Last episode ofThis Is Uswasall about Nicky.
This week’s episode brings us back to therest of the Pearsons.
We also get more Miguel than ever.
Permeating everyone’s stories is the concept of the episode title, “Both Things Can Be True.”
The message seems to be that love can be a complicated struggle.
Let’s dive into how that applies to the Pearsons.
Randall
Randall attends a support group meeting for people adopted by different-race families to discuss their experiences.
As Randall listens, we see flashbacks of Randall experiencing similar emotions as a child.
He’s struck by the stories but declines to share his own, for now.
Both things can be true.
Beth & Tess
Meanwhile, Tess has her non-binary partner Alex over for the first time.
Beth earnestly insists she didn’t.
Beth loves and accepts Tess, but is struggling with this new reality.
Both things can be true.
Carol had to do that with Beth for different reasons, and she took too long to realize it.
Carol doesn’t want Beth to make the same mistake.
Beth then tries to reconcile with Tess.
She apologizes for making a face and swears it’s not about Tess or Alex.
Tess thinks their closeness is gone forever because of that.
Will Beth find a way to regain that closeness?
It’sThis Is Usso the answerhasto be yes… right?
He chastises her for not being early and for checking her phone.
Kate wins him over, though at least somewhat when she brilliantly helps a vocal student.
Spending 10 hours a day with his children has been difficult.
He loves them but misses work.
Once again, both things can be true.
Madison urges Toby to tell Kate how he’s feeling.
But later that night, he chickens out.
Upon arriving with supplies, Miguel asks Jack if he got Rebecca’s father’s blessing yet.
Dejectedly, Jack says he hasn’t.
They’re still trying to free the ring when Dave shows up at the apartment.
He’s the kind of man Dave should be grateful for.
He says everything Jack has done for as long as Miguel has known him has been about Rebecca.
Miguel says if Dave won’t give Jack his blessing, Dave is the one with poor character.
Clearly moved, Dave softly offers his help getting the ring off Miguel.
(Maybe his kids, though?)
Later, Nicky apologizes to Miguel.
Miguel forgives him and says Jack never replaced Nicky.
Tissues, c’mon!
Soon the two men are laughing together as if a new friendship has begun.
He urges her to tell Kevin, and unlike Toby, she doesn’t chicken out later.
That night, she tells Kevin her favorite memory one of heronlygood ones about her childhood.
Shortly after, her parents divorced, and Madison has been chasing that happiness ever since.
She wants to get married in a local garden that reminds her of that place in Japan.
Kevin & Randall
Kevin struggles all day to ask Randall to be his best man.
He wants to discuss Randall’s race-related upbringing issues.
Instead, he wants to visit Randall.
Surprised by Kevin’s commitment, Randall agrees to the visit.
True reconciliation is almost here.
We’ll needallthe tissues for this conversation.
The women
In the episode’s final scene, three women buy the tabloid announcing Kevin’s engagement.
One by one, we see their faces: Zoe, Cassidy, and Sophie.
They all smile about Kevin settling down.
But does this mean the door is closed on those relationships, and Madison really is his future?
We shall see…
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