Spoiler alert: This story contains plot details fromTuesdays episode ofThis Is Us, titled Brothers.
This Is Usfans undoubtedly had two words to say after this weeks episode ofThis Is Us: Oh!
There was Jack, and there was his brother.
Credit: Ron Batzdorff/NBC
ENTERTAINMENT WEEKLY: So Jack has a brother, Nicky, who we assume died in Vietnam.
Why has he hidden this information from Rebecca and the rest of his family?
He has a tendency to keep in a secret, which is manifesting itself in his son, Kevin.
Obviously a major thing happened, some trauma of some sort.
And thats what Kevin is doing.
Thats what were trying to say with this episode.
This life of keeping secrets and evasiveness is exactly the sort of behavior that Kevin is exhibiting.
And thats the good side of Jack.
Thats what were seeing in Randall.
Rebecca said that he beat the odds to become a fantastic father, considering how he grew up.
And technically we never saw Jacks dad die.
Is that in play?REQUA:There was a little bit more dialogue that was trimmed out.
There was a desire to leave it a little bit more ambiguous.
He represents, in the microcosm of the episode, the Kevin path.
And the end of that path is Stanley in that nursing home, dying alone.
Jack tries to press him and he keeps saying, I dont know.
He says and Im paraphrasing I minimize things.
I push things down.
Hes been doing it his whole life.
And its frustrating for Jack on two levels.
It all ripples forward.
How far will Kevin spiral before he faces his blocked emotions?
Thats what he has to lose.FICARRA:Hes lost Sophie before.
Are we seeing a repeat of behavior that added up to that?
And whats he going to do about it this time?
Kate finally let Toby in on her pregnancy, but she still didnt want to get her hopes up.
She ultimately allows Toby a pass to tell everyone in the coffee shop.
These two are clearly approaching this in two very different ways that are in step with their personalities.
How will that impact their journey through pregnancy?
At least Toby can have a little fun.
But setting the bar low is a defense mechanism, and Kate has it.
In some ways its helpful, and in some ways it can cause friction.
Im guessing there are probably all sorts of outtakes from Tobys colorful coffee-house choreographed flashdance.
What ended up on the cutting room floor?FICARRA:Like, a ton.
And then we said, Okay, we got all that in the can.
And in fact, thatFlashdancething was something that Glenn and Chris cooked up themselves and surprised me.
And he goes, Well, just watch!
[Laughs]FICARRA:And vice versa.
So, we knew hed drink it up and just let him run.
He goes up to someone for a hug and theyre terrified of him and they run away.
And I just thought it was so funny but we never got it in there.
I mean, it could have been a half-hour long.
And then theres one where he jumps on a pole and then gets scared to come down.
Deja opened up to Randall in a big way in the bathroom, admitting she was abused.
Hes self-aware enough but he also can be impetuous.
But he gets in his own way sometimes.
