‘This Is Us’ Season 3, Episode 11 ‘Songbird Road: Part One’ Recap: Uncle Nicky

When This Is Us revealed Nick Pearson was alive, Jack’s (Milo Ventimiglia) history became a lot more complicated. But, nothing ever really prepared us to how bittersweet the answers to all our questions are. And the biggest of those questions would be why Jack told his family his brother was dead? He knew Nick was alive. And yet, he chose to keep the truth to the grave.

“Songbird Road: Part One” is definitely heartbreaking. Just hearing that little crack in the Pearson brother’s voices would already start the waterworks. But, it is one of the best episodes for the season or even for This Is Us so far.

Now, after the tremors have settled from Randall’s (Sterling K. Brown) landslide win, the focus of the family has shifted onto Kevin’s (Justin Hartley) search for Uncle Nicky. Despite the siblings’ divided enthusiasm on finding their long lost uncle, the news seems to have stricken Rebecca (Mandy Moore). In that one meeting, the big three get their answers but, it may be more than they ever bargained for.

Road Trip to Bradford

In the past, Jack keeps receiving letters from his brother in the office asking him to talk. The pattern was consistent. Jack received. Jack read. Then Jack threw. He never replied, and he never paid them much attention up until he received one in his house. That’s when he decided to lie to Rebecca and tell her he was going out of town for work when he was in truth going to Bradford.

Ron Batzdorff/NBC

At present, Kevin calls for a family meeting and reveals all that he knows about their Uncle Nicky. Then he asks who wants to go with him to meet the man. Randall immediately volunteers. Kate (Chrissy Metz) turns down the offer because of her pregnancy. And Rebecca who seems to have been struck hard by the realization of Jack’s lie chooses to stay and look over Randall’s kids.

The next day, Beth tells Randall of her interview jitters as he was packing. And Randall gladly gives her the job interview pep talk take two. It ends up making Beth smile, and she does admit she likes it better than the first. As the conversation flows to meeting Nicky, Randall reveals that he’s more afraid of no one answering the door than meeting the man himself. And he’s more fearful for Kevin more than anyone else.

On the ride, Kate asks how Randall could be so chill. And he throws a burn saying that after their mother lied to him for most of his life, nothing could beat it. Back at Randall’s house, the kids, Miguel (Jon Huertas), and Rebecca were happily making cookies. The moment breaks, however, when Annie (Faithe Herman) asks if Randall’s going to bring Nicky home. Rebecca doesn’t think so but, she remains tense afterward.

Jack Goes To Songbird Road

Back when they were kids, Nicky dreamed of living in a house by the lake. And that is what was in Jack’s head when he came up to Nicky’s (Michael Angarano) trailer. Nicky answers the door, and Jack immediately tells him that he can’t write to his house. He turns around to leave but, Nicky asks if he would like a beer. Jack answers that he doesn’t drink anymore. So, Nicky tells him he has Nesquik and leaves the door open.

Ron Batzdorff/NBC

After a moment’s hesitation, Jack enters the little trailer. Inside, Nicky gives him the photo of their squad. Jack takes a sip of his Nesquik and winces before commenting on how Nicky could stand something too sweet. Nicky jokes back that it couldn’t be worse than their mom’s lasagna. Then, the brothers start laughing as they reminisce their childhood.

In the present, Kevin knocks on the trailer door but, no one answers. He tries again and again to no avail. Kate tells him there’s no hope and that they should go back. But Kevin remains adamant until an old man arrives. He stares at them confused until Kevin introduces himself as Jack’s son.

Old Nicky (Griffin Dunne) asks if Jack knew they were there. And Kate delivers the news of his passing. Nicky asks when and seems to agree to Randall’s answer. Then, the old man lets them into the trailer, and he starts cleaning up, almost ignoring the three altogether. Kate notices the diabetes meds. Kevin starts babbling on trying to start a conversation. Soon, Nicky tells them that they just wasted their time going there and they should leave. But Kate firmly stands up for her brothers. Nicky then surrenders and admits that they were indeed Jack’s kids.

The Truth of Nick Pearson

Once they were seated down, Nick tells them about Vietnam. With a regretful shake of his head, he says that Jack shouldn’t have come for him. The day after Jack hauled him off the docks to get him clean of his high, Nick woke up to a Vietnamese child staring down at him. It was the same child Jack saved, and he refused to treat.

Nicky brought out a bar of chocolate and started eating it in front of the child. He taunted the child with it until the boy took his glasses and wore it himself. The child started laughing, and soon, they were both laughing. Then Nicky finally gave the chocolate bar and took him out for fishing.

The boat had some grenades. and Nicky taught the boy how to use them for fishing. He took the pin off one and threw it on the water. Soon, dead fish were floating to their reach. However, on the second spot, Nicky had a hard time removing the bomb’s pin. The kid tried to take it from him, and in their struggle, Nicky dropped the bomb on the boat. Panicked, he screamed at the child to get off the boat and jump before he jumped off himself. But, it was too late.

By the time Jack and the others reached him, the boat was in splinters, and the kid was nowhere in sight. Nicky was paralyzed in shock. And Jack was on him, furious and defeated. That was when Jack declared he was done with his brother. As Nicky was being loaded on the helicopter, Jack had his back turned on him. In the present, Nicky finishes his story. And he regretfully repeats that he never got to tell Jack the truth.

Walking Away

Back to Jack’s visit, Nicky tries to steer the conversation to the war but, Jack cuts him short. Nicky begs and asks Jack to listen. He tries to tell him the truth of what happened that day but, Jack begs him to stop. He has moved on, and asks Nicky to stop sending letters.

Before Jack could open the door, Nicky asks if he ruined his life. Jack says no and that he has a good life. Then, he takes out a family picture and introduces Nicky to his wife and kids. Nicky notices Randall, and Jack says Randall found him. Wistfully, Nicky tells Jack he has a nice house before returning the photo. Then, he tells Jack he won’t write letters anymore. Jack tries to say something but Nicky tells him to go.

On a stop, Jack tries to decide whether to go back to Bradford or back to Pittsburg. He puts his blinker on to head back to Bradford. But, he hesitates and heads back home instead to Pittsburg.

In the present, Nicky recounts how the screams of the child’s mother would forever haunt him in his dreams. Then he moves on to how Jack moved on from him and the war. He asks how Jack died, so Randall tells him about the fire. After a moment, he decides to call it a day. They let themselves out of the trailer just like Jack did.

Changing Courses

Back when Jack got home from the visit, he admits to Rebecca that he lied to her. He tells her that he visited an old buddy from the war he was previously close with. And Rebecca asks if it helped and Jack answers uncertainty. Just as Rebecca tries to delve deeper into it, Jack excuses himself.

Ron Batzdorff/NBC

In the present, Miguel enters the kitchen to find Rebecca troubled over the memory of Jack. She wonders if she could’ve done more for Jack. And Miguel tells her that Jack himself was very careful because there was a darkness in him that he fought to keep deep down. However, no sweet answers could console Rebecca. Right now, all she wants is the truth.

At the stop, Kevin thinks back on memory with his dad. It was the morning Jack leaves for Bradford. And Jack tells him that he has to watch out because a kid can either repeat the mistakes of his old man or correct them. Jack doesn’t further explain but, it rings with Kevin in the present. Then, he decides that he can’t leave Nicky as Jack did.

The trio head back to Bradford. But, when they knock on the trailer, no one answers. The door isn’t locked, however, and they find Nicky inside with two bottles of alcohol and a gun in front of him. Randall takes the gun away, and Nicky once again repeats his utmost regret, “I never got to tell him.”

This Is Us returns Tuesday, January 29th, with “Songbird Road: Part Two” at 8/7c on NBC.