The audience has a chance to witness Randall (Sterling K. Brown) and Kevin (Justin Hartley) fighting as teenagers. Although they share a room, Kevin seems to be rude with his brother, telling him to "get a life," when Randall makes an attempt to establish peace. The big fight makes Kevin move his room into the basement, leaving no chance for brotherly reconciliation. Things get more complicated on a football field. The brothers play against each other, and Randall's frustration leads to a physical fight. But viewers still hope to see them in peace sometime soon.
In the present, we see Kevin living in Randall's home, but the competition between the two brothers isn't gone. When it's time for family dinner, Rebecca can't make it, which leaves the brothers eating alone in a restaurant. The situation is awkward enough, because Randall doesn't feel comfortable, and Kevin uses this inconvenience, pressing Randall with his arrogant behavior. But the situation gets worse when Randall says he has never seen a single episode of Kevin's show "The Manny." They fight with each other again on the street, after Kevin leaves Randall alone at the table. They recall every frustrating detail of The Big Three family, with Kevin having less care from Rebecca and Randall feeling like a "dog" because of Kevin's behavior. The conflict takes a peaceful turn when a crowd of people pass them by, and Kevin clarifies that Randall is his brother and there's nothing to worry about. On their way back home, they take a first step toward silent peace. However, Randal makes one statement, pointing that Kevin called him "my brother" for the first time. When they arrive at Randall's house, Beth moves Kevin to the basement, as if he's a teenager. The only difference is that now, Kevin doesn't mind Randall joining him. In the end, they watch episodes of "The Manny" together.
Beth (Susan Kelechi Watson) is left alone with William (Ron Cephas Jones) at the house, when Kevin and Randall are out for dinner. She reveals that marijuana softened her father's pain when he had cancer. Surprisingly, she still has some in her house – and soon, Beth and William are having brownies and a heartfelt conversation. William mentions the book that he gave to Rebecca back in the day when Randall was adopted. Beth is clearly shocked, but isn't ready to tell the whole truth to Randall. As Kevin and Randall are having a good time in the basement, she leaves Rebecca a voicemail, suggesting that they should talk about it.
Kate (Chrissy Metz) desperately struggles with her excessive weight with a little progress. She's eating healthily, while Toby (Chris Sullivan) isn't so enthusiastic about diet, as he has pizza and junk food in his apartment. He seems to have no worries about weight anymore. Kate is concerned with this discrepancy between them, though Toby promises to stick to diet when they eat together. In the end, it's Kate who fails to keep dieting, as we see her indulging with sweet donuts alone at a gas station.
Finally, the viewers have a chance to watch lovely Milo Ventimiglia and Mandy Moore as Jack and Rebecca in the '90s. And the couple isn't that happy as we can expect. Jack works a lot and even forgets to give Rebecca a goodbye kiss in the morning before leaving home for his work – for the first time in 18 years. At the office, he talks to Miguel (Jon Huertas) about his problems. At the same time, Rebecca is eager to continue with her singing after a long break, and she isn't getting any substantial support from Jack. They meet each other later at the football game, the one where Kevin and Randall aren't playing for the same team. She wants to tell him about the rehearsal, but they're interrupted. At home, they barely talk to each other, as Rebecca dines alone. She then has flashbacks of them through the times, when Jack promised she'd have "the best washing machine in the whole world." They still can be happy, and the viewers won't handle their breakup, hoping that Jack and Rebecca will keep their love.
Reach Staff Reporter Mariia Kovaleva here.
Annenberg Media