debraran

I had to be my kids biggest advocate (guidance was so-so at best) but I wonder where that is in this show? Rebecca admitted that she didn't know very much about college applications but that is part of her job as a parent. You don't just count on guidance counselors or for your kid to magically get in and scholarships. They obviously thought that Kevin was going to get picked up somewhere and Randall was a bright kid, but that means Kate should have been more on the radar. Even without Internet, you should have been writing or visiting before now. I know parents today who aren't very interested in the process but these two seemed to be very involved in their children. I love this family but so many gaps in their lives.

Yes, they didn't seem to have any real chemistry and the "he'll do what I want" was a bit overdone. I thought it they didn't get a garage, it would be rotten but they got a nice place. Seems to be a trend lately, couples who barely know each other getting married and going on HHI. lol

No season 3 to find out!!! lol They said season 2, I think it will be the end of the season, the funeral and season 3 will be the aftermath. From Fogleman: “You’ve seen a lot of pieces — this was always the plan for the Big Three,” said Fogelman. “We had talked about the fire and what happened from day 1 of starting. This has always been the plan. You’re seeing a lot of things that are going to reveal themselves over the course of the season… The writers have sat and analyzed every bit of minutiae. A lot of the little things are going to come into play over the course of this season. All the answers about how Jack died, it’s all going to happen this season.” I'll take him at his word. : )

I think so too. Randall wasn't there and he was like "how bad was it " in a look because he missed the MRI talk Jack had with Kevin. I don't think anything was hidden, Jack was pretty upfront with Kevin, "you'll find your purpose". They might have been comforting each other, but nothing was really hidden. I still feel Kate was a little jealous of having seen that closeness although Jack and Rebecca never were not demonstrative with their kids and themselves. My Mom was but not my Dad, if I saw that, it would make me stare, but growing up with Jack as my Dad, it would seem normal to show emotion.

Yes, but some places said the baby had to be baptized to have a Catholic funeral. They could have a blessing. I just feel like miscarriage,especially when you go full term, is given a brush off in some ways. Kyle was delivered with the other 2, it just seemed odd to me as a Mom that he was left there and not honored in some way.

Randall was there too, I saw him! : )

Because Yes, and most mom's of twins, need a third child more than anyone else. I understand the heart string pull but it did suspend reality a bit. I'm glad they at least made her a little hesitant and that she had to mourn Kyle. If he was born, I don't know if he ever took a breath, but a picture, a burial, something. She knew them all for 9 months, I find it hard to absorb that as a mom with twins, except that Randall was inserted and then it would seem like he was a replacement and she never wanted him to feel that way.

I"m glad others were a bit let down in Kate's background being kind of lame. Maybe in Randall's story, it will elaborate more (or we will see more dog peeing) but it seemed like the writers couldn't think of anything and they had a large empty slate. They alluded to Kate gaining a lot of weight after Jack died and it being her balm on the show and in interviews. I still have a problem with 20 years of that without help. She is being depicted as a normal size 12, maybe 14, at 17. When they show Chrissy in her 20's, she is much, much larger. She also never seemed to have any friends (unless I missed that) Maybe she refused help but I'm interested in how they are going to write this missing part. She is more than her weight but they pretty much show her singing or eating and I'm glad in this past show, you got to see her acting like an adult and having forgiveness for her Mom and hopefully herself. I feel there is a lot of explaining to do with her and how her family treated her or helped each other and I hope we see that soon.

I remember those hormones when I was carrying twins. My husband and I laugh at a conversation I never would have had with a cop that was so "not me". I think that the onions were also in a way, Kyle, "they are coming home with me, I'm not leaving without them, they are mine" In real life, only a cold hearted person wouldn't have given her some especially with 3 babies or a manager wouldn't have looked for some, so I just thought it had other meaning than she wanted to make Jack a good meal. It was after that, they talked. So odd how you have a full term baby, don't hold it, take it home, I never understood that. A Catholic, a priest told me that years ago, the baby had to take a breath after birth to be buried. I was aghast and hope that's not true since the respect of the unborn they always talk about doesn't jive with that. I think it's different now because I see a change in people I've known who had late miscarriages or stillborn vs 20 years ago.

I saw that too but she always saw her parents love each other in many ways. It wasn't like that was a new thing, someone who was never demonstrative. Maybe more that it was serious but again, they did talk to Kevin last week about not being able to play, "even at Pitt" as he begged. He knew that as they left and Jack had given him his necklace. I thought Kevin's show was much more in depth than Kate's. Again it was about her singing, hiding things from Mom, being a surly teen, but what were his aspirations beyond singing? What did she like to do, hobbies, friends, etc.

Kate seemed jealous of the hug, made me a little uncomfortable. They have her relationship at that age, be very close, almost too close to Jack.

I just thought 20 years being so close and celebrating holiday's together, birthday's, watching Kate eat her pain(according to story) and all the other symptoms would be so apparent. I don't know if Beth would havve kept narcotics in the house after William, but that is a good idea. Justin Heartly did say that he doesn't get to tell him and pushes it down further. That got me upset, it so contrived, I like how the show is usually original. To have him fall hard and then reach out to Randall, only to have Kate's issue derail it, seemed contrived. If he lets Kevin talk about it and then Kevin starts to cry and he realizes something else is up, that's better to me. But the writers will get to it in their own way. He said maybe it will be a circle from him helping Randall when he broke down. They can't show old conversations about his death between Rebecca and the kids because that might reveal too much. It's like that part of their lives is just cut out. I'm not sure why how Jack died became so important, we always knew he was dead in season one. Was therapy for kids just not done in that era? I remember people telling me they needed a lot of therapy after a death but different cultures and age groups sometimes discounted it.

That could be true but usually doctor's put those in an office at home or at work. To have so many in a personal place like a bedroom make me think they were related to her.

Zack Giffin is trying to help a lot with vets and I think that work is so much more important than making homes for people who want to be on TV and have it for sale within months on tiny house listings. It is very good for your soul and well being to be in a home, no matter how small. One guy they made a home that had calming colors and was quiet since loud noises startled him, he was so grateful, not being able to work after coming home from Afghanistan.

My friend has 700 sq feet foundation home with shed and crawl space. It's nice, 2 bedroom and fine for her and her cat or if her sister moves in later. There are many cottages and small homes that are wonderful, but "on wheels" is usually not legal, has so many more safety issues in general, (not to mention in storms)and they have bad resale value. I understand with the lack of codes for safety why some towns don't like them. You can have a fire or other issue that effects those around you. I've seen contractors comment on seeing videos of homes where the heat source seemed very unsafe, the lack of exits, the lack of fresh air up in the lofts or the home. If you like that way of living, fine, but look into it very hard before plunking down 50,000 or more for something that may not be able to be insured, sold or taken with you many places.

I had fraternal twins and they are like most fraternal twins, 2 different people that were born at the same time. Subtle kidding about who was first (in my case the smaller came first instead of the larger) is done occasionally but birth order for twins is not relevant, so I agree with you. I've seen a lot of families ignore things over the years but I still feel 20 years, is a long time to have made little progress in working through your dad's death. At least Rebecca remarried (to her kids chagrin) and moved on but they seem stuck, Randall the least, but Kevin and Kate, in so many ways. Kevin might have hid some of his angst in his work and relationships (or lack of them) but seeing Kate go from a pretty healthy teen to how they portray Kate in her 20's, that much pain and anger and self-hatred should have been addressed. Maybe it was and she pushed people away but Kevin knew she sat in the car eating junk food, maybe that was just on the same day that he died, but she had bad habits and couldn't deal with the trauma. I suppose as adults, sometimes we can only watch others and not help but I hope they tried. The "I hid my alcoholism" usually doesn't happen very well unless you are a working alcoholic and even then it smells. My friend said to me once, my husband thinks he is hiding it, but I see the cans he threw away, I see him take out the trash on occasion without asking, being late home , no mention of a beer but I smell it. The mouthwash smell, the shakiness when we don't have drinks or we are on vacation. I'm not saying it can't be done, but you usually aren't that much in the dark.

That was the weakest link in the show, the doc and almost as painful as watching him. That said though, people ignored and helped so many stars like Elvis and Michael, the list is so long and didn't care how they acted. Do you think the woman with Elvis when he died didn't see how bad he was? Everyone has a reason to ignore but when a doctor does it, it is on a different level of responsibility. And her "you came back and pointed at me" made me wince, have some self respect. I never understood the insane adoration for someone that you would put yourself lower than they are. Respecting them as an adult is one thing, going crazy is another.

I thought Randall looked very stiff, almost like he didn't like saying the line, not because of what he said, it was just flat. I can't imagine Randall thinking he knew before Kevin but why would Kevin be breaking the news to Randall? Lazy writing there, it just didn't feel right but they were centered on the other painful monologues with Kevin. Justin said he wouldn't say anything and I just groaned, he mentioned "pushing it down further" and I thought, it was not natural to me, but it's the writers call. He said maybe they'd have Randall comforting him later in the year, like he did for him.

http://www.etonline.com/tv/201817_this_is_us_reveals_new_clues_on_when_jack_died It is a very sad conversation, forgotten with so much going on I think. So I feel, the fire and his death, just not what people think.

Yes, we shouldn't be too attached to items but since he threw out mementos (before the fire) like his airplanes, that was sentimental. My dads dresser which held his old photo albums sits in my room and I still have his albums and tool box. My brother has his wedding ring. Expensive things you lock up, loving and sentimental things you want to look at or feel and cherish. If you lose it someway, it's hurtful but locking it up is like not having it at all. I thought he was moved, he seemed to see his dad vulnerable which is hard, in a different way than drinking. He was asking God to help him, and maybe he blamed himself for pushing him. When he went to write the letter, it was hard for him, but he did it for his Dad, not for himself. That's why he wanted to tell him about it in the hospital, "It was a good letter". I had to explain to my kids at times, that Mom was human, that I had needs and wants and although I'd do anything for them, I had to take care of me too, so I'd be whole for them. It's hard to see your parents broken but Jack was trying, to say as Kevin did, "hide the notebook" Jack used for AA, (like the coach would read it) just showed how embarrassed he was of this weakness and later of his own.

That's the one thing that has made some of my coworkers stop watching or just watch it later in the year. The first year it was fun and the "death" was known and it wasn't a big deal. I guess we were lead to believe it would happen at the end, probably the car, but then it didn't and it began this long Clue game. The producer would read responses and say he hadn't seen it yet, fueling more speculation. For pete's sake if, it wasn't on any Internet site, I will be surprised, but who knows. Why that became important, hurt the show a bit. The development of the characters was overshadowed by directors saying to look for clues, Mandy saying to watch out for this, don't miss that. The show is about them, not us rewinding to see what was on a table or (and I did this) looking at a bag by her side with a magnifying glass. I decided whether he dies by smoke, fire, alcohol, car, construction accident, it doesn't matter. It will be a relief to see if the show can get back to the magic of the first year and really getting to know the 3 of them and others they encounter.

Yes, it did sound like an afterthought. Poor Kate. I guess they felt sports would help pay for Kevin, grades for Randall but poor Kate was caught in the middle, maybe will be an average student clouded by her brother's. I hope we learn more about her, now its all weight issues, more weight issues and " I killed my Dad issues" When you think about it, for 20 years they all have not talked this out with anyone. For 20 years it has stagnated over 20 Thanksgivings and Christmas and Mother's and Father's day. Does anyone else think it's odd that it's this bad, so much later?

I thought it was odd that Kevin didn't have this experience with drugs when he broke his leg the first time. You don't go through a bone break like that with nothing. His dad was ill then with alcohol but maybe they will show more of that later. His reaction was like many addicts who are trying to stay sober. I know a guy who wont get dental work or other surgery just to not relapse again. The fear of the drug was because he knew what would happen. If the doctors know ahead of time, they get you help but it's hard to keep doing it I'm sure. It just doesn't seem true to life, the really fast addiction and not asking for help. He doesn't even go to a doctor and ask for another, he calls, you need to be seen. Other drugs that aren't as addicting, are usually offered before the denial. I see it daily in an Ortho office. I hope Kate's show is more of her younger. I understand the miscarriage is painful but except for a spoiled and slightly heavy childhood, we don't know much about her as a person. What did she like to do, what did she want to be as an adult, why was college for her, an afterthought, what kind of student was she? Kate is always the heavy one, spoiled by her dad, but kind of a one dimensional character. I struggle to like her at times because of her negativity so I hope next week highlights the younger, more fun Kate.

They never mention "Ivy league" on things like that. I wonder if he couldn't do it with his dad dying or wanted to be closer to home, but he could have accepted a year later. Not that important now but a piece of his mental health at the time. I thought it was odd that Kate was told "to make a list' by her Mom but it was almost an afterthought. Kevin was the sport star, Randall was the "genius" but how was Kate in school? I guess if average or above average, it might get muted with 2 other siblings going at the same time. I don't think she ever goes though.

I think a show on just one kid and it's pretty much all dark, isn't really a glimpse into their lives. And I ask again, where is the levity the producer promised in season 2?? Quote: “It’s going to be a heavy ride, filled with equal parts comedy and sadness. And some really heavy, devastating stuff,” Fogelman said. Something tells me Kate's show next week will not be cherry. If Kevin visits her and she still doesn't notice something is wrong with her twin, it will get harder to believe. Justin gave a good performance but it was too much for one show, he was going through withdrawal the entire show so it seemed overdone although it was over weeks. If no one felt bad he broke his leg, he lost his scholarship, he lost his dad's necklace too and almost committed a felony! The only thing he said that was new was he reminded us that he was "better" when his dad died, so again i wonder if he got hurt later or he died later. Producer always said "not directly" caused by fire but it was the fire that caused his death. I thought it was funny the way they hid the burnt out house, which made me wonder if the numbers were a mistake or just to show the home changed numbers later. They had the shell at a different set and used code words for "fire" until it was done. A bit much but they didn't want leaks. Mandy said she hoped the fans weren't getting caught up in how Jack dies instead of catching other nuances about the characters but I think it has been written that way. They made it a clue game. She said, "One thing that I won’t leave hanging in mystery: This clue won’t prove to be a bust or a cop-out. “Nobody’s pulling the rug out from anybody,” she says; “This [sequence contains] the reason that he passed away. But how the fire started, were they in the house? All of that remains to be seen and will be answered slowly as the season trickles along.” (She advises you to start thinking about why Rebecca is wearing a Steelers jersey, but is tight-lipped on why the possessions in the back seat — seemingly Jack’s? — were not burned.) Just don't make is suicide. That darkness would be too much, I can't see it going there yet, the hero is more their style, but when you are struggling with staying sober, a fire is a big stress. In the episode "Jack Pearson's Son," Toby asks Kate to discuss Jack's death with him, because while he knows how he died, he doesn't know the specifics. Kate completely clams up, even stating that she can't "get the words out." So I guess Toby knows but not exactly. I knew someone who had their dad commit suicide and she couldn't say it for years.