Manny out of control.
Will Kevins problems take a backseat to Kates for the time being?
Is he ready to repair himself?
I think he came in there to finally say to his brother, Dude, help me out.
And that window closed because of the information that he got from Randall.
This is going to be great!
The intimidating part I would say was that this story were telling is something that affectssomany people.
Its a very real problem.
I have family members or friends that have suffered from this.
This is a real serious issue.
So, pretty typical ofThis Is Us, isnt it?
Did you have concerns about the Hollywood-actor-who-becomes-hooked-on pills trope?
Not only that, I believe in our writers.
But our writers dont do that.
They do a lot of research, and they go over things and over things.
And they work well together.
So, for me, it was just that.
Kevin has gone to some unlikable places in recent episodes.
In addition to the boozing.
which caused him to miss part of Sophies auction, he then sabotaged his relationship with her.
What about playing these revelations about Kevin appealed to you?
And thats the thing.
But thats my job, you know?
And I take it very seriously.
I dont think I like Kevin very much.
So when you get this kind of stuff, its like, Yeah, bring it!
This is a real story that were telling, that real people really deal with.
No, hes really in pain.
This is not where he wants to be.
Hes not trying to do this.
He cant deal with it.
So Im glad that they did all of this.
They really break him down the places they send him to are incredible.
This episode truly does break him down.
He does it to himself.
I was thinking about what you just said earlier.
Theres a part of it Im sure that has to do with his dad.
But thats what Kevin expects of himself.
There are several huge emotional moments in the episode.
Jack gives his Vietnam necklace to teenage Kevin (Logan Shroyer) right after his football dreams are destroyed.
We know the necklace belonged to Jacks brother, though Kevin doesnt know it.
So that physical object that he holds onto, that memory, is what drives him.
In a good way and a bad way as well.
I better make it worth it.
That survivors guilt thing, too, right?
Thats part of it as well.In that time, you see that theyre not getting along.
Theyre bitching at each other, and hes embarrassed about his dad, and his alcoholism.
And his dads like, Why are you being an ass to the coach?
What is wrong with you?
Its not a good relationship.
Its not a good dynamic, and then that happens, and it sort of refreshes it.
Thats why its so heartbreaking when he loses that necklace.
How did Jacks struggle with sobriety impact Kevin throughout his life, genetic predisposition to addiction aside?
When he was younger, he didnt understand it.
It was also a different time.
People didnt talk about it as much as they do now.
Its a real struggle.
What was embarrassing has now turned into guilt for not understanding.
I wouldnt have been so hard on him, at least.
And I could have been there for him.
I could have put my arm around him.
We see the beginning of Kevins repair and reconsideration of his relationship with his father.
We havent shot it.
Truth be told, I dont know.
Its a pathetic moment for him, a bottoming-out.
What resonated with you about shooting that scene?In my head, I pictured him as a baby.
I would get so stressed out sometimes, because Im like, Why is she crying?
And I broke it down.
Shes crying because she cant speak.
I thought, You know, this is Kevin.
Its like hes a baby, and no one understands the words that are coming out of his mouth.
Well, maybe Ill just do that.
Because he doesnt have the words.
And I thought, Well, thats what that is.
And its also helpless and rock bottom.
Its all he can do to stand up.
You have long wanted to have scenes with Milo.
Im not in that [writers] room.
In that room, in those moments, Jack was there.
And a by-product of that was that I got to work with Milo.
Thats the way I looked at it.
Were you like, Look!
Were actually getting to do it?Well, we called each other, and I was like.
Dude, theres a scene!
And he was like, I know!
But its not like hokey or a trick its really cool.
What is that all about?
That is really, really I dont want to sayoverdone, but its reading that way a little bit.
They just get it and I dont.
I cant imagine anything my wife could possibly do that would not make me give her a third chance.
Hes a good guy.
But thats not his call anymore, thats Sophies call.
And also, thats very familiar territory to Kevin, when its like, I said I need help.
I need help right now.
And then one of the other two triplets takes the No.
His whole life has been like that, and everyone will think Im okay.
I think it adds to it.
And it just adds to the fire, really.
Are we ruling that out, or is it still a possibility?[Laughs.]
You definitely hear the characters talk about that moment again, I will tell you that.
I dont have to pick one.
That would be quite a scene.
What can you tease about how shes going to processes the tragedy?One of her rocks is Kevin.
Or her main rock.
We sorted through all that at the beginning of the year.
And Kevins like, Well, Ive been the guy.
I dont know what to tell you.
She had to go through this whole thing without her brother that shes gone through everything with.
Shes going to have to lean on somebody else, I would assume.
It is deep and its another story about something that a lot of people deal with.
Were talking about things that people dont talk about, and its so cool.
