'This Is Us' Season 2, Episode 7 'The Most Disappointed Man' Recap: Past of Randall's Father Revealed, Kevin Messes Up Proposal, Kate and Toby Get Married [SPOILERS]

Here’s another interesting episode of “This Is Us” that digs further into previous episodes that we thought were over and done with. For Season 2, Episode 7, titled “The Most Disappointed Man,” we visit the courthouse—for William Hill’s hearing as a drug-addicted citizen, and Randall’s legal adoption hearing. Meanwhile, at the present time, we catch the big three taking big but shaky steps for the future. 

Kevin Says the wrong things, Toby asks Jack for Help

Kevin’s been down in the dumps lately, and because of this, Sophie’s been a whirlwind of confusion. Their love is currently in turmoil and Kevin is anxious to fix it. All he needed was a little push. The push came not long after because Kate and Toby have a very special surprise for him… they’re pregnant! It’s been 10 weeks since and the couple seems to be untroubled by their baby out of wedlock. Except for Toby’s mother of course—but her priest can handle that.

As soon as Kevin realizes how happy Toby and Kate are, he decides to pursue his own dreams with Sophie. So he heads out to a Jewelry store and buys 3 different rings—way to go, Kev! (You really do need Sophie in your life.) Anyway, he stumbles into Sophie’s house, ready to ask the big question—rugged but determined. But before that, he’s got a great big speech coming and he fails to use the right words for it. The result: A great big miscommunication between the two. Can you believe he actually said that thinking of him and Sophie is a “nightmare?” Good luck getting out of that one!
Despite this, Jack’s presence is still very much present. A big surprise after a messy dilemma? That sounds like what Jack would do. And even in Toby’s time of reflection, Jack is very much present. When Toby reluctantly talks to Jack-in-the-mantle, he reveals how he wanted to make a big wedding for Kate. And because Toby did the right thing of asking advice from the most romantic guy Kate knows, he earned himself a yes from Kate—again.

Randall’s Dad speaks a heartbreaking speech in Courthouse

On his trial for heroin use, the lanky bones left of William Hill presents himself to the judge. His eyes are buggy, his skin sheen with sweat. But his face is devoid of emotion. This is the shell of the man that William Hill brings to court. He calls himself “the most disappointed man.”
Before he is sentenced to his prison time, William speaks openly about how he feels nothing about being locked up in jail—because there is nothing left for him outside of it. It’s a strong, emotion-filled speech that left the judge staring intently at him. Soon after, the same judge calls him in for a private discussion. He proposes a deal wherein he wants to give him a shot, but he needs to promise to choose the better choices when he’s got it. This will be the turning point for Randall’s father. It was such a powerful conversation that placed more weight on Will’s story in “This Is Us.” And it made his and Randall’s meeting all the more significant for us. That may be way back in Season 1, but it feels fresh, raw and still thrilling in this latest episode.

Déjà’s mom wants to get her back

We all know that the adoption of Déjà means a lot to Randall. And he isn’t giving anyone up for anything especially his family. So when he has a private talk with his adopted daughter’s imprisoned mother, he is surprised to find out that she’s not letting her baby girl go either. But instead of putting Déjà behind safety nets, he gave his daughter what she needed the most—her biological mother’s love.

This is a reflection of how Randall felt when he was young. He was hopeful of meeting his dad because he loved his dad. But he never got to meet him as he grew up. He obviously didn’t want this happening for Déjà because he knew how hard it would be for her. So he made the strong choice of making way for Déjà’s needs to be fulfilled.
To sum it up, it just goes to show that stories from before hold a lot of meaning for every character—and for every progressing storyline. The show has never been a conventional TV series—and we wouldn’t have it any other way.
“This Is Us” continues next Tuesday with “Number One,” 9/8c on NBC.