? K, thanks!” I don’t know why Gina didn’t think to start a food truck eatery before since, you know, she bought a food truck. Does she really want to go into business with this woman? She seems sincere enough, but has proven on multiple occasions to be flaky. I don’t understand at all why Maggie and Gary are going to a fertility specialist. She was told her “goods” were fine, just on a clock. Just try by yourselves for at least 6 months before you spend thousands. Also, they seem a little too chummy with their doctor. So…who’s paying for Tyrell to go to Yale? Rome and Gina, I assume… I thought Anna killing Peter might be a red herring, but why else would she say she was with Eddie in order to secure an alibi? I really hope Eddie isn’t an idiot and lies for her. Just what a recovering alcoholic who just got part-time custody of his son needs.

I’ve always found it laughably unrealistic that characters in TV shows drop everything when their friends go to the hospital. (Like in Friends when Phoebe and Rachel have their babies and everyone goes and literally waits hours upon hours in the waiting room.) Unless it’s my husband or kids, or something life threateningly urgent for someone I’m close to who also wants me there, I’m probably not waiting in the hospital for what is most likely days. Nor would I want anyone to do the same for me. The fact that Maggie and Cam left the party to go sit in the waiting room solely to receive news and then leave is insane. So, now we know Theo is 12 (wuuuuuut???), but he doesn’t know how or when to call 911 and Greta had to instruct him what to do like he’s a 4 year old who just learned his address (fair assumption, Greta). Then there’s Cam — a character so sweet and charming that he made me completely forget about Dick Casablancas. I guess the heart wants what it wants, and Maggie apparently wants Gary over the handsome, wealthy, thoughtful, kid friendly, professional hockey player. And she couldn’t wait one day so she didn’t dump him immediately following the extravagant birthday party he threw her (that he left so she could go to the hospital to NOT see a friend who had a fairly minor accident)? Cut your losses Cam and RUN.

Right?! Regina seemed appalled by her sentencing. I’m no lawyer, but 2.5 years for 15ish stolen credit cards seems…reasonable. 🤷🏼‍♀️

Theo was annoying as ever even in during his brief presence. If I was Katherine I’d be out after my second suggestion. Like “Ok, kid, you’re on your own.” I’m just not buying Katherine’s new found sexuality, I’m sorry. And as if she’s been subconsciously pining for her friend all these years. Also, sorry not sorry, but the idea that Maggie is just now turning 30 shocked me. Like, she’s supposedly been in her late 20s this entire time. Yeah, ok…

Damn, Deja, that was quite the snarky response for someone who got caught in a huge lie. She should probably be counting her lucky stars that her parents reacted the way they did. I truly feel for Kevin. But he should absolutely buy his own house and get partial custody. Am I crazy to think he should buy a huge house for the four of them and they live in separate wings? Kate. Is. Exhausting. I guess she and Philip (still not buying it) can get married and be miserable people together. Toby is trying so hard and nothing is ever good enough. I have a feeling she’s not going to try very hard, or even move to accommodate Toby’s job so they all be together, before deciding that their marriage is over and “has been for a long time.” Though maybe unintentional, I think there’s an interesting paradox that’s shown between how Kate and Rebecca react to Jack and Toby’s parental mistakes. Jack fell asleep in the theater and one of his kids goes missing; Rebecca is calm, understanding and insists that he forgive himself. Toby makes any wrong move and Kate is on his ass about it immediately. I imagine the smoker incident is going to be the ultimate example of how everything is Toby’s fault. As usual, Beth is the real MVP. Agree 100%. I could not stop staring at her shiny hair and glowing skin.

Of course Kate isn’t satisfied by Toby’s incredibly thoughtful gesture of arranging for her to have an entire afternoon to herself and sending a massage therapist TO THE HOUSE. Seems like a pretty grand gesture to me. Philip’s girlfriend was STUN.NING! He was unnecessarily cruel. Still can’t imagine how he and Kate end up together. I just don’t care about Nicky’s storyline at all. I find his presence on the show grating — he’s such a Debbie Downer. Kevin’s hella rich — couldn’t he buy his own place in like 5 seconds? I don’t get why Rebecca was worried about Kevin after the Challenger explosion. Even if he wasn’t “protecting himself” as Jack said, and truly thought that what he saw wasn’t real — that seems like a pretty reasonable thought for a 5-6 year old. Especially considering that he watched it on tv, which is probably usually 99.9% fictional content when he watches it. I’m not old enough to remember the Challenger explosion, but I wondered if it would have the same effect today as it did then, given that with today’s news cycle we’re almost constantly bombarded with tragic stories. (Not that the Challenger wasn’t horrific.) Oh, Randall. Just choose door Beth. Always choose door Beth.