This Is Us "A Long Road Home"/""Birth Mother"

 

"A Long Road Home" 

While Kate and Toby visit her ex-boyfriend, we revisit the 18-year-old Kate when she's planning to get an abortion. During the mandatory waiting period, she sees Marc, but after hearing him apologize, he's still the same person and decides to leave and have the abortion. Meanwhile, in the present, Kate visits Marc, who's not doing too well, and tells him that he hurt her, but she's happy now with what she's got with her family and leaves, driving off with Toby. 

Randall and Beth try to figure out whether or not a stranger (Hai) knows his biological mother, as said in a letter. After figuring things out and talking to Kevin, Randall, and Beth called Hai and chatted and even planned a visit to meet with him.

Kevin learned that his film will be relocated shortly, close to Madison's due date. Kevin revisited when Randall called to tell him he should leave Sophie after meeting a talent agent. Kevin calls Randall, and while they talk, they make their peace. 

This was a great episode from beginning to end, with great performances from Chrissy Metz and Hannah Zeile. That moment when Metz's Kate meets with Marc for the first time in years and returns the disease" that he left with her (the pain). That was a powerful and applause-worthy performance. The Kevin and Randall scene when they made their peace was a bit short, but after watching it for the second time, I loved it, and it had me grabbing the tissues. 

Overall, I give this episode an 8.5/10.

"Birth Mother"

Beth and Randall travel to Louisiana, where they meet Hai and listen to the story of Randall's birth mother. The first 

I love this episode! This episode will probably be my favorite of the season so far. This episode was well-written, with well-developed characters, and the performances were from Sterling K. Brown, Jennifer C. Holmes, and Angela Gibbs. 

This episode is worthy of an Emmy nomination for writing and performance. If you haven't watched this episode, please do so. 

What did you think of these episodes? Leave a comment below!

This Is Us returns Tuesday, Feb. 9th at 9/8c on NBC.