‘This Is Us’ Season 4, Episode 2 ‘The Pool: Part Two’ Review: Growing Up

In last week’s This Is Us season four premiere episode, we didn’t get to see much of the Pearsons. But this week on “The Pool: Part Two,” it’s all about them. And holy cow did I miss everybody. As happy as I am seeing everybody though, this week is all about the trepidation of change. Last season on This Is Us, the Pearsons went through A LOT. And now, they’re dipping their toes into this new chapter. It’s both pleasantly nostalgic and quite bittersweet. And after last week’s welcoming, this episode is just the right nudge for the season to move forward. Now, I can’t wait to see how the new characters and narrative will all tie up together and pick up from what this episode offers.

In this week’s episode of This Is Us, the Pearson’s are facing worries over the new changes in their lives. When the kids were going through their teenage phases, Jack (Milo Ventimiglia) and Rebecca (Mandy Moore) worried about keeping their bond with the kids strong. And now, Randall (Sterling K. Brown) and Beth (Susan Kelechi Watson) are struggling with the same thing with Deja (Lyric Ross), Tess (Eris Baker), and Annie (Faither Herman). Meanwhile, Kate (Chrissy Metz) and Toby (Chris Sullivan) are trying to adapt to life with a blind newborn child. Last but not least, Kevin (Justin Hartley) is trying to find something to hold on to for his sobriety.

Last Day of Summer

On the last day of summer before the big three enters the 7th grade, Jack takes the Pearsons to the poolside for some quality Pearson family time. But, as soon as they get there, Kevin, Randall, and Kate all scramble off to do their own thing much to Jack and Rebecca’s disappointment.

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Kevin and Randall go off with Randall’s friends and Kevin impresses them with his rapping skills. When he urges Randall to follow, Randall is humiliated because he doesn’t know the lyrics. Randall confronts Kevin about it and this leads to Kevin questioning if he’s a good person. He takes this query to his dad and Jack basically tells him that he’s a good person but it’s complicated. What worked for Jack to bring out the best in him is to have people he cares about.

Meanwhile, Kate hangs out with the most popular girls in her grade. It ends up pretty meanly when the girls trick her into waiting behind a tent for her crush. Another kid, one of the nerds, comes to meet her but Kate takes it in stride. Since he truly is interested in her, Kate gives him a kiss.

Later on, the kids come back to their mom and dad. Even though they didn’t exactly spend the whole day bonding, Jack smiles contentedly.

Sobriety and a Mother’s Guilt

In the present day, Kevin is acing his sobriety. He’s now successfully raising a plant. And he’s been busy with a movie where he was greatly complimented by director M. Night Shyamalan. He also has a new movie offer in Chicago. Despite everything going fairly well, Kevin still feels a pang of loneliness. He’s also quite worried about his uncle Nicky (Griffin Dunne) who he just bailed out of jail.

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On the other hand, Toby is worried about Kate. Ever since they found out that their baby has no chance of seeing, she’s been taking it all too well. While Toby needed a moment to take it in, Kate was already plowing through the mission without so much as a tear. It was amazing. But, Toby also noticed that Kate was starting to overeat again.

When Kate invites parenting pro-Anna over to help her know how to raise baby Jack, Rebecca, Miguel, Kevin, and Kate’s bestie Madison (Caitlin Thompson) come over as well to partake in the lessons. The first thing Anna has them do is to assess the risks around the house for baby Jack. In the middle of it, Rebecca corners Toby and notes that he’s getting thinner. Then, Toby admits that he is greatly worried about Kate.

Later on, Kevin wanders into baby Jack’s room. And there, he spills about the loneliness he feels. After a while, Kate walks in on his moment and the siblings have a heart to heart. Kate feels guilty about Jack’s condition. She feels that Jack’s blindness is her fault because she still continued the pregnancy despite the risks. To distract her from her misery, Kevin notes that Jack always cries when he tries to pick her up. So, Kate teaches him the proper way to do it. As Kevin cuddles his nephew, Kate notes that he should give himself the same compassion that he gives everyone else.

Haircuts and a Bus Ride

Randall, on the other hand, is still settling down in Philadelphia with his family. Wanting a break, he suggests a Pearson family fun day. However, Tess is adamant about getting her new haircut while Deja wants Randall to take her on the bus so she could prove that it’s okay for her to ride it. So, the family settles on an agreement. Beth will take Tess to her haircut with Annie. And Randall will take Deja on the bus test.

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At the salon, Tess surprises Beth when she chooses a haircut that’ll really change her look. Beth doesn’t seem to like it but, Tess insists. Meanwhile, once Randall and Deja get on the bus, Deja asks Randall to sit away from her so he could really get a feel of Deja riding the bus alone. Midway, a weirdo gets on the bus and plops right down beside Deja and starts talking to her. Soon enough, Randall freaks out and asks to change seats with the weirdo. He also bans Deja from riding the bus.

Later on, they all meet up outside the salon. Tess emerges with her new hair-do and her whole family compliments her on it. Despite Beth saying she loves it though, an unsure look passes her face when everyone turns around. To complete their afternoon, Randall and Beth teach the kids how to play worst-case scenario. By this, Deja somehow manages to get Randall to agree to her riding the bus to school as long as she texts him every time she gets to school. And by the end of it, Randall and Beth seem to have somehow come to terms with their kids changing and growing up.

Coping

Later that night, in each of their own worlds, the Pearsons including their extended families deal with their worries. Toby tells Kate that he’s headed out to the store for some groceries. But, in reality, he heads to the gym to release some tension. It seems that it’s been how he’s coping with his worries for Kate and their baby. Kevin, on the other hand, decides to follow his heart. That night, he takes his precious plant with him and flies to where his uncle Nicky is. Nicky doesn’t seem too pleased saying that he didn’t ask Kevin to come. But, Kevin simply says, “I know.”

This Is Us continues next Tuesday, October 8th, with “Unhinged” at 9/8c on NBC.