S01.E15: Jack Pearson's Son

[ElectricBoogaloo]

Quote

Kevin stresses about the premiere of his play and receives support from an unexpected source; Randall struggles under the pressure of both his work and ailing father; Rebecca and Jack's Valentine's Day doesn't go as planned; and Toby and Kate learn each other's secrets.

Promo:

[chitowngirl]

Gah!! This show is killing me! 

[photo fox]

"You are de-twinned." Ha!

Love me some Kevin, young and not so young. 

[Spartan Girl]

SHUT. UP. MIGUEL.

You are not entitled to act like the father to your wife's adult children! And you can lament the loss of Jack all you want, but it doesn't change the fact that you didn't waste time moving in on his wife after he died! Dick!

I sure am glad that Kate told off Duke, even though it got her kicked out of camp. Worth it! Also liked her admitting that Aladdin was her first celeb crush. A lady after my own heart...

Yay for Toby for deciding to slow things down with the engagement. Wise move.

My heart sank at the last scene. But I can't blame Jack for being upset. Rebecca's past may have been "nothing" but by not telling Jack about it, she turned "nothing" into "something". Plus, what she implied about Jack being "in her way" was really shitty.

Aww Kevin skipping his big night to help Randall through his panic attack.

God, Jack's death is going to be awful. I know it.

[J0nas3]

At times I was tempted to say "shut up Sloane" just for what the talk was doing to Kevin. 

[Primetimer]

Al Lowe has questions, like who is 'Jack Pearson's Son'?

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[Miss Dee]

Kevin, you A-HOLE, you made me cry! I knew you'd go to Randall, I just knew it.

Thankwhatever gods there are Kate didn't sleep with Horse Dick. I liked her and Toby more than any other episode so far.

And I liked Miguel too! What is happening, show? I loved how he told Kevin he was like Jack. I didn't mind that he was honest with him about their own relationship as well. 

And Saint Jack loses his halo, just in time for Kevin to pick it up.

My heart hurt for Randall in that meeting. That was awful to watch. What an absolute avalanche of disasters to try and deal with. No wonder he snapped.

That brief scene among the three teens was the first time I thought I was looking at the Big Three. Whoever directed this did an amazing job coaxing a performance out of them that was so reminiscent of the adult actors.

Edited February 15, 2017 by Miss Dee

[sadiegirl1999]

I hate Miguel for making me not hate Miguel

[elle]

[quote]I sure am glad that Kate told off Duke, even though it got her kicked out of camp[/quote]
Yay, Kate!

but, boo writers!

[J0nas3]

I was really happy with what they did with Kate's cliffhanger. Even if it got her kicked out of camp, it was so worth it. Shame the camp was so skeevy.

[againstthewind]

Fucking Miguel has been downgraded back to just Miguel. Damn it, show.

[Lamima]

I kind of felt like Toby saying to Kate 'I can't marry you until you can tell me about your dad's death' was manipulative and I didn't like it. I think, though, she will tell him next episode and we will see it as she tells it and I am guessing he crashes on his way home from this episode's burger and stiff drink they show him having.

I love Kevin being there for his brother... that made me cry. I do feel for Randall and know what it's like to have that 'snowball' of crap things happening all at once. Have had a few of those times in my life. That poor guy can't take one more bad thing, so I was glad to see Kevin realize and go to him.

[bettername2come]

Kevin! Good big brother! Bad co-star, but good big brother!

I have no complaints about Toby this episode. I like it.

Are we ever going to get present-day Kevin and Rebecca to speak? Like ever?

[MyAimIsTrue]

I can't handle watching William die and Randall breaking down.  I just can't.

[CleoCaesar]

RIP Kevin's career. He's done.

Sigh...another episode, again we don't find out how Jack died. I'm curious at this point. Next week looks boring as hell.

[TobinAlbers]

Kevin literally seconds away from his big debut running to his brother and finding Randall sobbing on the floor in his office and pulling him into a hug broke me. Sobbing mess. His talk with Miguel actually helped to jump start Kevij into acting and thinking like his dad which allowed his self-involvement/interest to melt away for him to put someone else truly first. Finally, I believe he's growing up.

Well, people were sick of Gary Stu Jack and we saw the cracks big time tonight. He can be jealous and unleash when he can't pent up his feelings anymore and he's returned to drinking. And he had a point in that a lie of omission is still a lie and in her trying to avoid an argument it ballooned into a much bigger thing culminating with her whopper of a line that Jack was in the way of her dreams. That really was a crappy thing to say. Jack has made his share of sacrifices for the family and I doubt he ever saw Becca or the kids as an alabatross. 

Toby's wedding dream at a water park?! I'm in.

William's emotional broken rant about how the things about his body he didn't have to think about now just failing him and his body betraying him...cut to the core.

I felt Kate's inability to even verbalize the circumstances about Jack's accomplished just how hard and devastating it was for the family and her especially and was even meta- she was like the audience in that we don't even want to talk about it yet and aren't ready. But it's coming whether we like it or not.

Teen Randall completely losing it those two times and just crying and staring at the computer screen and Jack having to calm him down...hit close to home. I've been Randall at times and that moment in the meeting where he,integrally just shut down and could only just let the tears fall in front of his colleagues? I couldn't watch it because it hurt too much.

[Kohola3]

Poor Sloane.  What a time for Kevin to do the right thing.  Even though it made me reach for the tissues.

Toby is definitely growing on me. 

[SuzieQ]

Wow!! Lots going on tonight!! Just some random thoughts:

*Loved the Miguel/Kevin scene! We don't know how fast or under what circumstances Miguel got with Rebecca, so I'm holding off on what I think of Miguel, but great scene.

*Kate getting kicked out of camp is weird.  Makes me wonder if she was really kicked out or it was an excuse to leave? Even if his parents own the place, they must know their son is a loser if they are the only ones who will hire him.

*Love, love, love that Kevin ran to help Randall!  There is hope for d-bag Kevin after all!! Really feel bad for the Sloane, that he left her on stage by herself while he was running to meet Randall, though.  She must have wanted to die!

Edited February 15, 2017 by SuzieQ

[sigmaforce86]

Dammit Miguel don't try and make me like you.

Kate getting kicked out of the camp bothered more than fiction should...kept thinking sexual harassment, blast them on social media/review sites and demand refund...she's to passive and nice when she's treated badly

Toby:. Tell my about your fathers death.   And even knowing the writers said we won't find out for awhile several million people sat straight up from their couches screaming this is it!

Surprised Randell didn't call Kate to help with the house and the girls even if he is still a little mad at her.  That  last scene with Kevin though.....wow, just wow.

[Neurochick]

I don't get the Miguel hate.  I really don't.  He married Rebecca after Jack died.  What's wrong with that.

[stonehaven]

Yeah this episode had the moments for sure...and the end had me weepy...

I think the best part was during William's speech about his body shutting down was the subtle way Randall tried to steady his own hands.

Fantastic episode all around....

[msani19]

I didn't cry this week.

Glad Kate told Horse Jackass to stick it. So because his family owns the place he feels he's entitled to act any way he wants and to have anything he wants? The way he said took you long enough when he opened the door made me SO angry. He's even more of a POS than I was thinking last week. Gross. He's a loser.

Randall was hanging by a literal thread the whole episode, it was sitting there so heavily and in every scene, I was holding my breathe thinking is this the breaking point. Kevin running through the streets to Randall...ok, I didn't cry but I loved the power of the sibling-hood. He knew and he knew he needed to be there for his brother more than he needed his brother to be at his play. Way to change who I thought you were from the beginning! 

The drinking is what is going to knock the halo off Perfect Jack. It did suck for him the way Ben smugly slipped in the part about him and Rebecca dating, I feel like that was an intentional dick move, whether or not he was aware of what Jack knew. He wanted to plant that seed in Jack's head. Then add in Rebecca's comment about him being in her way. Lord woman. My shallow comment is the way Mandy Moore moves her mouth when she talks irritates the crap outta me! I can't look at her when she speaks. Anyway, that was a shitty thing to say. Doesn't excuse Jack picking up a drink though.

[betweenthebanter]

This was a great episode. The Kevin and Randall stuff at the end was so great and my heart breaks for William and Randall.

I'm glad what they did with Jack this episode.  Most of the time I wasn't as bothered as many were by "Perfect Jack", because I figured that his flaws would be shown eventually and I have still enjoyed most of  his scenes anyways,  but I'm glad that more of his flaws were on display tonight.

I thought Miguel was mostly great this episode, in flashbacks and present day. I loved seeing his friendship with Jack and hearing what he meant to him. I also was endeared when him wanted to be called "Big M" when he sent that drink over to the woman at the bar. One thing that kind of bothered me about the Kevin and Miguel scene, which was otherwise great, is that I didn't like Miguel bringing up the fact that Kevin doesn't like him. It felt sort of guilt trippy imo, which is especially bad to do when Kevin is already freaking out about his play.

[Ryan Chamberlain]

I don't get the hate for Miggy (I call him that on Twitter.  LOL) either. I think it's possible that maybe Jack died of a disease and maybe told Miguel to be there for Becky. And, while he was helping her cope with Jack's death. They fell for each other.

 

Either that or Jack died in an accident and Miguel and Becky coped together and fell that way...who knows. I just like Miggy.

[Amethyst]

That last scene was the bonding stuff that I've been wanting from the Big 3 all season.  Kevin sacrificing his big night to finally help his brother was so touching.  The detached tone in Randall's voice must have given it away.  But poor Sloane, up on stage by herself!

Warming up to Miguel.  You could tell it meant the world to Kevin to hear that he resembles his father, since he was such a hero to his kids.  But jeez, the aging makeup on these actors is terrible.  

Poor Randall is cracking.  I damn near cried myself when he started crying at his meeting.  I was just glad he didn't have a total breakdown in front of his coworkers.  Some spot on acting by SKB, as usual.  

The Sophie stuff doesn't work for me, though.  I don't dislike her, it just feels like all tell and no show.  Given their history, not surprising that Sophie knows a lot about the Pearsons, but that doesn't mean she and Kevin have any chemistry, and the whole relationship feels forced.  He still works better with Sloane, although that ship has sailed.

While it seems like Jack was alcoholic, they've barely shown him drinking at all, so his relapse is a bit hard to swallow, no pun intended.  

Does this mean the end of the Horse's ass?  Cheers to Kate for standing up for herself, even it means getting kicked out.

[Lady Calypso]

Good job, show. You showed Horse Dick the back door and didn't go through with any romance. It's good to know that Horse Dick was meant to be just that and nothing more. 

I thought that the title of this episode could apply to Kevin, but the way that it was handled was very well done. I have to applaud the show for Miguel coming through. I was ok with it, because Miguel was Jack's friend and the speech he gave Kevin was well done. Plus, you know, I didn't notice that Kevin and Jack have a lot of similarities, with their big gestures and whatnot. I think that us finally getting Jack being talked about in the present has helped each character in their own way. Good for Kevin, though, for doing the right thing. He saw and heard Randall breaking down and recognizing the signs, and then knowing what Jack would have done, he ran to his brother. It does suck for Sloane and I wish he said that he had to go before she went up onstage, though. It would have been considerate, but it's perfectly in character for Kevin. Hopefully, the play is still salvageable, although I predict a hit in Kevin's career because of it. Nobody wants a guy who's going to run out on performances. 

As for Randall, it does break my heart to see him going through all of this. He's clearly not adjusting and at least he has Kevin by his side now to get him through it. 

Good job, Toby. I've been thinking about how quick their engagement has been since they only met on August 31st and now it's around February and they are already planning a summer wedding. I'm glad Toby recognized that they need to take their time with the wedding planning and just get to know each other. And he is right; how can they be married if they can't talk to each other about the deep stuff? I think after Toby opened up about his depression, something that has clearly affected him, he just wanted her to do the same. Once he realized that she couldn't open up, he respected it but saw that if they got married without being able to really talk and know each other, then that could end up worse for them. Going back to his insecurities about his other marriage and about his parents' divorce, I could see this playing a factor in Toby wanting to take some time. 

Especially since we know Jack's been dead since their teenage/very young adult years, so it's been well over a decade and she still can't talk about it without crying. But I guess it's almost confirmation that Jack's death was most likely sudden, since Kate hasn't moved on very well and seems very affected by it. 

So, we are starting to see cracks in Jack's personality. Sure, Kate might have been wrong in not telling Jack about Ben being her ex, and she was wrong to tell him that he's in her way, but she heavily implied that he has some serious jealous issues, and we know that his drinking is a problem still. I knew he was going to end up drinking by the end when his drinking was brought up earlier in the episode. I just worry that this is going to be Jack's Last Night, and we're getting a taste of him possibly getting himself in a car crash. I could see them doing this for the finale, revisiting this scene. We could even see his Last Conversations with his kids. 

Either way, I do know couples can get into fights and say some pretty bad things in the heat of the moment. I put fault in Rebecca for saying it, just like I put Jack at fault for slipping. Both are human and both still love each other, but it's the fight that really riled things up and if they get the chance to make up, then they'll be just fine. They may be handling this like a TV show, but the context of the situation is pretty realistic. 

[movingtargetgal]

I really wanted Kate to get angry by the way she was treated by Duke and his parents, the camp owners.  The camp is a therapeutic treatment center and to have their clients being sexually harassed and maybe assaulted by the owner's pervy son is BEYOND gross.  It is criminal. Kate should call her doctor's office to let them know about what is going on at the "therapeutic center" to which they are sending their patients.  She then needs to get herself a kick ass lawyer to help her file criminal and civil charges against Duke and his parents.   

[voiceover]

Wow, I thought I loved the child-triplet incarnation the most.  But now I sense what's coming: slavish devotion to the Teen Gang ("de-twinned" belongs in Webster's).

Randall & the phone call about William's nurse!  Dude.  I am living that this week (Not exactly that, but that category of Parent/Adult child relations).  My spontaneous reax? "Aw, William, fuck you!"  Because in your head, that's often the response.  Immediately smothered by guilt.

Shallow complaint: Is there a reason we couldn't have a wider shot on Sterling in the shower?  I mean, come. ON!  At least from the waist up...

[Neurochick]

I don't fault Rebecca.  Women are not allowed to put themselves first, even if they aren't married with children.  All she wanted was to do something for herself independent of Jack and the kids.

[Crs97]

Loved Miguel.  Jack, when you tell your wife you won't allow her to do her job, you are now classified as "in her way."  Did Jack tell Rebecca about the secretary flirting with him?  The halo has fallen.

[HeyThere83]

3 minutes ago, Crs97 said:

Loved Miguel.  Jack, when you tell your wife you won't allow her to do her job, you are now classified as "in her way."  Did Jack tell Rebecca about the secretary flirting with him?  The halo has fallen.

It will probably turn into the story of how Rebecca is to blame for his death or something. Now she will have to feel guilty.

[HeyThere83]

10 minutes ago, Neurochick said:

I don't fault Rebecca.  Women are not allowed to put themselves first, even if they aren't married with children.  All she wanted was to do something for herself independent of Jack and the kids.

I don't understand why it's always wrong for a woman to want this, when it's usually, or probably mostly always the other way around.

[ShadowFacts]

My head is a little spinny.  Poor Randall.  Caring and selfless but self-sabotaging Kevin.  Nice Miguel.  Nice Toby.  Loved the unceremonious end to Duke (I wasted way too many keystrokes on him previously).  But the biggest kicker is jealous, possessive Jack.  Did not see that coming.  Drinking has been telegraphed, but not that unhinged stuff before he even went off the wagon. 

[Crs97]

I've said before that for some reason the writers require that Rebecca must always be wrong.  I try to remember that at the beginning of each episode. . .

I actually thought Kevin was a jerk for leaving Sloane in the lurch.  You say something before the show starts.  It really undercut the "Kevin is such a great guy-just like his dad" moment with Randall.

I liked Sanjay.  I thought his stepping in was more helping Randall than trying to look good.

[Miss Dee]

That was Jack's Dad coming out to play. Saw it with my own dad - he is an awesomely wonderful dad about 97% of the time...the other 3% was a toned-down version of my grandfather who couldbe a real mean sunuvabitch. 

[HeyThere83]

1 minute ago, Crs97 said:

I've said before that for some reason the writers require that Rebecca must always be wrong.  I try to remember that at the beginning of each episode. . .

I actually thought Kevin was a jerk for leaving Sloane in the lurch.  You say something before the show starts.  It really undercut the "Kevin is such a great guy-just like his dad" moment with Randall.

I liked Sanjay.  I thought his stepping in was more helping Randall than trying to look good.

They couldn't even give the flaw of jealous Jack without Rebecca having dated the guy previously. Gotta give justification somehow I guess while at the same time putting blame at Rebecca's feet. It just reinforces the belief that women can never ever even think about themselves without being considered a selfish jerk not deserving of a family. The rare times a man takes the usual position of a woman, he is the greatest man ever to exist and deserves thousands of medals. Whereas women who do it every. single. day can barely get a thank you.

[voiceover]

Just the way Kevin said: "Randall!"  when he saw his brother.  I burst into tears.

But I knew he had it in him.  Check the Ep 1 thread.  I've always liked Kevin.

[KaveDweller]

3 minutes ago, Crs97 said:

I've said before that for some reason the writers require that Rebecca must always be wrong.  I try to remember that at the beginning of each episode. . .

I actually thought Kevin was a jerk for leaving Sloane in the lurch.  You say something before the show starts.  It really undercut the "Kevin is such a great guy-just like his dad" moment with Randall.

I agree, I thought I was going to be the only one to think that. I get that he was taking care of his brother, but people were counting on him to perform and he could have at least said something. And not to sound totally insensitive, but Randall would have been fine for a couple more hours. He basically sabotaged Sloane's shot at having her play produced, made her look bad on stage, and probably hurt other people involved in the play too.  I'm probably supposed to think it's sweet that Kevin cared about Randall more than all that, and that he didn't care about the money, but I couldn't help but think about all that. At least announce you have to delay. I guess I'm a terrible person.

I also thought Randall shouldn't have called Kevin right before he went on stage to say he wouldn't be there. There's no reason to mess with his head like that at that point. I get that Randall is falling apart and didn't do it intentionally, but I was cringing during the phone call, I knew it was going to ruin the play.

[mtlchick]

More thoughts in the morning but find for now it's simply: if Sterling does not submit this for the Emmys, he's insane.

[balmz]

decent episode

 

nice to see jack as less of an annoying gary stu, we see the cracks appear, one thing though from what we have seen it's jack who has made sacrifice after sacrifice not rebecca 

great to see kate call out duke, i hope though someone does something about duke like sue the place because this behavior is not acceptable and i want to see him punished for it, hope the show doesn't forget about this

i remember people speculated duke might practice bestiality on the side with the horses, well if nothing else if he does maybe something will go wrong and the horse will kill him and that will be the end of him

i don't get why randall can't use his vacation days to take care of his father or take a leave of absence or something, also why couldn't kevin help out?

felt bad for toby, having had depression and been suicidal since i was young i can relate, was suicidal when i was in grade 3 and wanted to jump out a window

[HeyThere83]

Jack making the sacrifices.....well, he is the one that reaaaaallllllyyyyy wanted those kids before Rebecca got on board.

[Crs97]

And Rebecca didn't go back on stage until her children were teenagers so she sacrificed her entire career for over a decade

[Cardie]

25 minutes ago, Crs97 said:

I actually thought Kevin was a jerk for leaving Sloane in the lurch.  You say something before the show starts.  It really undercut the "Kevin is such a great guy-just like his dad" moment with Randall.

I agree. The run to comfort Randall (what, no Uber?) was dramatically and emotionally satisfying but Kevin didn't have to screw Sloane and everyone else who is working on the play. He could have had one of the crew find out where his family was sitting and tell them the situation, so that Kate or Rebecca could rush to Randall.

Gosh, if everyone who tells off Duke gets booted from the camp by his parental enablers, the place would be empty. Kudos to everyone who guessed he must be the son of the owners but the whole camp storyline was sort of dumb. I did for once like Toby and Kate together as Toby finally turns it down a notch.

Either there will be a heart-breaking number of months or years when Jack dives into a bottle and everything falls apart or he will die suddenly a few days after this rupture. I suspect the latter or the kids would not still idolize him as they do.

[movingtargetgal]

12 minutes ago, hovegeta said:

i remember people speculated duke might practice bestiality on the side with the horses, well if nothing else if he does maybe something will go wrong and the horse will kill him and that will be the end of him

 

I had not read that particular theory but now that I think about it......it does seem like something Duke would do. Now I need to go into the kitchen, get a paper towel and wipe off the A&W Root Beer from my computer screen.  I should know better than to drink while hanging out with my fellow snarkers. :)

[ohjoy]

Having established that this show is all about the grand gestures that sometimes defy simple logic -- the ending was exactly what I expected out of Kevin, from the moment Miguel told him to just think about what Jack would do. It was beautiful and emotionally satisfying -- if not logicslly satisfying, since Sloane got screwed in the process. (I just kept thinking, if only he had decided to bail before getting in position behind Sloane! She wouldn't have stepped out on stage by herself, and at least there would have been a chance to blame "technical difficulties" instead of her being stranded on stage by herself with the lights up.)

That being said, I love Kevin being there for Randall when he never has before. It hurt to see Randall break down over the course of the episode, even though SKB was killing it. Plus Toby was wise in backing off a bit from the "let's get hitched right way even though we both clearly have issues we've not dealt with and maybe haven't fully learned how to communicate through said issues yet" plan. (What? That's my interpretation of that scene. Just let me have this.) And I even liked Miguel! Will wonders never cease.

[luna1122]

Ugh, this show. It's so good, but it SO FUCKING HEAVY HANDED. of course, randall would have a breakdown just before Kevin is making his stage debut. Of course he'd call Kevin. Of course Kevin, instead of texting Rebecca or Kate, sitting out in the audience, to please go to Randall, NOW...no, of course, he had to ditch his play and leave Sloane and everyone else involved in the production in a really awkward, costly, career-destroying lurch, to go be with Randall, because that's what Jack-the-Perfect would have done. And of course it was touching, seeing him comfort Randall. But jeezus, show. A little subtlety is a good thing.

I like the teen Big 3. Great casting.

Poor Randall. Poor William. God, this show is depressing.

Kudos to Kate for telling off fat crybaby Horse Dick but I agree she has a lawsuit on her hands if she was truly kicked out of a camp she'd paid for because the sexually harassing son of the owners told them to toss her. WTF? And, hey, Toby: horse dick is not remotely Jared Leto.

I liked Miguel tonight, and still have no clue why people hate him, except that he's not perfect, hot Jack. Also, I agree: Jeff Goldblum is really something.

And perfect Hot Jack is drinking again. He'd better not die in a drunken car crash after he and Rebecca fought, but I wouldn't put it past this show.

[Artsda]

OMG I loved Kevin running down the street to Randall and pulling him in his arms. He came so far from the jealous teen brother who ignored Randal's tears. 

Holy moly he bailed on his big opening night though. That's going to be hard to explain.

Duke can just kick out paying people at the camp? How does that place stay in business? 

[biakbiak]

2 minutes ago, Artsda said:

Duke can just kick out paying people at the camp? How does that place stay in business? 

Seriously, I can only imagine the angry Yelp reviews.

[Guest]

5 minutes ago, luna1122 said:

Ugh, this show. It's so good, but it SO FUCKING HEAVY HANDED. of course, randall would have a breakdown just before Kevin is making his stage debut. Of course he'd call Kevin. Of course Kevin, instead of texting Rebecca or Kate, sitting out in the audience, to please go to Randall, NOW...no, of course, he had to ditch his play and leave Sloane and everyone else involved in the production in a really awkward, costly, career-destroying lurch, to go be with Randall, because that's what Jack-the-Perfect would have done. And of course it was touching, seeing him comfort Randall. But jeezus, show. A little subtlety is a good thing.

 

I agree. It was great to see him be there for his brother but so contrived that he would have to give up everything he's been working for to do so. That he would let Sloane down AGAIN in such a huge way!

I like Toby, but he really sucks at picking up on Kate's non-verbal clues. I liked their plot tonight though. If Horse Dick acts like that on the regular, I have to think the camp would have so many negative reviews it would not be in business.

[KaveDweller]

3 minutes ago, biakbiak said:

Seriously, I can only imagine the angry Yelp reviews.

He didn't just kick out a paying customer, he kicked out a paying customer he'd been sexually harassing. WTF?