The Pearson mother-daughter duo bonds over a piano but fights over other issues in various eras.
Meanwhile, Deja and Malik fight for young love, and Kevin pursues a familiar face for new love.
And of course, there’s some time travel.
Ron Batzdorff/NBC
This week, it’s flashbacks focusing on Rebecca, in relation to both Kate and Miguel.
Let’s feel those feels, shall we?
Randall and Beth vs. Malik and Deja
Randall and Beth are still reeling from Deja’s Boston stunt.
That night, Malik makes them an elaborate meal, and waits on them excessively.
Beth and Randall venture to be gracious, even praising Malik’s cooking.
Deja plans to graduate early and move in with Malik in Boston.
At this, Beth and Randall furiously launch into objections, asserting she is too young.
Deja reminds them, especially Randall, that her hard life means she’s wiser than her years.
Does she have a point?
Randall storms off, infuriated.
Later, Malik finds Randall on the front steps.
Malik coldly rejects the suggestion.
Beth, however, thinks if they handle it too harshly, they’ll only lose Deja.
Will stubborn Randall listen?
But when he makes a romantic move, she rejects him.
She says their relationship would never work, and he’s chasing the wrong blonde in the wrong city.
Cassidy can’t be Kevin’s next mess.
His first step, though, is to make amends with Eli.
So, who, if anyone, will it be?
It appears this mystery may be one of the last ones solved.
Neither does well initially, each harping too much about their sad circumstances.
After speed-dating, Rebecca and Matt go for coffee.
She even calls Rebecca a slut, at which point Rebecca slaps her.
Kate storms off, and Rebecca breaks down.
She calls Miguel, crying about the fight, and how unbearable her grief over Jack still is.
(Cue my uncontrollable sobbing.)
Kate overhears Rebecca’s breakdown, and feels guilty.
Soon, she and her mother swap apologies sitting in front of the piano.
Rebecca tinkers with keys as Kate tenderly rests her head on her shoulders.
Instead, Kate invites her to join her and the kids at the school.
Rebecca is delighted, and even more overjoyed when Kate asks her to play piano for the students.
Watching her play, Kate gets emotional.
As expected, this crushes Rebecca.
However, when Kate shows up at her home to reconcile, Rebecca apologizes for snapping.
Kate notes, even more apologetically, she spent so many years taking everything out on her mother.
She wishes the timing of their good relationship was better.
Rebecca notes timing drives everything from her meeting Jack to everything that’s happened since.
To cap off the reconciliation, Kate asks Rebecca to teach Jack to play piano.
