If we had to describe this week’s episode of This Is Us with just one word, it would be “tension.” Whether Kevin and Kate were fighting, Jack and Rebecca were working toward getting intimate again, or Randall and Beth were figuring out how to be foster parents, you could feel the tension in the Tuesday, October 10, episode titled “Deja Vu.”
Randall Finds His Mom — But Not Really
In flashbacks, Randall (Sterling K. Brown) put an ad searching for his birth parents in the classifieds. Do you know what happens when a teenager puts his name, birthdate, address and a disclaimer saying he doesn’t need money in the newspaper for all the world to see?
Randall got a letter back from a woman who claimed to be his mother and she asked him to meet her in the park. Accompanied by Kate and Kevin, Randall quickly discovered the woman was just trying to get money from him, which only made him feel more alone.
Jack and Rebecca Reconnect
Jack (Milo Ventimiglia) was finding it hard to talk to Rebecca (Mandy Moore), but that was merely one of their problems. Rebecca admitted to Miguel’s (Jon Huertas) ex-wife Shelley that she and Jack hadn’t had sex “in a while.” In an effort to change that, Rebecca surprised Jack with a ride in the Chevelle and burgers at a concert venue where they once went on a date. Jack was hesitant to have sex with Rebecca because of the emotions his 12-step program had brought on. Once they were back at the house though, they jumped back in the car and talked. Like, really talked. They also had sex, and when they got out of the car, Jack and Rebecca looked happier than they have in a long time.
Twin Fight
Kevin (Justin Hartley) was back on the set of his Ron Howard war film and ready to shoot a scene with Sylvester Stallone, who was Jack’s hero. Fangirl Kate (Chrissy Metz) tagged along and told Sly that her father was a fan of his. (Side note: Kate and Sylvester Stallone’s friendship needs to be a regular focal point of this show.)
Before Kevin shot his big scene, which he’d known by heart in his trailer, Stallone brought up his dad, and Kevin’s memories of his father came flooding back and threw him off. Kevin took it out on Kate for even mentioning Jack to the legendary actor and accused her of walking around all “sad and damaged” because of Jack’s death.
Kevin was still off his game in a later scene in which he was supposed to rescue Stallone’s character. He ended up injuring his bad knee, and after making up with Kate (but not confronting his grief over Jack’s death), he took some pain pills. Might Kevin suffer from addiction like his father did?
Highs and Lows
After three weeks of waiting by the phone, Randall and Beth (Susan Kelechi Watson) were assigned a foster kid: a 12-year-old girl named Deja whose mother had been arrested. Deja was quiet at first, but she quickly spoke up when Beth tried to take a pack of cigarettes out of her bag. She called Beth a “bitch,” and when Randall tried to step in, Deja flinched.
Deja snuck into Tess and Annie’s room once everyone was in bed to ask them about the house rules. Annie thought back on William’s first night in the house and how she convinced him to stay when he tried to sneak out. The youngest Pearson invited Deja to stay in her and Tess’s room, and Deja agreed.
The next morning, Randall told Deja about his adoption and broke the news that her mom might be going to jail for a while. She lashed out at Randall, breaking a picture of William and storming off.
This Is Us airs on NBC Tuesdays at 9 p.m. ET.
