That was a move that not only crushed Randall, a.k.a.
the heart, but, as we learned in this episode, also Beth, a.k.a.
How will Deja process the disappearance of her mother (again)?
Ron Batzdorff/NBC
What lies ahead for the Pearsons?
To see what Jack looks like as an old man in the season finale,click here.
I just keep wondering: Is she okay?
Ron Batzdorff/NBC
Does her science teacher no how smart she is?
And yet she butted heads with Randall over his concern for Deja.
Why had Beth been sublimating so much of her worry for Deja?
Why didnt she open up to Randall?
Which I loved, because I feel like we do that so often in our own lives.
And that was the moment that Beth was in.
She hasnt, we havent heard anything, it is what is.
Because its very hard to have one foot in each place.
What can you say about their business moving forward?I think its going to be good.
Weve also invested in a building thats not necessarily going to make money.
We did it to invest in a community, and its a building that has a lot of problems.
Shes not working for somebody, so theres the pressure of that.
So, you know, a relaxing weekend in Vegas would have been nice.
[Laughs]
Speaking of Vegas, not everything that happens there has to stay there.
What was it like for you to film atMagic Mike Live?
You were on the stage, a half-naked guy suspended on cables above you.
Any observations youd like to share?Ummm … yes.
[Laughs] What Id like to share from my point of view, the view was amazing.
We had such a good time.
Those guys are so talented.
That show is not just, you know, men stripping in a Vegas strip club.
Its like a really great show.
Of course, we went back and saw it for ourselves.
We had to kind of do the research, you know what I mean?
What good actor doesnt?
Theres stuff that you didnt see it that was actually cut.
Will that footage surface one day on a DVD extra?Maybe.
[Laughs] Can you imagine?This Is Us: The R-rated version.
Was it just a friendly check-in?
When youre the head, youre thinking it all out.
When youre the heart, youre like, All right, well just do it.
She already asked us for money.
Lets just be clear that everything is all right, and take it from there.
And there was an inherent tension with Shauna being there.
That is the thought.
What did we just do?
We are getting so deep into this thing now.
Were just breaking rules and violating all types of agreements by bringing people into the house.
And now its not just Deja, its her mother.
I just remember being in that moment and looking at him like, What did we just do?
What are we about to do?
And not having an answer.
She really is that person that goes, Okay, this is what were dealing withright now.
So lets just deal with itright now.
And her answer is: You know what?
Lets think about something in the morning.
That truly is the space that shes in.
They didnt call Linda they took Deja and Shauna into their home.
Im sure there are.
Im sure we werent supposed to do that.
Its just, Lets do what feels right in the moment.
Lets work out of compassion.
Lets work out of sympathy, empathy.
Lets work from that place.
And who knows what they plan to tell Linda?
One of the things that I remember working with the director in both episodes.
I remember saying, Theres just a feeling of I just dont have the answer yet.
Everything is happening so fast.
Theres no way to catch up to it.
It was like youre spinning in one direction and then youre spinning in the other direction.
And I felt that way as the actor, so I think I got that from Beth.
What does Shaunas late-night departure do to Deja?
Does it make her transition easier or harder?
Does it make it harder for Beth and Randall to pick up the pieces?
Because she could leave Deja with them but still say goodbye, but shes making a decision not to.Exactly.
I think it makes itmuchharder for them.
Because once we were like the allies.
We can become the enemy.
Because first of all, we saw when she left, we let her leave.
Thats one way to look at it.
You dont know how to handle that.
And what were our motives behind that?
You just start to question everything.
So how much do you fight it, you know what I mean?
But to do it like that?
It leaves Beth and Randall in a really bad position.
Why do you think Shauna has to leave so abruptly?
And that struck something in her.
Like, Wow, thats the thing I cant give her.
What are the emotional ramifications for Beth?
She was so wounded by having to give up Deja and putting that behind her.
Because we know the resolution of this episode is Shauna saying that shes done.
What do we tell her that her mom is now saying, You take her?
I stood there looking at Randall, as Beth, like, What are we going to tell her?
When we walk up the stairs, what are we going to say?
This womans going to leave and shes not going to come back.
And now thats the next level of thing that we have to explain.
And that was the next level of emotion.
I dont know how much of it at this point is about Beth, for Beth.
Now it going to become even more about Deja.What are we going to do for her?
How much of the next beat in this story is resolved in next weeks finale?Oh, boy.
This ish hits the fan next week.
Youre going to see how Deja responds to all of this and what were in for here.
[Makes emotionally distressed sound.]
[Laughs]
Is Deja best off with the Pearsons or with her birth mother?
Thats always been the key question looming for Randall and Beth.
Was that question answered about as definitively as it will be with what we just saw?
And they just cant ignore that.
Thats just the facts.
I think they believe they can do it in a way that her mom cant.
Or is unable to at the moment.
Do we see more of Shauna in the finale?Well be talking about Shauna, definitely.
I dont know that well see her, but well definitely talk about her.
Youve now worked with her in several episodes.
What has impressed you most?Shes so nuanced.
I like that she doesnt have a go at act it.
She really does just speak and feel out a situation and sense a situation.
And so its this beautiful, nuanced, soft performance that doesnt feel performative.
Shes just a very special young actress.
Weve got a big Pearson wedding in the finale.
Its supposedly an upbeat episode.
What other hints can you drop?Its beautiful.
It felt like the natural way for this season to end.
We built to this moment, so it feels very natural this is whats coming next, the wedding.
