This Is Us 3x08 "Six Thanksgivings" Episode Review

Major Spoilers are included in this episode review. Please Read with Caution.

I’m getting tired of this season. This review is on last week’s episode, the one where I struggled to stay awake. It happened. I got bored watching This Is Us. We have reached a low-point. I needed to watch this episode twice before writing this. There are so many Thanksgivings, which made some parts cluttered and others that would’ve worked as a separate entry.

I’m going to divide and conquer here. Late Thanksgiving writer powers—GO!

1. Jack’s Last Thanksgiving

   1. Rebecca fake-cries to some onions (the show is teasing us) during Jack’s last Thanksgiving. Miguel comes over upset, and brings his emotional baggage. This is his first Thanksgiving after the divorce, and the beginning of the mystery, “Whatever happened to his kids?”

      • I’m so happy the show readdressed this. We’ve all been wondering for so long. This arc connects to another Thanksgiving storyline involving Miguel and Rebecca.

2. Randall and Beth

   • I found their storyline not interesting enough. Randall and Beth’s love is amazing, but what they’re stuck with wasn’t sticking quite like the others. Shirtless Randall was amazing, but the campaign story didn’t resonate as a “Thanksgiving episode”.

   • Beth clashes with Jae-Won numerous times over Randall’s campaign. After Jae-Won pushes too hard, Randall loses his patience and tells Jae-Won that he doesn’t care because it’s his wife. Beth is devastated that Randall lied to her about this job not being a handout. But they have to hurry home before doing this.

3. Vietnam Thanksgiving

   • This needed to be its own episode. Jack and Nicky, whenever Vietnam happens, it needs to have all of the screentime. Nicky’s resentment and anger needed more breathing room.

   • The origin of the necklace is finally revealed. Jack received it from the woman after helping the boy with a cut foot. It was a great scene, but it was cluttered with everything else going on… the moment didn’t land the way it should’ve; not as meaningful.

4. William

   • Yes, keep this precious character relevant, but I hated not getting enough of this love story (William and Jesse). Arguably, this could’ve been its own episode. I would’ve loved see this entire episode unfold over a span of 42 minutes. That sounds fantastic. But that does not happen, and the story falls short.

   • It does tie-in with Tess’s coming out story.

5. Kate and Toby

   • These two seem stronger than ever, but Toby and Kate were not the main focus of this story. Kate and Tess have a nice and comfortable talk about first periods. Tess scared the crap out of Toby when he caught her, but she lets Kate in the bathroom for “the talk”.

   • Kate’s first period story was really cute. I’m starting to like Kate again.

   • Tessa came out to Kate but is not ready to tell her parents. Cute!

6. Miguel and Rebecca

   • We’re meeting Miguel’s kids. Right?! That’s crazy.

   • His kids are assholes. Well, his son Andy is the asshole. He was rude to Rebecca and called her out for “stealing their father”, but Miguel put that to rest, standing up for himself and Rebecca.

   • Amber looked indifferent and reached out to her father after his grand speech about respecting his wife.

All their stories are connected through Randall’s college essay. It reveals the main theme of what Thanksgiving is all about (Family!) and the kind of people who impacted our lives. This episode had too much going on, and some of this episode should’ve split off from each other, but I didn’t cry.

I’ll see you all at tonight’s episode.