It is almost a no-brainer to expect that "This Is Us" is pulling an extra emotional and family-oriented theme coming into their Thanksgiving episode tonight. And a lot of the cast of the NBC show including Sterling K. Brown and Chrissy Metz have cautioned fans to expect a tense yet still love-filled episode.
Last week's episode started what could be the downward spiral of Randall (Brown) and Rebecca's (Mandy Moore) special relationship when William (Ron Cephas Jones) accidently told Beth (Susan Kelechi Watson) that the Pearson matriarch actually knew who Randall's biological father was for almost all his life. And since Beth and Randall have a pretty solid relationship, it is safe to say that the former will eventually find a way to let the latter know. In a promo clip for the installment titled "Pilgrim Rick," a snippet of a supposedly happy and peaceful Thanksgiving meal is marred by a distressed look on Randall's face.
Since Rebecca finding out about his adopted son locating his real father, she has obviously been worried about the day when he would find out that she hid things from him. But while Randall will heavily be affected by what he is about to learn, the fact that everyone is gathering together for the first time in the present day will be a real treat for fans.
"I think it's something that we have to look forward to," Brown teased of the episode while talking to Entertainment Tonight. "Kate will likely — after Thanksgiving — go back to the West Coast, but in future episodes that relationship will definitely be explored."
Speaking of Kate, spoilers suggest that it will be a huge moment for her as she is to make two life-changing decisions. The last time fans saw her, she eventually decided to take a break from her strict diet opting to snack on some donuts while filling up gas. While fans know that she will eventually regret this impulsive decision, it will be interesting how this lapse in her judgment will affect her supposedly big choices.
"I think anytime anybody goes home for the holidays, whether they have a crazy huge family or they don't have family, the holidays are always tricky," Metz pondered on what her character is going through during an interview with TV Line. "For her, it was like, how do I get a tighter grip on what it is that I want to do? And how can I make this happen? What can I do right now, right now? And so, really, I think when you're desperate, you make rash decisions. We all hope for the best, but you have to make those decisions — whether they're the right ones or not. You make them because you're desperate, and I think she's very, very desperate."
Obviously, the present day will not have Jack (Milo Ventimiglia) but the parallel time jump this week brings fans back to a time when the younger Pearson family was celebrating Thanksgiving. In the momentous flashback, the clan travels to Rebecca's parents' place. An exclusive sneak peek courtesy of Entertainment Weekly shows how Rebecca is kind of uneasy trying to perfect the cranberry sauce recipe she is making.
"This Is Us" airs every Tuesday, 9 p.m. ET on NBC
