S03.E15: The Waiting Room

[ElectricBoogaloo]

Quote

Tensions run high as the Pearsons await news about Kate's pregnancy.

Promo:

Original air date: 3/12/19

[ams1001]

God I wanted to smack Randall.

Please let Madison join the in-law text chain.

So Kevin was drinking vodka the whole time and no one smelled it on him?

Also, ranch is disgusting.

Wait, wasn't I supposed to be speechless?

[Katy M]

Randall was ridiculous in lecuturing Beth on practicality.  She tried to get him to be practical by slowing his roll on the renovations to William's apartment.  Or getting him to not try to snatch Deja away from her mother.  But, no, Beth's job is what we have to be practical about.

Was Randall upset that Rebecca might be moving to CA because she's upsetting his child care plan?  Because he's jealous?  What?  I mean, seriously randall.  Kate and Toby are going to have a baby that is going to need a super lot of care.  Get over yourself.

And, Kevin, Madison is there because she is Kate's best friend and Kate would want her there.

MVP tonight was Miguel.  He managed to distract them slightly with his ranch/chocolate game, stupid as that seemed to me.  He made Madison feel better.  He was there for Rebecca.  Miguel, this family does not deserve you.

Toby's "joke" actually had me going.  I was like really?  Sh wants to see Miguel first?  

No way Kevin wasn't going to find a way to drink.  He's been drinking and it was superstressful.  

Really?  A Ruth Bader Ginsberg doll?  OK, Random.  

And, I think the whole "suspense" about the name was silly.  We all knew she was going to name him Jack.  The fam thought he was going to name him Jack.  But, no, they have to meet him first to decide to name him... Jack.

[Spartan Girl]

Rebecca telling everyone off was the best part of the episode.

That premature baby was so tiny it hurt to look at.

[Katy M]

Just now, ams1001 said:

So Kevin was drinking vodka the whole time and no one smelled it on him?

If you're going to drink and don't want smell detection, vodka is usually what you go with.

[Lady Calypso]

*gasp*

Kate named her son Jack?

THIS IS SO UNEXPECTED.

[ams1001]

24 minutes ago, Spartan Girl said:

That premature baby was so tiny it hurt to look at.

My friend's son looked a lot like that (born at 30 weeks). It seems so impossibly tiny for a human being.

(Edit: just for the record, he's 7 now and has some issues, autism-spectrum and asthma, but is otherwise fine. Another friend's nephew was born at the same gestation and is now 6 with no major issues.)

Edited March 13, 2019 by ams1001

[Katy M]

Speaking of the vodka, I don't usually (ever) drink straight liquor.  I had almost the same thing happen.  I picked up my boyfriend at the time's water bottle and took a swig.  And immediately ran to the sink to spit it out.  Unless Zoe had a hunch, she did a pretty good job of covering her surprise.  But, that may have been an actual test on her part.

[ams1001]

Just now, Lady Calypso said:

*gasp*

Kate named her son Jack?

THIS IS SO UNEXPECTED.

Was that the part that was supposed to leave us speechless?

[ErinV]

That stressed me out.  How long were they there?  They couldn’t rotate and each go home for a little bit? 

The previews...are they seriously bringing Sophie back?  They do not know what to do with Kevin!

[WednesdayAddams]

We all knew he'd be named Jack.

Cried when she asked her Dad to look over him.

I had a feeling Rebecca wouldn't eat/go to vending machine because that's when Jack died. I know in stressful situations you aren't really hungry, but it would be on my mind. 

And I fell for Kate wanting to see Miguel first, too!

[cmpbl]

Just now, Lady Calypso said:

*gasp*

Kate named her son Jack?

THIS IS SO UNEXPECTED.

Exactly, If anyone has ever watched this show they knew that would be his name.

[ShadowFacts]

The RBG doll was a high point.  Almost all of the rest of it, watching them all be annoying, snark at and attack each other, was pretty painful to sit through for me.  I thought it was lame that when Kevin was an ass to Madison, no one chimed in at all.  Crappy of them, under stress or not.  And did I miss who's minding Deja, Tess and Annie? 

[Guest]

That was an intense episode. 

I liked the Randall/Kevin stuff. It felt very real and a continuation of stuff we saw earlier in the series that had been mostly dropped.

I don’t know if I can handle a preemie storyline, so I may be done for a few weeks. 

[CleoCaesar]

Miguel and Madison, run far away from these people. You are too good for these immature, tiresome drama queens with their stupid monologues and neverending selfishness.

What a boring, pointless episode. Of course they weren't going to kill off Kate or the baby. So what was the point of it?

[Katy M]

1 minute ago, cmpbl said:

Exactly, If anyone has ever watched this show they knew that would be his name.

It would have been so awesome if they had named him Miguel.  

1 minute ago, ShadowFacts said:

And did I miss who's minding Deja, Tess and Annie? 

No, they didn't say.  I imagine a friend or friends agreed to take them for a few days.  Because it was a health emergency.

[Eureka]

So after all that about how are Beth and Randall going to make it work, who was staying with the girls while they (the parents) were in CA?

Randall was still a jerk this week. So was Kevin but he also made me laugh when he was saying Randall should have been delivering the baby with his bare hands or whatever it was he said.

I totally called the water bottle having alcohol in it.

And I think everyone here called naming the baby Jack.

[Katy M]

1 minute ago, CleoCaesar said:

What a boring, pointless episode. Of course they weren't going to kill off Kate or the baby. So what was the point of it?

I honestly thought Kate was going to die.  I know, she's part of the Big Three and all, but I still thought it.

[ShadowFacts]

Just now, Katy M said:

No, they didn't say.  I imagine a friend or friends agreed to take them for a few days.  Because it was a health emergency.

Thanks, I thought I missed something.  Kind of worth at least a mention, a throwaway line, especially since we never see any friends and Beth's mother is in D.C.

[Katy M]

Just now, Eureka said:

So after all that about how are Beth and Randall going to make it work, who was staying with the girls while they (the parents) were in CA?

If I was either their friend or one of the girls' friend's parents, I would be more than happy to take the girls while their parents were at the hospital for a serious family health scare.  That does not mean I would be willing to do permanent day care for them.   These are two different types of situation.

I hated Randall so much this episode, and it didn't help that he acted like babysitting his kids was a Christmas gift. 

[ams1001]

9 minutes ago, Katy M said:

If you're going to drink and don't want smell detection, vodka is usually what you go with.

Guess I'm not up on the alcoholic tricks.

[milner]

I actually thought Toby was going to have s heart attack. 

[cmpbl]

So what was supposed to be so special about this episode. Other than the baby being born the rest of the episode was just like every other episode. I'm so glad Rebecca went off on Kevin and Randall, not everything is about them.

[ams1001]

Just now, milner said:

I actually thought Toby was going to have s heart attack. 

The way Kate looked over at him at the end I thought something was happening, too.

[Eureka]

Just now, Katy M said:

If I was either their friend or one of the girls' friend's parents, I would be more than happy to take the girls while their parents were at the hospital for a serious family health scare.  That does not mean I would be willing to do permanent day care for them.   These are two different types of situation.

I hated Randall so much this episode, and it didn't help that he acted like babysitting his kids was a Christmas gift. 

I agree with you about permanent day care versus watching them for this. But still figured they would have said. Because they’re making that storyline all about needing family time, routine for Deja etc.

[tennisgurl]

It would be shocking if Kate didnt name the baby Jack. If it was a girl, she would name her Jackie. 

Miguel was this weeks MVP, trying so hard to keep everyone calm, and he was so sweet and understanding to Madison. Honestly, I totally thought for a second that she had asked for Miguel. I mean, stranger things have happened!

Randal, you are literally the last person in the world who gets to lecture people about making choices based on practicality. Literally the very last. So everyone else has to be practical, but you can run around doing whatever you want and changing everything for your family on a whim because...

[Lady Calypso]

Most of the Pearson clan were definitely at their worst tonight, particularly Kevin and Randall. On the one hand, I understand it. On the other hand, I was grateful when Rebecca finally told them all to shut up. 

I did feel bad for Madison, who should be there since Kate doesn't have any other friends. I hate that nobody really stood up for her. 

I know they needed to fill up most of the episode, but listening to everyone's drama wasn't fun. I did laugh when Randall said that Rebecca/Miguel getting to be their child care would essentially be their early Christmas present, only to have Miguel and Rebecca shut that down with a "we're thinking of moving to California."

I knew Kate and baby Jack (urg) would survive so that wasn't that tense. I do wonder if the baby will develop some issues. Realistically, he probably would. 

So, I guess Zoe may be pushing Kevin away for lying to her. I get her being upset that he's lying, but they really need to sit things out and talk instead of Zoe looking at getting out, as I suspect that she will. Her telling Beth that she might stay with him WAS before the vodka in the water bottle incident, so I do wonder if her mind is changing. It would suck because Kevin's lie isn't great, but she has to realize that he has a hard time opening up as much as she does. Plus, I fear that Kevin's fear about her leaving him is being subconsciously driven through him lying and that'll cause her to really leave him. Obviously he should be honest. I just hope that Zoe won't just take off.

I appreciate Miguel lightening up the mood. It does suck that he can never take his anger out on the Pearsons because as soon as he starts, he gets interrupted. 

Ok, Toby's joke about Kate wanting to see Miguel first actually got me. 

[gonzosgirrl]

It struck me seeing Kate through that incubator and with no/little makeup just how amazing the casting of teen Kate is. 

Edited March 13, 2019 by gonzosgirrl

[Katy M]

1 minute ago, Lady Calypso said:

So, I guess Zoe may be pushing Kevin away for lying to her. I get her being upset that he's lying, but they really need to sit things out and talk instead of Zoe looking at getting out, as I suspect that she will. Her telling Beth that she might stay with him WAS before the vodka in the water bottle incident, so I do wonder if her mind is changing. It would suck because Kevin's lie isn't great, but she has to realize that he has a hard time opening up as much as she does. Plus, I fear that Kevin's fear about her leaving him is being subconsciously driven through him lying and that'll cause her to really leave him. Obviously he should be honest. I just hope that Zoe won't just take off.

I absolutely wouldn't blame her if she did leave.  Talk to him first, though, not just take off.  Dating/being in a relationship with an active alcoholic is not for everyone.

[janeyjay]

13 minutes ago, Spartan Girl said:

That premature baby was so tiny it hurt to look at.

I decided not to watch this episode in real time, because I gave birth to my kiddo at 25 weeks gestation in very similar circumstances to this. So of course I switch over right as Kate and Toby are in the NICU with Jack. Show got this part right, down to the way the baby was hooked up in the isolet. So regardless of all the other superfluous drama nonsense, this was pretty damn accurate.  Yeah, those preemies really are that tiny.

[Katy M]

2 minutes ago, Lady Calypso said:

Ok, Toby's joke about Kate wanting to see Miguel first actually got me. 

Me, too, but I think of all 3 kids, Kate has had the least amount of scenes with Miguel.  The other two have both had at least one one-on-one scene with him, but I can't think of one for Kate.  She's less hostile to him in general, which is actually kind of weird, considering she's the most attached to Jack's memory.  She mostly just kind of treats him like a piece of furniture of something.

[LaJefaza]

Toby: ...and Kate said she wants to see Miguel first.

Miguel: REALLY?!

Toby: Nahhh.

Well I laughed SO hard at this unexpected burn, and I'm not even a Miguel hater ( I regularly feel bad for him). Between that and Beth's "Miguel I swear before GAWD..." when he kept going with the fruits/veggies game...I was more amused than I expected to be in this otherwise heavy episode. My goodness. Poor Miguel. Leave him alone, y'all. Damn.

Edited March 13, 2019 by LaJefaza

[WhosThatGirl]

I totally called Kevin’s water bottle being vodka when Zoe drank it! Thanks, Veronica Mars season one finale! 

Anyways. I was kind of bored but kind of not. I can’t explain it. 

[Lady Calypso]

3 minutes ago, Katy M said:

I absolutely wouldn't blame her if she did leave.  Talk to him first, though, not just take off.  Dating/being in a relationship with an active alcoholic is not for everyone.

I agree. Lying to her is a bad look and if she doesn't want to deal with an alcoholic, she should be able to walk away. I just hope she can actually talk with Kevin (sober Kevin) before she makes a final decision. She only just found out about his drinking and I'm sure she feels like her trust is broken here, especially after telling him her darkest secret, but I hope she realizes that his issues are his issues. I also hope that Zoe doesn't allow herself to be guilted into staying after Kevin's whole "I can't do this without you" speech. I doubt Kevin realizes exactly how manipulative that statement can be. 

Again, it's a messy situation but if Zoe wants to leave, then she should be able to. Kevin will always be an addict and he'll likely continue to have relapses like this. Plus, since I'm positive his family isn't going to focus on him getting treatment since Kate has to take care of her preemie baby and Randall's being sworn in in a couple of weeks (and we also know how Randall feels about Kevin's addiction), his fight to stay sober IS going to be hard on him and Zoe. So Zoe should be thinking about if she's ready for that. If she's not, that's fine as well. But, the selfish part in me hopes that she sticks around since I know she's all he has got. 

[Crs97]

Two years after my father died, my oldest was born at 26 weeks.  He was considered big at 2 pounds, 2 ounces.  He spent 10 weeks in the NICU so I had to go back to work a few weeks in to save my maternity leave for when he came home.  I remember a client asking about him, and I mentioned his weight.  She gasped, took out her tiny, teacup sized dog from his carrier and showed everyone, saying he weighed 3 pounds.  I had to say, “Yeah, my son is smaller than he is.”  I look at photos now and can’t believe how tiny he was.

We gave our son my dad’s name as his middle name.  I didn’t think I would feel comfortable saying my dad's name as I disciplined my son.  

Edited March 13, 2019 by Crs97

[ams1001]

3 minutes ago, Crs97 said:

We gave our son my dad’s name as his middle name.  I didn’t think I would feel comfortable saying my dad's name as I disciplined my son.  

My first name is my mom's middle name, which she (mostly) goes by. I don't think she ever had a problem yelling at me. 😉

[JudyObscure]

Wow show, make me hate all the Pearson's why don't you?  It's bad enough the way they treat Miguel all the time, but a joke meant to point out just how very disliked he is, so that it would be a total shock that Kate might want to see him?  That was just mean.  I actually thought Toby was serious at first and that Kate might want to tell him something that he could break slowly to her mother.   Oh no, just Toby, not too exhausted to take a dig at a nice man, I guess.

Then Kevin's nasty remark to Madison.  Why was she there Kevin?  Because she's Kates best friend and Kate may be able to talk with her about a few things she can't share with her brothers. I'll bet she's closer to Madison than she is with your latest girlfriend. Let's ask her why she's there.

I really didn't agree with Rebecca that everyone needed to sit in silence for 36 hours.  It might actually have been a good time for some serious discussions but I guess if she wanted to talk about light sockets the whole time it was her call.

Then there's Randall  turning to Miguel and Rebecca and telling them, essentially, " Merry Christmas!  We're going to let you provide us with free childcare for the next few years!"  He could have at least had the decency to actually ask for the favor.  I was so glad to hear they're moving away, to help with the new baby.  They should have moved away from Randall last season, the day after he told them they should have called first before stopping to drop something off.

Happy for Kate and the baby.

[Ohiopirate02]

Ugh.  Randall needed several seats in this episode.   He is truly insufferable this season.  Dude your mom was near you for a decade and saw your girls, why wouldn't she want to move closer to her new grandkid.  You know that Kate and Rebecca have had a painful relationship in the past.  Don't get upset if your mom wants to work on this.

[tomsmom]

This show has really turned for me. The Pearson’s are insufferable! Kevin kicking out Madison and no one standing up for her???? Pathetic.

[Blakeston]

The "Kate wants to see Miguel first" thing was funny, but man was that a dickish thing to do to poor Miguel.

He just sat there for hour after hour, supporting your family during a brutal ordeal - good time to make a joke about how unpopular he is, right to his face!

[Amethyst]

What a depressing episode to watch.  Just an hour of people sniping back and forth, when they weren't passive aggressively glaring at each other.   I wouldn't have blamed Beth if she dragged Randall for the rest of the episode.  The campaign isn't the first time Randall's gone over her head.  Randall does equate everything to how he feels, and I hope this isn't the last time it's brought up.

Kevin made my shit list when he was so rude to Madison.  These people barely get along with each other, let alone other people.  They need all the friends they can get.  

I thought something was seriously wrong with Rebecca besides being scared.  She looked unconscious before she yelled at everyone to shut up.  She could have done that without the longwinded speech, though.  Just saying.  

[ams1001]

2 minutes ago, Amethyst said:

Randall does equate everything to how he feels, and I hope this isn't the last time it's brought up.

I gave a little silent cheer when she told him how selfish his "if you're not happy I'm not happy" line comes across. 

[Squirrely]

I feel like my intelligence as a viewer has been insulted. They had to sit for many hours at a time with zero updates? Toby couldn't text a single one of them?? Rebecca couldn't be in there with her daughter at all?? Give me a freaking break. It's not 1950.

Forget Saint Jack! Miguel is the real hero of this story. 

Edited March 13, 2019 by Squirrely
typo

[TVForever]

24 minutes ago, Katy M said:

MVP tonight was Miguel.  He managed to distract them slightly with his ranch/chocolate game, stupid as that seemed to me.  He made Madison feel better.  He was there for Rebecca.  Miguel, this family does not deserve you.

11 minutes ago, tennisgurl said:

Miguel was this weeks MVP, trying so hard to keep everyone calm, and he was so sweet and understanding to Madison. Honestly, I totally thought for a second that she had asked for Miguel. I mean, stranger things have happened!

10 minutes ago, Lady Calypso said:

I did feel bad for Madison, who should be there since Kate doesn't have any other friends. I hate that nobody really stood up for her. 

I appreciate Miguel lightening up the mood. It does suck that he can never take his anger out on the Pearsons because as soon as he starts, he gets interrupted. 

Ok, Toby's joke about Kate wanting to see Miguel first actually got me. 

I just want to give Miguel a hug. Watching him constantly getting disregarded at best, and disrespected at worst by The Big Three is hard for me to watch. And Rebecca’s not much better. Jack has been dead for over twenty years at this point, she needs to stop subjecting Miguel to her overly fond memories of her “perfect” life with Jack. Sometimes he seems more like her caretaker than her life partner. 

Free Miguel!

[Mommaj]

So were they all planning to stay there for weeks if the pregnancy had been maintained that long? What a suffocating family, Did anyone else notice that Madison didn't ask how Kate was or whether the baby had arrived, just dropped the bag and took off? What a stupid, boring episode. And that poor baby, having to live his life with the legend of Saint Jack hanging over him. I desperately wanted Rebecca to tell Toby to make sure the baby wasn't named Jack, since there could only be one Jack in this twisted family.

Edited March 13, 2019 by Mommaj

[LaJefaza]

2 minutes ago, Amethyst said:

I thought something was seriously wrong with Rebecca besides being scared.  She looked unconscious before she yelled at everyone to shut up.  

I saw that too, and she had been looking ill all episode. I honest to God thought she had died right there in front of them, given that the previews said something about us being left speechless. That would have been the most shocking thing this show has ever done.

[kittyglitter]

Poor Miguel. What’s even sadder is that, from the glimpse we got at Thanksgiving, his own kids treat him so horribly that he feels more at home with the insanity that is the Pearsons. So this season, we’ve had a Beth-centric episode, a somewhat Toby-centered episode, and at some point this season or next we’d better get our Miguel episode.

Is anyone else staring at 3-prong outlets right now kinda creeped out?

Vodka in the water-bottle-of-foreshadowing was because Captain Obvious was on such a high after naming the baby.

[Squirrely]

1 minute ago, TVForever said:

I just want to give Miguel a hug. Watching him constantly getting disregarded at best, and disrespected at worst by The Big Three is hard for me to watch. And Rebecca’s not much better. Jack has been dead for over twenty years at this point, she needs to stop subjecting Miguel to her overly fond memories of her “perfect” life with Jack. Sometimes he seems more like her caretaker than her life partner. 

Free Miguel!

Right? I thought Rebecca was reliving the traumatic death of her baby boy, and was terrified that Kate would have to live through the same experience. I get that she'll always grieve for Jack, but enough is enough. 

[ams1001]

1 minute ago, Mommaj said:

So were they all planning to stay there for weeks if the pregnancy had been maintained that long? What a suffocating family, Did anyone else notice that Madison didn't ask how Kate was or whether the baby had arrived, just dropped the bag and took off? What a stupid, boring episode. 

I was thinking, "are you going to tell her the baby's here?"

[ams1001]

4 minutes ago, kittyglitter said:

Is anyone else staring at 3-prong outlets right now kinda creeped out?