‘This Is Us’ Season 4, Episode 14 ‘The Cabin’ Review: Time Capsule

What can I say? This wrap up to the sad three saga is simply heartbreakingly beautiful. It was three weeks of tear-filled This Is Us episodes. And now, there are just more tears but I assure you, it’s all for the better. The cabin has always been a special place for the Pearsons. And this week’s episode of This Is Us reminds us just of that. But, this time, there’s something more. I’m talking about time capsules, a damn house sketch, puzzle pieces, and a damn cassette tape. I swear, this is probably the only time all those items have completely wrecked me and reduced me to unstoppable tears. And, of course, no wonder, a huge part of that is because of Jack (Milo Ventimiglia).

In addition to him, it’s also because of the big three. Whenever they come together, it’s just so many emotions all in one episode. They have their scuffles and disagreements. But, it’s always a touching scene when they all show up for one another despite everything else.

I say it every week. This Is Us is phenomenal. But, this might just be one of my favorite episodes of the season. It’s tender, it’s beautiful, it answers a hell lot of questions, and it certainly teases a lot more. So, without further ado, here’s what happened this week.

The Time Capsule

Each member of the Pearson family holds the cabin dear to their heart for a number of reasons. For Jack, one of these reasons is a time capsule. Just after they bought the cabin, he takes Rebecca (Mandy Moore) and the kids up there. And one of the first activities he suggests is making a time capsule. Kevin (Parker Bates) is less than thrilled declaring he could be watching Jurassic Park with Sophie instead. Randall (Lonnie Chavis), on the other hand, is overthinking it. Kate (Mackenzie Hancsicsak) seems to be the only one having no problem with it.

A few years down the line, we jump into Kate’s reason. And by this, I’m pertaining to her time there with her asshole of a boyfriend Marc (Austin Abrams). In the last episode of This Is Us, she and Marc finally got up to the cabin after a disastrous argument. And if you thought that was bad, wait for this one. After getting to the cabin, the two quickly end up in another argument which ends up with Marc locking Kate out of the cabin.

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Rebecca, Kevin (Logan Shroyer), and Randall (Niles Fitch) arrive the next morning because they were blocked off by a fallen tree the previous night. When they do get to the cabin, Randall immediately notices something amiss. He finds a broken window then he spots his sister’s gloved-covered hands. Connecting the dots, he orders Kate to remove her gloves and they’re all horrified to see a huge cut on her palm. Kate tries to brush it off. And when Kevin turns to Marc for his version of the story, the truth comes out. Marc tries to play it off like it was Kate’s fault but, it’s obvious he’s up for a beating.

Fortunately, Rebecca steps in and kicks the bastard out. With the look she gave him, it seemed like she was holding back on beating the guy herself. And honestly, she should’ve just let her sons at him. It’s not a happy memory for Kate but, it’s the memory of her family saving her from a nightmare.

Toby and Baby Jack

Kate leaving for the cabin leaves us with a Toby (Chris Sullivan) and baby Jack moment for the first time in This Is Us. Toby’s difficulty with his son was upsetting. And throughout his time with Jack, it seems to be upsetting him too. Kudos to him though for trying his best.

Ron Batzdorff/NBC

At lunch, Toby feeds Jack some eggs. Suddenly, the baby starts choking. Quelling his panic, Toby does everything he could to dislodge the food. And after 20 or 30 seconds, Jack vomits it all up. To further ease his worries, Toby immediately heads to the doctor. But, the doctor assures that Jack is very healthy and that Toby did the right thing.

Getting back at home, Toby seems ready to give up once again. But, then he sees his Star Wars collection. And he figures out that he could connect to his son with something he loves. Although Jack couldn’t see the tiny figurines, Toby does a magnificent job at storytelling complete with lightsaber sounds and all. And Jack loves it. After all this time, it seems like Toby is finding his way on how to become a father to Jack.

The Big Three’s Safe Space

Meanwhile, now in their adulthood, the cabin has become a safe space for the big three. Arriving there, they all have their fair share of worry baggage. And a sudden brownout causes them all to get antsy. Randall (Sterling K. Brown) worries about not being able to access his home’s security cams. Kate worries about not being able to facetime Toby (Chris Sullivan) and baby Jack. And well, Maddison (Caitlin Thompson) confesses to Kate about her little romp with Kevin. So, that’s what he’s worried about.

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After getting supplies and calming a portion of their worries, the conversation shifts to Randall’s trip to LA. He couldn’t keep lying around it and Kevin picks it up fast. Finding no other way around it, Kate and Randall finally tell Kevin about Rebecca’s condition. Realizing how left out he was, Kevin gets upset and storms off. This leaves Kate and Randall to ponder on Rebecca’s condition while building a puzzle of their family picture. Kate is also upset that this is happening now that she’s finally getting along well with her mom. But, at the same time, she also assures Randall that she’s strong enough now, both her and Kevin actually, to help him carry the burden. When the two of them discover one last piece of the puzzle missing, a smile lights up Randall’s face.

The Perfect Time Capsule Treasure

Picking up a shovel, Randall gathers his siblings and they dig for the time capsule they buried years ago. In Kevin’s bag is a picture of him and Sophie when they were 12 years old. Meanwhile, Kate has a piece of paper with the game MASH sketching out her ideal love story and all. Last but not least, in Randall’s bag is the missing puzzle piece. It seems a little weird but, the story behind it is a lot more touching.

Ron Batzdorff/NBC

Remember, Randall was overthinking his time capsule treasure. Since he can’t find anything worthy enough to put in his bag, he decides not to put anything in it at all. So, Kevin picks up a random puzzle piece of their family picture puzzle and tells his brother that’s his thing. “Nobody wants to do this stupid puzzle except you,” Kevin tells Randall. “And this way, when we dig it up, everybody will be glad we found it.” It’s perfect.

Following that reveal, Randall confesses that he hasn’t gotten better despite how he presents himself. All those negative feelings have been building up. And Beth thinks he should see a therapist. Kevin agrees. But, Randall seems to remain unsure of it.

The House on the Hill

Diverting the conversation, Randall looks inside the lunch box and realizes their parents left time capsule treasures too. In Rebecca’s bag, they find one of Jack’s house sketches. And in Jack’s bag, they find a cassette. Let me tell you, this is where I lost it.

Playing the tape, the big three hears Jack’s voice. He’s recalling that exact day they made the time capsule. And he’s telling them about the house on the hill. See, he got this idea to build a house on the hill next to the cabin for him and Rebecca to grow old in. He wanted glass windows and glass doors to go with it so they could really enjoy the view of the place. But, Rebecca busted him while he was sketching it. And she was nothing but supportive. Jack got embarrassed though. So, he crumpled it and threw it in the trash.

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Later on, though, Jack realized something. “Your mom believes in me so why shouldn’t I believe in myself?” he says through the tape. He went back out to retrieve his drawing. But, it was gone. At first, he thought the wind took it away. But, it dawned on him that Rebecca might’ve picked it up. True enough, Rebecca saw him throwing it out from the window and she did pick it back up. She put it in her time capsule pouch because as Jack says, she believes in his dreams. Ending his message, Jack reminds his children that when it comes to the people that their mother loves, she doesn’t mess around. She’ll do anything even if it means burying a doodle in a time capsule.

Hearing Jack’s voice again compares to nothing for the big three. But, that house doodle meant so much more. Jumping a few years ahead, we see the exact same sketch taking form on that hill beside their old cabin. And the man to bring Jack’s dream to life is no one else but Kevin. It’s the exact same beautiful house Jack wanted for his family. And it’s the exact same home that the entire family gathers in for Rebecca and what is probably her last moments.

This Is Us continues Tuesday, February 25th, with “Clouds” at 9/8c on NBC.