‘This Is Us’ Season 4, Episode 3 ‘Unhinged’ Review: Precious Bonds

This week’s episode on This Is Us just makes my heart so happy. I was literally smiling most of the episode because there’s just so many moments that are so damn heartwarmingly precious. There’s that mushy moment between Jack (Milo Ventimiglia) and Miguel (Jon Huertas). There’s that touching scene between young Randall (Lonnie Chavis) and young Kevin (Parker Bates). And of course, let’s not forget Timothy Omundson’s heartwarming come back to television. Seeing him along with other This Is Us stars such as Jennifer Morrison and Griffin Dunne is such a delight much more so that their characters have immediately just become so lovable. With so many happy “aww” moments, this episode has definitely come up on my favorites list.

In tonight’s episode of This Is Us titled “Unhinged,” the Pearsons continue to form new and special bonds. Kevin (Justin Hartley) and Nicky (Griffin Dunne) finally meet Cassidy (Jennifer Morrison). While Kate (Chrissy Metz) meets the acquaintance of her grumpy neighbor Gregory (Timothy Omundson). On the other hand, Randall (Sterling K. Brown) is forced to make a tough decision concerning his new best friend Jae Won (Tim Jo). And in the past timeline, the bond between Jack and Miguel grow stronger.

Uncle-Nephew Bonding Time

After being reunited with his family, Nicky did try to change his life. Though it took time, he finally started opening-up to his therapist. And he’s been keeping himself sober. However, just when things were getting better, his therapist is reassigned to another state. This breaks him. He turns back to alcohol which leads him to throw the chair at the AA meeting Cassidy was in.

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When Kevin comes over, Kevin forces him to go back to the veteran’s center to apologize. And somehow, Kevin manages to strike a deal with the management. If they can deem that Nicky wouldn’t be a further threat, they’d allow him to continue treatment there on a probationary basis. His sentence for what he did might even be pardoned.

Later on, while Dr. Patterson (Time Winters) evaluates Nicky, Kevin meets Cassidy’s son Matty (Noah Salsbury Lipson) in the lobby. And they get along pretty quickly. When Cassidy comes out from her session, however, she’s a little bit surprised and skeptical about seeing her son hanging out with a 39-year-old man. She and Kevin exchange some snippy but comical remarks. And after the mother and son leave, Kevin checks up with Dr. Patterson. Sad as it may, he tells Kevin not to get his hopes up because they can only help people who want to be helped.

Outside, Kevin finds his uncle entering a bar. With his patience wearing thin, Kevin follows him inside. He confronts Nickey and lets out everything he’s been holding inside. Afterward, he practically drags Nicky to an AA meeting. There, they meet Cassidy again. When Kevin starts talking later on about his own journey, he shares that whenever he’s in a pinch, he thinks of his nephew. As he rambles on, his monologue becomes more and more hilarious. And soon, he has Cassidy laughing uncontrollably. Nicky soon follows. Soon enough, the three of them are almost rolling on the floor in laughter.

Kate Makes a New Friend

Meanwhile, Kate meets her new grumpy neighbor Gregory. After Toby (Chris Sullivan) leaves for work, Gregory comes over and snarkily asks Kate to tell her husband to quit parking on the sidewalk. Later on at lunch with some of Toby’s clients, Kate is surprised to see Toby in his new suit. He’d really trimmed down A LOT. And Kate confronts him about this at home. Toby admits that he’s been going to the gym the past couple of months for the betterment of his health. Because of his early heart attack, he became afraid that he won’t be there for his son if he kept up his old lifestyle. Upset that they’re going opposite ways, Kate isolates herself in the backyard.

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However, Gregory comes along again complaining of Toby’s car. When Kate tells him off, however, he apologizes. Then, he tells her his own story. Like what happened to him in real life, Omundson’s character also suffered a stroke two and a half years ago. Since then, he had to relearn everything from walking to chewing and swallowing. And now, his only goal every day is to walk one mile around the block. He’s not fast but, he does it unless Toby blocks the sidewalk. Ending on a funny note, he threatens to key Toby’s car if he still leaves it on the sidewalk the next day.

Later that night, Kate and Toby patch it up promising no more secrets between them. The next day, Kate meets Gregory by the sidewalk with Audi and Jack. And the three of them take their time walking and simply enjoying each other’s company.

Randall’s New Best Friend

In Philadelphia, it seems that Jae Won has grown from being Randall’s campaign manager to being his best friend and chief of staff. Jae Won’s even practically part of the family now. At work, Randall gears up for his weekly Monday talks with the residents of Philadelphia. His secretary Bernice (Carlease Burke) doesn’t seem to think of it as a good idea though scoffing and rolling her eyes all day long. Because of her experience, however, Randall bears with her attitude. By the end of the day, Bernice is nagging Randall with his meeting with another counselor. But, another man comes in just before cutoff. So, Randall tells Jae Won to go ahead to the meeting as he accommodates the man much to Bernice’s disapproval.

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At home, Mallik (Asante Blackk) personally tells Deja (Lyric Ross) about his daughter fearing that she might hear it at school. And Deja doesn’t know what to do with that information. She confesses this later on to Tess (Eris Baker) and when Tess asks if Deja still likes him, Deja says it’s complicated. In turn, Tess also confesses that she’s still hesitant to fully come out in her new school. And she can’t talk to her mom about it. Deja reminds her though that even if she doesn’t want to talk, Randall and Beth would always still be there.

Back at the office, after Randall’s last talk, he finally confronts Bernice. In Bernice’s professional opinion, Jae Won is holding Randall back from advancing his political career. And her advice is to fire him. Instead, Randall tells her that he can’t have someone in his staff openly disrespecting him, his policies, and his friend. So, he tells Bernice it’s her last day at work. Afterward, he meets up with Jae Won. And he reminds Randall that despite the old-schoolers calling them naive, they’re working towards something right. Lightening up, Randall then asks Jae Won about his upcoming proposal to his girlfriend.

Special Bonds

In the past timeline, young Randall is entering 7th grade in his new school earlier than his siblings. Despite his excitement, he ends up in a little bit of trouble. Getting to school, he switches out his black shoes to white rubber shoes. And his teacher gives him a yellow slip for it. In what seems to be one of his first anxiety attacks, he calls home and Kevin answers. Sensing that his brother is really freaking out, Kevin rushes out the door and rides his bike to Randall’s school. Getting there, Kevin forges their mom’s signature on the yellow slip and helps Randall calm down.

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Meanwhile, at work, Jack almost gets fired. Their company loses a lot of money because of one mishap in a deal. And as it turns out, it was Jack who signed off on it. Admitting his mistake, Jack comes to their boss and apologizes. But, he still gets sacked. Hearing the news, Miguel heads straight to their boss. He fiercely defends Jack and demands he is reinstated lest Miguel will resign too. This gets their boss thinking since Miguel did just bring in most of their highest-paying clients and when he resigns, those clients will be gone too.

Later that night, Jack thanks Miguel for getting him his job back over the phone. In all sincerity, he tells Miguel that he’ll be there if he needs anything whether its big or small. Miguel lightly pokes fun at Jack’s mushiness teasingly saying “I love you too shmuckles.” But, all the same, both men end up being teary-eyed over the conversation.

After wiping off the tears, Jack is called downstairs by Kevin. As the kid says, they need to do something for themselves altogether. So, the family huddles over in front of the television for some much-needed bonding time.

This Is Us continues next Tuesday, October 15th, with “Flip A Coin” at 9/8c on NBC.