dex14

Renewed through Season 6.

Bandoman

I'm really looking forward to this show coming back.

DJariya

I caught up with season 4 very late. I finished it about a month ago. It was a stellar season. I'm looking forward to season 5. Should be interesting to see how things go now.

JeffTheAlpaca

Now it feels like Fall with this show back.

Bandoman

Good two episodes, but the reveal at the end of Ep2 was too much even for this show. We'll see where it goes.

I'm linking the Kadison storyline. Randall's storyline still steals the show. Kate wasn't too annoying.

Noonan

I agree. There were a few parts which stretched reality in this episode. Can't wait to see how they explain why William never knew seeing that he lived in the same apt.

That being said, still some of the best TV being written these days.

DWilson

I enjoy the show, but "This Is Us" has always been built upon contrivances, -the basic premise is a bit of an eye-roller, in retrospect, -but the producers seem to delight in creating these kind of situations and then writing them in a way that the audience comes to embrace them. This new storyline (Randall's mother) is perhaps there biggest contrivance yet, though I'm sure they wouldn't have done something so blatantly absurd if they didn't think they could pull it off.

Covid allowed them to tweak the storyline in regards to the scene at the cabin and the situation with Rebecca. It makes sense that the clinical trial would be postponed or cancelled. I wonder if it was always headed in that direction, or it changed with the times.

dex14

I like this show a lot. It is one of the only network TV shows I still watch. But yes, this show can have many contrivances. They usually pull it off though.

If you want to see how bad it could be, watch the creators movie Life Itself. That was ridiculously contrived, abysmal, and the ultimate melodramatic eye roller. On second thought... don’t watch it. It’s that bad.

Noonan

One thing I don't think was planned before everything going on today is Randall going for another therapist. I can't imagine they would have hired Pam for that role if it was only for a few episodes, straddling a season.

I hope they don't forget about the characters they introduced last year. I know Malik was in the first half briefly but his whole family was a good add to the show, IMO. They could have expanded on his and Randall's friendship more since Randall is in a house full of women.

mphtrilogy

Rough ep, hated the ending... ugh this show was so good... hoping it can turn it around...

Superman07

I was telling my wife I felt the “mom’s alive!” angle was very contrived. However, I think they could do something interesting. Have the mom around in a few flashbacks, but the main outcome would be her having another kid. So present day they kid (not the mom) would show up and be the step brother/sister - similar to how Randall showed up on William’s.

DJariya

I finally watched the premiere last night. Pretty good. For those unaware, Mandy is pregnant in real life, so I don't know how that will affect the show.

I have to admit, the last scene with Randall's birth Mom was a "What?" Moment for me, but this show has always been built on a lot of coincidences. So it didn't bother me as much as some of you.

and the way season 4 ended, it did add a perfect point to add COVID and George Floyd into the current storyline, since the season ended around Spring.

at some point, they have to be running out of storyline to keep Jack in the show. This episode was up to the point of the Pilot when the kids were born. I mean where else can they go with Jack?

Bandoman

Good episode this week. I still find the Randall storyline to be the most compelling, Kevin second, and Kate third. I did like the

The new characters introduced seem interesting, once we accept the ridiculous "Randall's mom is still alive" premise from the previous episode. Will be fun to see where that goes.

dex14

I thought the Toby and Kate stuff was absolutely terrible.

All the current social aspects of the real world being wedged in makes it pretty cringe worthy.

boogieman03

The diaper fight makes just want to stay single forever.

Noonan

Interesting they went with a Vietnamese person to be connected to Randall's mother after all the Vietnam stuff we had with Jack and his brother.

windom

So is Randall still on the city council? It seems like there would be plenty of storylines there relating to current events, but I guess there's not too much going on since Randall can spend all his time looking for therapists.

DWilson

It was briefly mentioned in a tossed-off comment in the first episode.

Bandoman

Hey, Randall went to work this week! I thought his storyline was fun.

So tired of Kate's storyline, but that's ok.

I'm wondering whether the director of Kevin's "film" is a complete asshole or just trying to motivate Kevin to be his best. Maybe a combination.

mphtrilogy

I've been enjoying Kevin's arc the most this season...

Long break scheduled now... that was quick...

Bandoman

I know, I don't want to wait until January.

windom

Unless they really screwed up, young Kate was taking an ovulation test not a pregnancy test. So it seems she wants to get knocked up by the loser guy.

dex14

I think the show has kind of run its course with the flashbacks to younger kids. It just seems like they are treading water trying to incorporate Jack into the show.
I wonder if Season 6 will be the last. Or they'll renew it for one more year and announce it as the final season renewal.

dex14

It was a pregnancy test.

windom

It sounds like the actual test was a pregnancy test though, so I'm not really sure what their intention was.