THIS IS US: Kevin Dishes Up Some Brutal Honesty in “The Fifth Wheel”
BY Jennifer Griffin
Published 7 years ago
It’s been a month since NBC’s This is Us threw a little chaos into the lives of the Big Three.
The show opens the book on “The Fifth Wheel,” a new chapter airing Jan. 9th that picks up four weeks after Kevin’s arrest for DUI, Deja’s departure from Randall and Beth’s home, and Kate’s miscarriage.
Toby and Kate are both grieving and learning how to move on, while Beth and Randall are still deeply angry over their daughter’s illicit car ride with her drunken uncle.
Meanwhile, Kevin finds himself in a swanky Hollywood rehab clinic where he attempts to get to the bottom of his addiction problem — when he’s not wowing the staff with his “Mr Rehab” charm.
However when Rebecca, Kate and Randall are invited to join Kevin’s therapy session, things soon take an unpleasant turn, particularly when the subject of Jack’s own addiction is brought up. Are the Pearsons, as Kevin suggests, a family of addicts?
It’s a question that doesn’t get much attention, as loath to view Jack Pearson in any light less than glowing, the family turn on Kevin instead.
What follows is a brutally honest exploration of family dynamics, and the various perspectives that help shape our childhoods for better or worse. You may just forego the tissues in favor of a ringside box of popcorn for this one, Pearson fans.
Meanwhile, Toby, Beth and Miguel decide to form an alternative ‘Big Three’ of their own, and a flashback to a summer vacation in a log cabin by a lake sows the seeds of future discord for the Pearson children.
“The Fifth Wheel” is This is Us at the top of its game. Subtle writing, a deep and sympathetic understanding of sibling rivalries, and the impossible job of every parent, coupled with raw performances from Justin Hartley (Kevin), Sterling K. Brown (Randall), and Chrissy Metz (Kate) make this return installment an episode fans won’t want to miss.
This is Us is back Tuesday, January 9 (09:00PM – 10:01PM) on NBC.
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