User Reviews

It will never happen because the Emmy Awards no longer give recognition to network television shows - you have to be a "cable" TV show to be of any relevance to them nowadays, but in this episode Mandy Moore gives one of the most brilliant performances of this (or any season) in a television series. It covers Rebecca in the various stages of her life at Thanksgiving and Moore demonstrates just how wonderfully she understands her complicated character and gives a performance that is devastatingly real and sincere and, ultimately, breathtaking at one point. This is acting at its best. Along the way, the antagonism between Kate and Toby takes an interesting twist (involving food !) that is well played by Chrissy Metz and Chris Sullivan with stark honesty and feeling. They are quite good here, as are Hannah Zeile as 19 year old Kate and Susan Kelechi Watson, who has always managed to give the This Is Us episodes some well-needed humor and common sense feelings when the Pierson family members, particularly her husband Randall, spiral into their neuroses. Well-written, well-played and finely directed all around, but it is Moore who has the last word and manages to tower above this extremely talented cast.

The scenes between Kate and Rebecca hit hard. They are sweet, tender and very very realistic. I truly believe that Mandy Moore deserves some kind of "official" recognition for what she is doing here. She is amazing!

Without a doubt, one of the best episodes of the series.

The holidays, super stressful for everybody, Love the mother daughter story, WE are getting why the Toby Kate thing is bound to happen, sad, it could have been resolved, but like a million other 20th century stories it was set in stone.

It's Thanksgiving and we hear Beth respond to all the glee in the car. She knows bad things always happen. We see three stories jumping back and forth in time (which they do seamlessly). First of all, we have Kevin, immediately getting drunk and full of guilt. He has cheated on Sophie and doesn't know what to do; but his immaturity shines through. He soon involves Kate in his secret, throwing her to the lions. Then we have Miguel's saga. Rebecca has invited that guy she met a while back. We are abundantly aware of his feelings for Rebecca and it is so uncomfortable, his trying to stay cool while his desired world drifts away. The guilt trip Kevin lays on him is so unfair. Kate and Toby have been at odds for some time and it is obvious that every little thing is bugging them. In this case, it is his lack of understanding when it comes to Kate and her treatment of their little boy. Finally, we see Rebecca played by Mandy Moore, doing one of the most amazing jobs of acting I've seen in a show. We see her before she and Jack are married, dueling with her mother. Then the Kevin/Sophie fiasco Thanksgiving with the new boyfriend where MIguel tells her he is moving, leaving her in tears. And then, the family meeting, where she lays out the facts they must face when her illness consumes her. Kevin is a complete jerk through this but finally must do the right thing. Another superbly moving episode.