S02.E13: That'll Be the Day

[Sandman]

56 minutes ago, catrox14 said:

She said "I don't want to start a fire in the apt". 

I said "It's good that you checked on it"...thinking about this episode.

I would have been absolutely unable to resist asking if she watched This Is Us, too.

[catrox14]

7 minutes ago, Sandman said:

I would have been absolutely unable to resist asking if she watched This Is Us, too.

I did start to say. "I was watching this show last night...then I stopped myself because I didn't want to scare her :(.

[Sandman]

See? You do have more self-control than I... ;)

[momma2seven]

Kate and Randall are definitely in different clothes in the Miguel's couch scene than in the fire scene. I have no idea what that means but it's interesting. No way everyone took the time to get dressed while the house was burning.

[catrox14]

3 minutes ago, Sandman said:

See? You do have more self-control than I... ;)

LOL it was more like ....oh crap this is not a thing to tell her...LOL

[Mountainair]

I leave my Crock Pot on all the time when I'm not home. It's only about five years old and all the buttons on it work so I've never given it a second thought. I have occasionally used it to cook food over night and won't stop doing that either. It's actually been a weird 24 hours with smoke alarms in my house. Yesterday morning the hall smoke alarm started beeping so I took the batteries out and did not have a replacement so I left it unhooked. Then I watched This is Us and could not get to sleep. We literally have a smoke detector in every room, entry way and hallway in our house so losing this one temporarily was not a big deal but still......(My husband bought a new one tonight and all is good now). Later today I was making dinner and a small amount of burned bits on the bottom of the stove made a little smoke in the kitchen and the kids smoke alarm down the hall was going off like mad. The alarms work well. 

The Pearson's should have never kept that crock pot. I'm not sure if I can watch next week or not. I don't need to actually see Jack die to know that he died. It might be a bit much to fall asleep right after for my racing mind. 

As an aside.... twice a year we do random fire drills with the kids. They have to go out the window and wait at our "safe" spot. Seeing the kitchen on fire like that scares the crap out of me since we have two kids on one side of the house and another one upstairs. 

[biakbiak]

3 hours ago, CPMOMMM said:

OK so help me understand. The elderly man and the crockpot at the beginning of the episode 13 I thought that was the same man at the door during episode 8 when Kevin went back to see the house he grew up in and the man came out if the house and the house number said 1646 and then when  the man  went back in the house number. was 1920.  It looks like the same man ~ but doesn't make sense since Rebecca was pregnant when the man gave her the crockpot. Any thoughts?

Jack bought the house when they she was pregnant and they moved in before the babies were born. When they answer the door you can see plastic sheeting up in the background and Rebecca looked like she had been painting. 

[chocolatine]

13 hours ago, momma2seven said:

Kate and Randall are definitely in different clothes in the Miguel's couch scene than in the fire scene. I have no idea what that means but it's interesting. No way everyone took the time to get dressed while the house was burning.

I noticed that too, and also, Rebecca was already asleep and wearing a slip/nightie when the fire started, not the Steelers jersey. That came off when she and Jack had sex earlier that evening, then she went downstairs in her dressing gown, started putting away the food, got the call from Kevin, abandoned the food, and went back upstairs. I guess if she dropped the jersey next to the bed earlier and didn't put it away, she could have grabbed it on her way out, but with the fire having spread so much already, anything she was wearing when she got out would have gotten singed or at least gotten soot on it.

Edited January 25, 2018 by chocolatine

[DebbieM4]

16 hours ago, Blakeston said:

I have to wonder if Jack ends up jumping from the top floor. I don't see the writers letting him die without communicating some extra-poignant last words to his family. Maybe he goes back into the burning house to find the dog (who isn't actually inside), and winds up on the second story, and calls out his final goodbyes to his family members on the ground before he has to jump. And then he dies either from the fall, or from smoke exhalation.

I agree. Her name being checked off suggests that she only decided to give the necklace back once he made his amends to her. (Unless she just happened to find it around the time that he made his amends, which seems unlikely.)

She knew fully well that the necklace was his only memento of his dead father. You don't withhold something like that, no matter how hurt you were that the person ditched you.

That really bothered me.  At first I thought it was wonderful she had returned it to him, but then we found out that he had reached out to her first.  She should have returned it without him having to do that.  I more than understand why she didn't give it to him that night (although I would have - I would have thrown it out the window and been done with him), but how could she live with herself knowing that she was holding onto something that was so precious to him?   IMO only an awful person with no conscience would do that.  The image of him crying under her window and begging for it, clearly distraught, clearly suffering emotionally, was pretty powerful.  I hope we're not supposed to like her or see her as a compassionate person because I really don't.  

[Cardie]

I think we are meant to believe that Randall had at least a decade of earning high six figures/low seven and that he invested it wisely; he's probably a multi-millionaire--and spends money like one. With the market what it is right now, he can probably buy that building with his capital gains and get a tax write-off.

When my previous dog died, I vowed to give it a breather for a few months before even thinking about another one. In a few days, however,  I had discovered Petfinder, made it my dog-porn and within ten days was driving sixty miles to pick up a sad-eyed bichon-cocker mix rescued from a puppy mill. He's ten now but not quite so cute as Audio. I certainly related to Toby.

[BoogieBurns]

3 hours ago, debraran said:

I wonder if the fireman who brought Randall to hospital will be there, could be around 65? Just like This is Us to do something like that.

He wouldn't need to be 65. He was young just 17 years ago. He could easily have been 33 in the scenes we saw (he and his wife had just given up trying to have a baby, and they looked the same age, which means she's assumed to be of fertile age). That would make him 50 the day of the fire. I would actually like to see him again.

[ElectricBoogaloo]

5 hours ago, Clanstarling said:

By the way, did anyone else hear Randall say he'd built his own home? 

Yes, this was mentioned in the first season too. 

[Meatball]

8 hours ago, biakbiak said:

The post SB slot is a big deal for shows to get and the writers are given plenty of notice so it can be a special epislde.

I stand corrected. I remember when Friends did the same thing. I guesss I haven’t followed an NBC since then.

[elle]

18 hours ago, Pallas said:

There are sound-enough programming and marketing reasons. February is sweeps month; Jack never walked under any ladders during November, February or May. The show won't be aired from February 9 - 25, while NBC is televising the Olympics. During February sweeps, NBC is looking to do a Secretariat's-Belmont among broadcast networks: night by night, week by week, with its episodic series programming as well as sports (Super Bowl and the Olympics). 

This programming scheme also brings viewers the relief of a follow-up episode within 48 hours.

 

18 hours ago, mtlchick said:

The network hosting the SB normally wants to get a show that is hugely popular even more viewers (Friends), a show that could use a major boost (Alias) or some...for no reason (Elementary.)  While some of NBC shows could have used the help (I think Timeless would have been benefited), This Is Us is bringing in the viewers, and picking up awards AND at this point, is actually tied to the Super Bowl in some capacity.  I think the only thing NBC and the show could have wished for is the Steelers making it in this year. 

It still seems manipulative to me.  If they want to save the big episode for sweeps have it air on its regular night after the Super Bowl and before the Olympics.  But, programming monkeys...

A question for Steelers Fans - will you be rooting for the Eagles?  Fellow Pennsylvania team or deadly rival?

[Meatball]

17 hours ago, MyAimIsTrue said:

Me too!  I was excited seeing both Dawnn Lewis and Garrett Morris listed in the opening credits again.

I did not recognize Dawnn Lewis and for that I will always feel shame.

15 hours ago, ChicksDigScars said:

I love mine, but I won't leave home with it on, which is what one of the intentions of the appliance is. Plug it in and leave for work, and dinner is done when you get home.  I remember the commercials when my mother bought her first one.  I even asked a fireman about it, and he said that they do it all the time and that they're safe. Nope. I can't. 

 

12 hours ago, Granny58 said:

Exactly.  Never use an appliance with an iffy switch.  

 

11 hours ago, NUguy514 said:

I'm a bit late, but who doesn't unplug a crockpot once it's done, and who leaves a damn dishtowel next to the not-unplugged crockpot???

 

9 hours ago, marceline said:

Okay I feel the need to stand up for the crockpots of the world. LOL! I'm a single homeowner so my crockpot is the best way of coming home to a hot meal. Crockpots are safe. They are safer now than than ever have been. They are like a lot of appliances that have become safer. For example look at the Instant Pot that has become so popular. When I was young, pressure cookers used to explode. My grandmother's did. Now they're designed not to do that. Don't even get me started on how much safer space heaters are now.

The real issue here is that the Pearson's crock pot was old and faulty. And that there was a towel next to it. And no batteries in the smoke detector. 

I agree to all of this. Most people are missing the fact that the switch was faulty seventeen years earlier. When you know something like that you UNPLUG the damn thing immediately after the meal is done. I’ve had my original Crock Pot for twenty years and I have no problem with leaving it on when I’m not home. That’s the point of this appliance! And it goes without saying that you don’t leave anything around it. That’s common sense when you’re using an appliance that is heated. The missing batteries are another culprit because...who waits to buy batteries at a mall?

And just so people don’t think I’m completely carefree, once I was so paranoid thinking I didn’t unplug (not just turn off but unplug) a hair straightener and it would start a fire, I kept calling my apartment all day from work thinking if my apartment was on fire the answering machine wouldn’t pick up. I also will never bring a pressure cooker anywhere near my apartment. The Boston bombers sealed it for me. But I will use my Crock Pot until it starts to turn to Low when it’s switched to Off. 

And my sincere condolences to anyone who has suffered through a fire. I can’t imagine what horrible memories these episodes are bringing up.

7 hours ago, mojoween said:

Denver played Green Bay in that SB.

When you have a team, you wear their jersey on SB Sunday regardless who is playing.  Cuz you wouldn’t wear the one of the team who may have had to have beaten your team to get there.

I will be wearing a Jets shirt because let’s face it, the Jets will never be in the SB again. I gotta wear it sometime!

Edited January 25, 2018 by Meatball

[elle]

Quote

Denver played Green Bay in that SB.

Nope.  Never happened.  /total amnesia

Since Jack and Rebecca took advantage of an empty house of kids conceived during a Super Bowl, did anyone else wonder if there will be a future twist that Rebecca was pregnant again but lost that baby?  She is only 47.  If the writers did think of that, the question would be why was it not brought up during Kate's episode?

[JudyObscure]

6 hours ago, DebbieM4 said:

IMO only an awful person with no conscience would do that.  The image of him crying under her window and begging for it, clearly distraught, clearly suffering emotionally, was pretty powerful.  I hope we're not supposed to like her or see her as a compassionate person because I really don't.  

The note she wrote with it was  coldly curt,  too.  I would have expected something like, "I'm sorry too, we weren't either one at our best, as a doctor I should have seen how ill you were."  Nope.  None of that.

 

2 hours ago, Meatball said:

But I will use my Crock Pot until it starts to turn to Low when it’s switched to Off. 

Okay.  That does it.  For the first time in my life I'm interested in buying a crock pot.  Maybe this is going to be good for the manufacturers after all.  The only food I ever ate that had been cooked that way was a greasy serving of pork ribs, so I just thought I'll continue to make my ribs in the oven, my chili in a pan, and  my pot roast in my Dutch oven.  But there must be more.  I'm off to look up crock pot recipes and buy myself a shiny new kitchen thingy.

[debraran]

9 hours ago, catrox14 said:

There is an elderly woman in my building who I saw on the elevator today. She said she came home for lunch because she left her crock pot on and thought she should check on it. She said "I don't want to start a fire in the apt". 

I said "It's good that you checked on it"...thinking about this episode.

Yes, I felt funny saying anything with a patient's wife going home to check  because it was work, but I think that anxiety will ebb a bit but a good lesson in not leaving certain things plugged in when you're done.  If it makes someone buy another smoke detector, it did some good.

Edited January 25, 2018 by debraran

[debraran]

Might be overthinking this but someone had the pic of the burned house on a website (It's all over the web) and there is a big hole in the porch roof on the right side if looking at it. Might be just from firefighters etc but I remember a pic near me where a family went out 2nd floor window over a den and scooted down. I wonder if Jack fell through.

[ShadowFacts]

Wow, the show has tapped into the crockpot fears of a nation.  I was reading what the New York City FD had to say about it, and it's not too reassuring.  Cooking is the leading cause of home fires, and unattended cooking accounts for 33%, while the rest are related to combustible items left too close to a heat source and various electrical defects.  The Pearsons had all three.  The spokesman goes on to say never leave a cooking appliance unattended, always have eyes on the appliance.  Negating some of the benefits of a slow cooker.  I'm only so daring as to use mine overnight when I'm sleeping, and I've been a bit nervous about that.  Otherwise it's great for when I'm home, like Jack and Rebecca used it, and especially for holidays.  So I'm not getting rid of mine, but maybe no more overnights.  Why take a risk. 

[marceline]

2 hours ago, JudyObscure said:

The note she wrote with it was  coldly curt,  too.  I would have expected something like, "I'm sorry too, we weren't either one at our best, as a doctor I should have seen how ill you were."  Nope.  None of that.

He had a one night stand with her, went through her stuff, stole her prescription pad then ghosted on her. IMO, she owed him nothing. I'm not going to judge her without seeing what kind of amends he made to her because even though it was one night, he had a lot to apologize for. 

As for the timing, I'm going to agree with someone upthread that she didn't know his address until he wrote her his letter of amends. Although that touches on something else I've always had trouble wrapping my head around on this show: Kevin's fame. He's an easily recognizable and popular celebrity. How much attention did his drunk driving arrest and subsequent rehab stint get? I loved seeing the women watch him tear down that wall but when that one held up her phone I kept imagining her selling it to TMZ with the headline "Newly Clean Manny Destroys Apartment Wall." It would be a fun twist if someone saw the video and pitched Kevin a "Property Brothers" show with him and Randall. That could lead to some interesting storylines.

[luna1122]

This was the first episode that ever made me cry, but it was mostly about the cutest doggo alive. When Kate was talking to little Audio, he absolutely seemed to understand her every word and react accordingly and appropriately. best puppy actor ever! when she left him sitting there all alone in his chair, I was straight up weeping. So glad she went back for him. I generally am not fond of Kate, and think Chrissy Metz is overrated, but she sold that scene and her fairly complicated emotions about having a pup really well.

I didn't cry when Kevin got his Jack-necklace back, but I was really glad the doctor took a little pity on him. I don't think she owed him anything more than that, but it was the kind thing to do. And I am not one who thinks Justin Hartley is a weak link...I thought he was excellent in this scene.  

I am nearly alone, I think, in liking Sofie, and I hope she's not gone, tho that goodbye seemed pretty definitive.

I think they have drawn out Jack's death so much that I eyeroll over it, but the foreboding as the house caught fire did make me feel more than I thought I would. I like Jack, and Milo, but am not nearly as invested in the death due to the melodrama and 'you MUST feel the feels!!!' hype of this show, but a house fire is one of my great fears, and knowing that someone doesn't make it out alive from this one is truly sad.

Yeah, good thing Kevin wasn't home--they'd have never remembered him. If I didn't know the dog got out alive, I'd be freaking out about that right now too.

PS: Randall and Kevin near-shirtless is never not a good thing. I loved the neighbor ladies lining up to watch Kevin pound down that wall. That totally went up on social media.

Edited January 25, 2018 by luna1122

[Clanstarling]

4 hours ago, luna1122 said:

I think they have drawn out Jack's death so much that I eyeroll over it, but the foreboding as the house caught fire did make me feel more than I thought I would. I like Jack, and Milo, but am not nearly as invested in the death due to the melodrama and 'you MUST feel the feels!!!' hype of this show, but a house fire is one of my great fears, and knowing that someone doesn't make it out alive from this one is truly sad.

I have a similar reaction. I was kind of snarky until the fire began, then it became very sad, poignant, and a little dusty.

7 hours ago, JudyObscure said:

The note she wrote with it was  coldly curt,  too.  I would have expected something like, "I'm sorry too, we weren't either one at our best, as a doctor I should have seen how ill you were."  Nope.  None of that.

 

Okay.  That does it.  For the first time in my life I'm interested in buying a crock pot.  Maybe this is going to be good for the manufacturers after all.  The only food I ever ate that had been cooked that way was a greasy serving of pork ribs, so I just thought I'll continue to make my ribs in the oven, my chili in a pan, and  my pot roast in my Dutch oven.  But there must be more.  I'm off to look up crock pot recipes and buy myself a shiny new kitchen thingy.

I thought Charlotte's note showed considerable restraint, and coupled with the return of the necklace, was fairly kind rather than cold. Then again, I'm a person who has learned to say "no" without explanations, and have, over the years, learned not to try to take care of adult men who aren't my family. 

As for crock pots, I generally take crock pot recipes and make them in my dutch oven. I think it tends to turn out better - but then again, I haven't done any objective comparisons.

Edited January 25, 2018 by Clanstarling
Grammar

[PRgal]

5 hours ago, elle said:

Nope.  Never happened.  /total amnesia

Since Jack and Rebecca took advantage of an empty house of kids conceived during a Super Bowl, did anyone else wonder if there will be a future twist that Rebecca was pregnant again but lost that baby?  She is only 47.  If the writers did think of that, the question would be why was it not brought up during Kate's episode?

47 isn't that young when it comes to getting pregnant.  In fact, it's considered old.  Even KATE, who got pregnant at 37 is considered "old."  A 47 year old woman who wants to get pregnant using her own eggs (and hasn't banked any) would be advised against doing so (going through IVF/embryo transfer with a surrogate and donor embryos right now and I'm learning A LOT about this)

Edited January 25, 2018 by PRgal

[gonzosgirrl]

13 hours ago, debraran said:

I think it's just a button down shirt but still, pretty pulled together and his date came right over, maybe lived nearby. I always thought it was just the fire they were upset about, I wonder if Rebecca tells them he died.

Ah, you're right. On my phone it looked like a tie but I see it now. More and more I think we're in for a twist.

[mtlchick]

13 hours ago, Arcadiasw said:

I see lots of people on the net saying they are swearing off crockpots and I want to shout, "No! The real lesson is the lifesaving value of smoke detectors!" Which is why I found it notable that the first thing Beth wanted to do for the apartment building was fix the fire escapes and bring it up to code.

I know this was shot beforehand, but it instantly reminded me about the horrible Bronx fire that happened last month and how quickly it spread.  http://www.cnn.com/2017/12/28/us/bronx-fire/index.html

[cardigirl]

Watching Jack clean the kitchen and leave the note for Kevin before the fire broke out, reminded me of a scene from a novel, A Death in the Family by James Agee.  In that scene, a young husband, and father, is leaving for work early, but as he leaves, he pulls the sheets and covers back up, thinking to preserve what heat he can in the bed for his wife, who is checking on their child.  When she comes back, she sighs, because she thinks he was trying to make the bed and failed.  He dies on his way to work and she never knows what his true, tender intentions were. 

The note that burns, if Jack does not survive the fire, is one of Jack's intentions that will not be known.

I liked how the writers of this show are highlighting the little, tiny steps that lead to big events. The neighbor giving a faulty crockpot that was okay for 17 years. The forgotten batteries for the smoke detector. Kevin leaving on bad terms, and not coming home. The multiple little things/decisions we make every day that affect our lives in unforeseen ways. It's scary and sad to contemplate. 

I'm beginning to think that Jack doesn't die in the fire, given that the writers often misdirect us. However he dies though, I'm sure it will be a heartbreaking thing to watch.  I may have to do it with a strong drink in my hand.  (Whiskey!)

[Good Queen Jane]

None of the Big Three or Rebecca, for that matter, seem to have any money problems. For Kevin and Randall, it could be explained that they were high powered moneymakers, but not so with Kate and Rebecca. I'm wondering if Jack actually dies from some kind of doctor error after the fire. This then resulted in a structured settlement that allowed Rebecca and the children to have a steady income for the rest of their lives. ( I know we had a scene with Kate working as a waitress while going to community college, but often the children don't get access to money until a certain age like 21 or 25.) Just a thought.

[ChicksDigScars]

6 hours ago, elle said:

Nope.  Never happened.  /total amnesia

I hated that Super Bowl.. I still hate John Elway because of it. (/packersfan)

https://www.yahoo.com/entertainment/crock-pot-responds-shocking-apos-221916899.html

"On Wednesday, the Crock-Pot company responded on social media -- even creating a new hashtag on Twitter, #CrockPotIsInnocent -- to fans yearning for answers."

I'm sure they did. 

Edited January 25, 2018 by ChicksDigScars

[ShadowFacts]

3 minutes ago, Good Queen Jane said:

None of the Big Three or Rebecca, for that matter, seem to have any money problems. For Kevin and Randall, it could be explained that they were high powered moneymakers, but not so with Kate and Rebecca. I'm wondering if Jack actually dies from some kind of doctor error after the fire. This then resulted in a structured settlement that allowed Rebecca and the children to have a steady income for the rest of their lives. ( I know we had a scene with Kate working as a waitress while going to community college, but often the children don't get access to money until a certain age like 21 or 25.) Just a thought.

Since we don't know exactly how he dies yet, it could be that he had one or more substantial life insurance policies, and they often pay double for accidental death.  The family may not have been set for life, but they would not have been impoverished.  Rebecca eventually marries Miguel, so it's really only Kate that I wonder about.  She currently does infrequent singing gigs.  Good thing she is with Toby, because I don't think those jobs alone would be enough to be much of a living wage. 

[Sandman]

22 hours ago, wilnil said:

... if Rebecca has held on to that pad in the years since, someone might be able to reconstruct Jack's last note by going over the page that was underneath with light pencil.

Now I really want this to happen -- though it does seem somewhat unlikely.

Edited January 25, 2018 by Sandman

[cardigirl]

12 hours ago, Cardie said:

I think we are meant to believe that Randall had at least a decade of earning high six figures/low seven and that he invested it wisely; he's probably a multi-millionaire--and spends money like one. With the market what it is right now, he can probably buy that building with his capital gains and get a tax write-off.

When my previous dog died, I vowed to give it a breather for a few months before even thinking about another one. In a few days, however,  I had discovered Petfinder, made it my dog-porn and within ten days was driving sixty miles to pick up a sad-eyed bichon-cocker mix rescued from a puppy mill. He's ten now but not quite so cute as Audio. I certainly related to Toby.

 

Oh, I bet he is adorable!  When my Manny cat (named for Manny Ramirez) died, I too was going to wait.  That didn't last long. The house was way too quiet!  Now I have Amelia Pond and she is such a sweetheart I'm glad I got her.  She rescued me as much as I rescued her.

[captain1]

On 1/23/2018 at 10:30 PM, sigmaforce86 said:

Need to nitpick one thing - They live in Pennsylvania right?  And that talk with Kate was supposed to be on Superbowl Sunday which is end of January/beginning of February?  I have no problem with lack of coats, we're having a warm spell in the east right now but why in the world were their green leaves all over the trees?

The green leaves really took me out of the show for a moment.

[kilda]

12 hours ago, Cardie said:

I think we are meant to believe that Randall had at least a decade of earning high six figures/low seven and that he invested it wisely; he's probably a multi-millionaire--and spends money like one.

yeeeeeeahhh I'm trying to suspend belief and think this but it's not working for me.  I'm sure he did invest well but I would think most of his money that doesn't go to living expenses would be tied up in investments, retirement savings, etc.  People's expenses have a tendency to grow to match their incomes, and very few high earning couples would be able to just absorb the loss of one of their incomes without a ripple.  Even some little nod to "how are we going to rearrange the budget" would help.

2 minutes ago, captain1 said:

On 1/23/2018 at 10:30 PM, sigmaforce86 said:

Need to nitpick one thing - They live in Pennsylvania right?  And that talk with Kate was supposed to be on Superbowl Sunday which is end of January/beginning of February?  I have no problem with lack of coats, we're having a warm spell in the east right now but why in the world were their green leaves all over the trees?

The green leaves really took me out of the show for a moment.

I think I've trained myself not to notice this in TV shows anymore, because it happens in every single show not set in California and it really is annoying.  I can't expect them to fly somewhere cold every time they want to shoot an outdoor scene in winter, but then avoid outdoor scenes in winter!  Or just, you know, outdoor scenes in winter near trees.

[Guest]

22 hours ago, RedbirdNelly said:

* I truly enjoyed Property Brothers: This Is Us Edition. 

I didn't think of Property Brothers but I did think "Oh, look, Rebecca and Jack were going to be Chip and Jo!  But then Jack died..."

21 hours ago, Jillybean said:

Charlotte was indeed on the list, with a check mark. 

The list was weird.  The cast of The Manny?  Did he regret his dramatic quit of that ridiculous show he hated doing?  Or did the writers just list everyone we've seen Kevin interact with?  

19 hours ago, slasherboy said:

I feel sure the dog (do we know it's name?) ran outside and no one noticed.  That's really the only viable explanation.  

I still like my theory that Jack pushes the dog and notebook out a small bathroom window, fills the tub to try to protect himself, and dies of smoke inhalation. Or is boiled alive or drowns.  Just kidding.  Yes, I'm kind of over it.  

18 hours ago, TwoGrayTabbies said:

Thank you!  This makes no sense.  Neither came from a wealthy family so there are no trust funds, let alone bottomless trust funds.  I was annoyed with a very early episode where Beth told William that Randall, while building his mega-power career, renovated their house himself so it “didn’t cost a cent” or something like that.  Materials, tools, and equipment are expensive even for DIY projects.

 I know writers don’t like to bog down stories with mundane details, but the leap from last week’s “I want to buy this building” to this episode’s actual hands-on work is ridiculous.  Even if Randall paid cash for the building—which seems implausible—what about title research, inspections, permits, building codes, etc?  Is he paying all the expenses out of pocket?  Is this just a massive charitable gift to the tenants?  Did he really knock down a wall without knowing if it was load-bearing or a partition?  This show isn’t aimed at kids; I expect the writers to know adult viewers will be irked by this unreality.

What bugged me was how the tenants were such assholes to him.  I would be lavishing a new, generous landlord with praise.  But I've never lived anywhere with rent control where tenants are basically captives to their apartment.  Was that the implication?  Or just that they're all too poor to move and Randall is going to basically subsidize them living above their means for the rest of their lives?  

15 hours ago, Clanstarling said:

By the way, did anyone else hear Randall say he'd built his own home? 

I was scratching my head over that, too.  Finance geek Randall built that big suburban mcmansion in Alpine?  As in, 'hired a contractor and wrote the checks'?  

5 hours ago, JudyObscure said:

Okay.  That does it.  For the first time in my life I'm interested in buying a crock pot.  Maybe this is going to be good for the manufacturers after all.  The only food I ever ate that had been cooked that way was a greasy serving of pork ribs, so I just thought I'll continue to make my ribs in the oven, my chili in a pan, and  my pot roast in my Dutch oven.  But there must be more.  I'm off to look up crock pot recipes and buy myself a shiny new kitchen thingy.

If you must at least get an Instant Pot.  Crock pots are good for one thing only-- taking something that is cheap and tough like dry beans or a lean roast and cooking them in liquid all day to make them edible.  I have one and only ever use it outdoors on the patio to cook chicken for a pet ferret, because the smell of stewing meat disgusts us. 

2 hours ago, luna1122 said:

I am nearly alone, I think, in liking Sofie, and I hope she's not gone, tho that goodbye seemed pretty definitive.

I'm neutral on Sophie but the show never really sold me on her kicking Kevin to the curb.  He's been in love with her his whole life, is gorgeous, rich, funny, sweet... and she can't handle that he said something hurtful once when high or cheated at the height of his fame?  I guess I'm ok with it, though, because we could get some future love interests for Kevin that maybe I'll be more interested in.  Sophie not seeing what was clearly drug abuse didn't really endear her to me.

[chocolatine]

I'm pretty sure Randall didn't build his and Beth's house. IIRC, Beth told William that Randall remodeled the house when she was pregnant with Tess, and she may have overstated how much work the remodel entailed. We know that the house is in a gated community in a very expensive neighborhood, so I doubt it was in bad condition when they bought it. It probably just needed cosmetic updates, nothing like the work the apartment building needs.

[ShadowFacts]

28 minutes ago, kilda said:

yeeeeeeahhh I'm trying to suspend belief and think this but it's not working for me.  I'm sure he did invest well but I would think most of his money that doesn't go to living expenses would be tied up in investments, retirement savings, etc.  People's expenses have a tendency to grow to match their incomes, and very few high earning couples would be able to just absorb the loss of one of their incomes without a ripple.  Even some little nod to "how are we going to rearrange the budget" would help.

They're going to use their investments to fund Big Three Homes, I'm calling it.  The seeds were planted last week, and now in this episode we hear Randall call this his new career, Kevin drops by to help (ends up finding a new purpose), and we learn Rebecca was going to go in with Jack and be in business like she always wanted.  There is Beth the urban planner, and Miguel has years of construction experience that he could contribute as an informal advisor.  I don't know how Kate and Toby fit in and I wouldn't buy insta-success, but this is a direction for the show that would make a lot of sense to me. 

[wilnil]

43 minutes ago, ShadowFacts said:

Since we don't know exactly how he dies yet, it could be that he had one or more substantial life insurance policies, and they often pay double for accidental death.  The family may not have been set for life, but they would not have been impoverished.  Rebecca eventually marries Miguel, so it's really only Kate that I wonder about.  She currently does infrequent singing gigs.  Good thing she is with Toby, because I don't think those jobs alone would be enough to be much of a living wage. 

Kate at least had a few years when she was on Kevin's payroll. I wouldn't be surprised if he wildly overpaid her.

22 minutes ago, kilda said:

I'm sure [Randall] did invest well but I would think most of his money that doesn't go to living expenses would be tied up in investments, retirement savings, etc.  People's expenses have a tendency to grow to match their incomes, and very few high earning couples would be able to just absorb the loss of one of their incomes without a ripple.  Even some little nod to "how are we going to rearrange the budget" would help.

With most people I'd agree 100%. With Randall, he's obsessive enough that I can easily see him accumulating a fairly hefty rainy-day fund over the years. We see him and his family living well but, for the most part, not Wall Street well -- the house isn't a McMansion, their cars are on the pricey end but not exotic, the girls are in public school, etc.

The one whose finances I'd worry the most about, actually, is Kevin. He does seem to spend what he gets (fancy place in LA, high-end cars, hotel suites even for long-term stays). He should probably be hiring Randall to manage his money while he's still getting high-paying work in Hollywood.

[Blakeston]

On 1/24/2018 at 6:25 AM, ElectricBoogaloo said:

I'm not going to make excuses for Charlotte's actions earlier in the night, but I blamed her not looking for Kevin's necklace after she kicked him out on a combination of her anger in the moment and her drunkenness. I think that most people would see in the cold sober light of the next day that it's shitty to keep someone else's stuff.

But I think the main reason she didn't return his necklace before he made amends to her was because she didn't know where he lived. The Pearson house burned down and none of the Pearson siblings live in their hometown anymore. I know that many of my high school classmates' parents eventually sold their bigger houses and downsized into smaller places, so if I had to go on a quest to track down someone from my high school who had become famous and their parents had moved in the 20 years since graduation, I probably wouldn't be able to find them either. When Kevin sent his apology letter, he must have included a return address which is what allowed her to send his necklace to him.

This is all true. But if the person you want to reach is a celebrity, you can just contact their management. (Or contact the people from the high school who invited her and Kevin to the assembly.)

But I get where the writers were going with it, in that Kevin was only able to get the necklace back because he reached out to her to make amends.

Regarding Randall and his finances - I actually can believe that he has a ridiculous amount of money. He was a partner at a Wall Street firm for almost ten years, and he was seen as a superstar. He paid well over $100K in cash for his car. He may not be working anymore, but he still would be bringing in a whole lot of money as a partner - unless they bought him out, in which case he'd still have a ton of money.

Kate, on the other hand - don't even get me started on her finances.

[Jillybean]

9 hours ago, elle said:

A question for Steelers Fans - will you be rooting for the Eagles?  Fellow Pennsylvania team or deadly rival?

My husband is a Steelers fan and I'm a Redskins fan. We agree that there is no one to root for in this Super Bowl.

[Indy]

I have that crock-pot. Like the exact one. Seeing it in Season 1 was one of my favorite moments of the show because it helped me date exactly how old it was (my husband was given it second hand from an aunt when he left for grad school). Now I'm not sure I want to use it anymore. 

 

That being said, I'm glad it was the Pearsons' crock pot and not their old dryer, because we have that same one too and I love my ancient dryer way more than my crock pot! 

[Guest]

28 minutes ago, chocolatine said:

I'm pretty sure Randall didn't build his and Beth's house. IIRC, Beth told William that Randall remodeled the house when she was pregnant with Tess, and she may have overstated how much work the remodel entailed. We know that the house is in a gated community in a very expensive neighborhood, so I doubt it was in bad condition when they bought it. It probably just needed cosmetic updates, nothing like the work the apartment building needs.

I was curious if several of us mis-heard so I went back and checked.  He says, "I suddenly realized that I can do this.  I built our house.  It's the same thing."  Not that you were saying he didn't.  Just for the record.  

[chocolatine]

2 minutes ago, Winston9-DT3 said:

I was curious if several of us mis-heard so I went back and checked.  He says, "I suddenly realized that I can do this.  I built our house.  It's the same thing."  Not that you were saying he didn't.  Just for the record.  

No, I heard that too. It's just not consistent with what Beth told William in S1, and it also makes no sense that he "built" a house in an established, wealthy neighborhood, while also holding down a full-time job and being on a tight schedule with the pregnancy. In the 20s flashback, right before Tess was born, the house was completely done and decorated. I think Randall is wildly over-exaggerating. 

Edited January 25, 2018 by chocolatine

[cardigirl]

A screen grab of Jack's funeral or at least, his memorial.  If that's Kevin between Kate and Randall, then he is not on crutches, nor does he have cast.  It 's possible that they have a memorial service sometime after Jack's death, or he doesn't die in the fire. 

 

[Thog]

I knew we were in for it when they used the song "That'll Be the Day," because the entire line is "That'll be the day when I die."

The Washington Post article in which Crockpot defends itself cracked me up.

[gonzosgirrl]

2 hours ago, ChicksDigScars said:

I hated that Super Bowl.. I still hate John Elway because of it. (/packersfan)

https://www.yahoo.com/entertainment/crock-pot-responds-shocking-apos-221916899.html

"On Wednesday, the Crock-Pot company responded on social media -- even creating a new hashtag on Twitter, #CrockPotIsInnocent -- to fans yearning for answers."

I'm sure they did. 

Too funny. I was just coming here to post about Derek's death on Grey's. Just when we think he's saved those people and he's going to be okay... WHAM! Now I keep thinking he's going to get hit by the firetruck or something.

[Guest]

42 minutes ago, chocolatine said:

 I think Randall is wildly over-exaggerating. 

Or the writers felt a little retcon was warranted, to help justify Randall's new career in DIY apt. remodeling. 

I did kind of balk at him plunging a toilet.  When you drive a $150,000 car, you call a plumber or handyman for some things.  At least he wasn't tenting the building for fumigation by himself, too.  

[Amethyst]

Randall’s house being a fixer upper is definitely more believable.  I can see him installing the occasional ceiling fan or backsplash, not building the house from the studs.

[kilda]

24 minutes ago, Thog said:

I knew we were in for it when they used the song "That'll Be the Day," because the entire line is "That'll be the day when I die."

I really wish they'd have named it something else, because every time I click on this thread I get that damn song stuck in my head again.  It's like a reflex.

1 hour ago, Blakeston said:

Kate, on the other hand - don't even get me started on her finances.

I assume Kevin generously overpaid her when she worked for him, and probably still helped her out after he fired her.  And now she lives off Toby.  That I actually do find plausible.  

[TwoGrayTabbies]

TIU often seems to me an updated version of the sentimental family dramas from the 70s.  So perhaps Randall was channeling Pa Ingalls when he erroneously remembered building his house.