This Is Us Season 6 Episode 18 Recap: Us

Still from This Is Us Season 6

With the conclusion of the Season 6 finale, This Is Us has come to an end. What a journey it has been. I’m going to keep the recap brief because I have some other thoughts I want to get off my chest.

This Is Us Season 6 Episode 18 Recap: Us

Last night’s series finale included a mix of happy and somber moments. In the past, the adolescent Big Three spent a lazy Saturday with Jack and Rebecca. In the future, the Big Three beautifully celebrated the life of Rebecca Pearson at her funeral. Randall might run for President, but more importantly, Deja is going to name her son after Randall’s father, William. The Big Three promised to never drift away from each other, and they recited the “Big Three chant” one last time. Finally, Rebecca and Jack shared a heartfelt moment in the bed of the train as the Pearson patriarch promised his wife that she will forever be a part of her children’s lives.

I apologize for the short recap, but my mind continues to contemplate the tragedy in Uvalde, Texas. Many people like myself use television as a vehicle for escapism. However, it’s hard to watch a tight-knit family onscreen and not think about all of the parents who sent their young children to school, believing they would come home safely at the end of the day. It breaks my damn heart thinking about it.

This Is Us meant a great deal to many families. I’ll never forget when my father told me to watch this interesting show about a family that spans multiple timelines back in September 2016. This is when broadcast TV was searching for another hit drama outside of Grey’s Anatomy, NCIS, and the Dick Wolf universe. I gave the pilot a shot. The reveal of Kevin and Kate being twins with Randall as their adopted brother (who shared the same birthday) was enough for me to stick around. My patience was rewarded with the show’s 16th episode titled, “Memphis,” which is the best the series has to offer.

Over the years, the show preached about the importance of family and sticking together even when times get tough. The lesson I will take away revolves around the speeches about time from Randall and moments from Jack. Randall discussed time and how we all wish to slow time down, especially during the big events.

When teaching the boys to shave, Jack talked about how during the first half of our lives, we wish to be older. Then, the script flips. As you get older, you wish to be younger. Kate understands the concept of enjoying the present, and Jack hopes that Randall and Kevin will come to appreciate these strange things one day, too.

So as I sit here and reflect on the tragic events that occurred yesterday, I think about time and moments. I’m the first one to laugh at Internet users who post quotes about living in the moment and carpet diem. Perhaps I need to start living my life by those inspirational quotes. I’m at the point in my life where I want to be younger and remember all of the little things in life.

I apologize for rambling so I’ll end with this. This Is Us might be a television show, but the lessons about living in the moment and enjoying time in the world will stick with me for the rest of my life. I can’t promise I’ll even abide by those teachings every single day, but there’s no shame in trying. Hug your parents and siblings a little tighter today.

Thank you, This Is Us. Stay safe.

What are your thoughts on this episode? Tweet me, at @danny_giro.

This Is Us Season 6 Episode 17 Recap: The Train

Kevin and Randall sit bedside in a scene from This Is Us.

Rebecca has finally arrived at her destination on the train known as life. While the Pearson family says goodbye to Rebecca, fans should start saying their goodbyes to This Is Us.

This Is Us Season 6 Episode 17 Recap: The Train

After years of teasing the flash-forward, the show finally arrives at Kevin’s house as the Pearson family began their final goodbyes to Rebecca. One by one, every member of the extended family said their heartfelt goodbyes to the Pearson family matriarch. Annie thanks her for the inspiring words about her size. Toby praises her for always believing in him. Beth tells her to rest easy, saying it’s her turn to take care of Randall.

Kevin and Randall are waiting for Kate, who is flying back from London after a business trip. The nurse believes Rebecca will not last through the night. It’s a race against time for Kate. More on this later. Meanwhile, Rebecca is on a train, waiting for someone to arrive. First to greet Rebecca is William, who invites her to the bar cart. Although Rebecca is waiting for someone, she agrees to go for a walk. As they move from cart to cart, Rebecca sees the Pearson family at different stages in their lives – childhood, teenage years, and adulthood.

Rebecca reaches the bar, and much to our surprise, Dr. K is the bartender! Dr. K offers to make her a drink with lemons, a flashback to his famous saying, but Rebecca elects for a vesper, a drink her father would have gotten on a fancy train like this. Dr. K injects his soothing presence into the scene once again, praising Rebecca for her toughness and attitude. Rebecca sees different versions of Randall and Kevin in the cart, but Kate is noticeably missing since she is still not back from London. Dr. K lets Rebecca continue her journey with William on the train.

Back in the house, an adult Deja tells Randall that she’s pregnant. However, she’s hesitant to tell the father. Who is the father of Deja’s child? It’s none other than Malik, who shares his enthusiasm with Deja over the pregnancy later that night. The Pearsons then gather in the living room as they listen to Joni Mitchell and share their fondest memories of Rebecca. The night ends with Kevin and Randall the last ones standing as they head to Rebecca’s bedroom. As the boys talk, Rebecca continues to see her sons on the train. Unfortunately, Kate is still missing.

Before Rebecca reaches the caboose, the show takes us to the hospital the night of the housefire and Jack’s death. There is a family that got into a car accident, and their little boy, Marcus, is fighting for his life in surgery. Jack and Marcus’s father trade stories over coffee. When Marcus’s father worries that his son won’t make it, Jack shares the same advice that Dr. K gave him the night of the Big Three’s birth. Take the sourest lemon that life has to offer, and turn it into something resembling lemonade. That becomes the motto for Marcus’s family as Marcus goes on to develop medicine to combat Alzheimer’s.

Here’s the twist. At the hospital the night of Jack’s death, both Jack and Marcus were seen by the same doctor. The doctor left Jack, who was in stable condition, to help an unconscious Marcus in the operating room. Marcus survives, but Jack dies. Had the doctor not left to help Marcus, Jack would have survived.

Finally, Rebecca reaches the caboose of the train, which is an empty room with a bed. She refuses to go in because someone still hasn’t arrived. That special someone is Kate, who comes rushing into the house and sits with Rebecca at her bedside. When Rebecca tells William about her sadness, he says that if something is sad when it ends, it must’ve been pretty wonderful. I agree, William.

Rebecca finally accepts her fate. She gets in bed, turns around, and sees Jack laying next to her. Reunited at last.

Next week, we all say goodbye to this show. See you then.

What are your thoughts on this episode? Tweet me, at @danny_giro.

This Is Us Season 6 Episode 16 Review: Family Meeting

The Big Three sitting next to Rebecca on This Is Us

I want to get into the recap, but all I can think about is “the song.” If you watch This Is Us, you know what song I’m talking about. I’ll get to it shortly.

This Is Us Season 6 Episode 16: “Family Meeting”

As the show gets better, things become sadder. Last week, we said goodbye to Miguel. This week, it’s time to start saying goodbye to Rebecca. But first, there are some important decisions to be made.

It’s been approximately 7 days since Miguel’s death, and Rebecca doesn’t remember as she calls out for him at night. Randall, Kate, and Kevin call a family meeting as they must decide on how to care for Rebecca during her final years. Beth, Sophie, and Philip head to the cabin as the Big Three are left to discuss their mother’s future over some delicious Chinese food.

In a typical fashion, an overprotective Randall believes Rebecca should move in with his family in Philadelphia. They flashback to a time when Rebecca thanked Randall for protecting Kate at a party where Kevin and Kate got drunk. Obviously, Kevin does not agree with Randall, saying that he built the house for Rebecca at her request. Kevin is not wrong. Rebecca did ask him to do this! The two brothers want to make their decision without Kate’s input, who is technically Rebecca’s guardian.

Rebecca interrupts their conversation to say she wants to go for a walk. She even did her makeup for the occasion. I’m not a fashion expert, but I’ve seen five-year-olds apply makeup better than Rebecca. But it’s not her fault! When Kate escorts her on a walk, both Kevin and Randall agree that Rebecca is not “magic” anymore. However, they still don’t agree on what to do.

We interrupt this break to joke with the Big Three Spouses – Beth, Sophie, and Philip – who joke in the cabin about what their significant others are saying. Was this a backdoor pilot for the spinoff?

Back to the family meeting. When it’s finally time to talk, Kate tells her brothers that they need to look at Rebecca like she’s their mother, not a woman with an illness. They need to see Rebecca again. She still has the magic. It’s just a little hidden at the moment. The boys share a nice and quiet moment with their mother and sister.

Finally, it’s decision time. Kate tells the family that Rebecca will be moving back to LA to be closer to her. Before she can even finish, Kevin pulls a “not so fast my friend.” Inspired by his time with Rebecca the day prior, Kevin steps up and says he will move in with Rebecca in the house he built for her. Sophie is game as are Madison and Isaac, who will relocate to the East Coast with the kids as well. Everything is all fine and dandy until…

The song.

This goddamn song! When accompanied by a montage, this song will always mess with my emotions. I still think about the time the show used it to show the crockpot starting the fire that killed Jack. So rude!

It’s a great song by the way. Now, the end is here as the goodbyes begin next week. See you then.

What are your thoughts on this episode? Tweet me, at @danny_giro.

NBA Playoffs: 3 Biggest Questions Right Now

Luka Doncic flexing in a game for the Dallas Mavericks.

I don’t want to brag, but I’m locked into these NBA Playoffs. My wallet may beg to differ, but I haven’t missed a game. The league is so damn talented right now. There are emerging stars left and right. On any night, so many guys can give you 20 points a game. 

Here are the three biggest questions I have right now. Two of them are fair while one is out of leftfield. That’s baseball, Suzyn.

3. What Happens To Duncan Robinson This Offseason?

I’m fully aware that I’m the only person outside of Miami who cares about this question considering the Heat are going to advance to the Eastern Conference Finals, and have a good shot of returning to the NBA Finals. That being said, what happened to Duncan Robinson? Two years ago, the sharpshooting Robinson was the Heat’s starting shooting guard, averaging 13.5 ppg and 44.6% from three. Now, Robinson is glued to the bench as Max Strus, Gabe Vincent, and Victor Oladipo receive Duncan’s minutes.

Every team would love to have a 6’7″ shooting guard who shoots over 40% from three. However, do teams want Robinson in year two of a 5 year, 90-million-dollar contract? If he’s getting healthy DNP’s in the playoffs, the Heat have to explore trade options for Robinson this offseason.

2. Will Hunting Become The New Normal?

If you’re a bad defender in the NBA, then there’s nowhere to hide especially in the NBA Playoffs. If the opposing team is smart, they will run pick and roll with whomever the worst defender is guarding, get the switch, and attack at will. It’s like a shark that smells blood in the water. Look no further than Game 2 between the Suns and Mavericks. Despite just under three minutes of matchup time, Chris Paul scored 9 points against Luka and the Suns scored 18 points. He’s also put Dwight Powell through the wringer, scoring 14 points against the Mavericks’ big man in just under two minutes of matchup time.

No one, and I mean no one, on the Suns can guard Luka. He will score over 30 points again in Game 3. However, Kidd is right when saying Doncic will have to participate more on defense. That can only happen if he’s not exhausted from the offensive burden he carries the entire game. Will the real Jalen Brunson please stand up and help Luka out? If that doesn’t happen, get the broomsticks.

1. Will Giannis Antetokounmpo Become A God And Enter The Top 15?

Giannis Antetokunmpo put on a godlike performance in last year’s NBA Finals, rallying the Bucks from an 0-2 deficit to win the series, 4-2, behind series averages of 35.2 ppg, 13.2 rpb, and 5.0 assists. The cherry on top of a historic run had to be his 50-point performance in the series-clinching victory.

Giannis is already one of the 75 greatest players to play in the NBA. He also happens to be the best player in the NBA. Furthermore, The Athletic had Giannis as the 24th greatest player in NBA history. At this time, top-25 is where the Greek Freak belongs. However, if Giannis can go back-to-back, where will he stand with the all-time greats?

If Giannis wins the title this year, it will be without the Bucks’s second-best player. Khris Middleton, for a portion of the playoffs. I’m also assuming he will win Finals MVP if the Bucks win a title. There will be no Igudola over Curry if the Bucks win. So if those two things happen, here are what Giannis’s accomplishments would look like:

  • 2x NBA Championships and 2x Finals MVPs
  • 2x regular-season MVPs
  • 3x All-NBA First Team (will be four after this season)
  • 2x All-NBA Second Team
  • 1x DPOY
  • 3x All-NBA Defensive First Team (will be four after this season)
  • 1x All-NBA Defensive Second Team
  • 1x NBA MIP
  • Member of the 75th Anniversary team

Giannis will have accomplished all of this by the young age of 27. That is an insane resume. Giannis easily slides into the Top 20 with those numbers, but if it’s another historic final where he dominates, it will be hard to keep him outside of the Top 15.

Here’s to an exciting NBA Playoffs. Hopefully, we get a Game 7 in one of these series.

If you agree or disagree with my assessment, leave your thoughts in the comments or tweet me, @danny_giro.

This Is Us Season 6 Episode 15 Recap: Miguel

Miguel and Rebecca take a walk in the house in a scene from This Is Us.

After waiting six seasons, Miguel finally stepped into the spotlight on This Is Us. Hopefully, tissues were nearby.

This Is Us Season 6 Episode 15 Recap: “Miguel”

Every television show has an unsung hero. It’s the supporting character who’s perfect in their role, but when called upon to be in the spotlight, they deliver. On The Office, it was Kevin Malone. On Ted Lasso, it’s Higgins. On This Is Us, it’s Miguel. It’s always been, Miguel.

The episode starts with Miguel’s childhood in Puerto Rico. Led by Miguel’s father, the entire Rivas family moves to Pennsylvania. Miguel’s father finds work as a landscaper. When a young Miguel uses the bathroom in one of the homes, he stumbles upon the owner of the home and discusses Roberto Clemente and the Pittsburgh Pirates. When Miguel says he’ll sit anywhere in the stadium to watch Clemente, the man stresses that where you sit is all that matters, a lesson that stuck with Miguel for the entirety of his life.

We skip ahead to Miguel’s early days as an adult. Miguel lands the construction job because he changes his name to “Mike Rivers”. After all, “Miguel Rivas” never received a callback. On Christmas Eve, Miguel spars with his father over the choices in his life: a new car, straighter hair, and his willingness to pay for a nurse for his aunt. His father expresses his disappointment in Miguel, feeling as if he’s forgotten where he came from. An upset Miguel leaves in tears.

Miguel heads to the bar to meet Jack and Rebecca. Weirdly enough, Rebecca is not too kind to Miguel. Being the good guy that he is, Jack forces Miguel and Rebecca to talk and settle their differences. Future scenes at the bar highlight their budding friendship as well as Miguel’s courtship of his wife, Shelly, which unfortunately ends in divorce as their two kids witness the turmoil in their failed marriage.

Miguel tries to do the right thing and moves to Houston to be closer to his kids even if that means leaving behind a heartbroken Rebecca. After his father dies, Miguel admits to his mother that he’s lost in life. His mother reassures Miguel that he will find love soon enough. Lo and behold, that love is Rebecca, who he reconnects with on Facebook in 2008. When the two friends meet up, their connection is seamless. They kiss, make love, and begin a relationship together in Pittsburgh. At this point, I bet most fans gave a fist pump to celebrate this new union. You know who didn’t approve of this relationship? A twentysomething Kevin, who voiced his displeasure on Thanksgiving at the cabin.

That concludes the happier part of the recap. Now, it’s time to go to the present where things become much sadder. Well, it’s bittersweet, but sad nonetheless as Rebecca’s Alzheimer’s worsens. Miguel borrows Jack’s Super Dad cape, and cares for Rebecca 24/7. Miguel is the first thing she sees in the morning and the last thing she sees at night. Between physical therapy, medicine consumption, and memory exercises, Miguel starts to wear down both physically and mentally, culminating with a bruised lower body after slipping on ice. Jack would be proud of Miguel. That’s for damn sure.

Thankfully, the Big Three step in and give Miguel the break that he so desperately deserves. They hire full-time care for Rebecca, which allows Miguel to receive the necessary treatment he needs both physically and mentally.

Cue Billy Joel. Let’s get sad.

The final montage covers Miguel’s final years. His health begins to deteriorate despite stepping back as Rebecca’s primary caregiver. His heart weakens along with the rest of the body. The writing is on the wall. Knowing Miguel’s time is limited, Kevin visits Miguel’s son, informing him about his dad’s illness. It’s here where Kevin finally sympathizes with Miguel and appreciates what he did for his entire family after Jack’s death. Kevin urges Miguel’s son to make things right with Miguel while he still has the chance. Thankfully, Miguel’s son listens to Kevin’s advice and spends time with his dying father.

I wrote this at the end of my recap last week. I was right. Sadly, Miguel dies. His ashes are spread at his two homes: Pennsylvania and Puerto Rico.

When the show finally ends at the end of the month, “Miguel” could crack the Top 10 list for best This Is Us episodes. Though not as good as “Memphis,” the best episode in the series, “Miguel” finally gave an unselfish character the tribute he so desperately deserved. “Miguel” reminded viewers like me that This Is Us can still reach back and throw a 99mph fastball. Go be with Jack, Miguel. Here’s to the final three episodes.

What are your thoughts on this episode? Tweet me, at @danny_giro.