This is Us Season 6 Episode 10 review: Big Three trilogy draws to a close with Randall

3.5/5

Story: The third instalment in the Big Three trilogy focuses on Randall, through the exact same three instances we’ve seen Kevin and Kate in – the day at the pool as kids with Jack and Rebecca, the night at the now empty pool as teenagers and the day after Thanksgiving at the cabin in present day. This is the episode that puts the spotlight on Randall’s ‘hero’ complex, with his focus being his family and nothing else.

Review: Randall has always been the most interesting of the Pearsons. He’s also the one who’s always thought that Rebecca was his responsibility, after his father, Jack, died. So, when Rebecca drops the bomb that she wants Kate and not Randall to take care of her medical needs, lest Miguel is not around to do so, it’s a bit much for him to take.

In the past of six-year-old Kevin, Kate and Randall…

After two weeks of seeing the Pearsons at the pool, with Jack trying to teach Kevin to swim and not being able to get Kate to even attempt paddling, this week it was Randall’s turn to take charge and get his siblings in the pool with him. He had learnt swimming much faster than Kevin and Kate and was excited to get into the pool with them, but when Rebecca says that they are tired and could do it another day, he is only momentarily saddened, but then decides to get Kevin involved in a game that has both of them splashing around soon enough, so much so that even Kate wants to join in on the fun. Problem solved

In the past of teenage Kevin, Kate and Randall…

He is also the one who will get Kevin and Kate out of trouble when they get locked inside the pool premises as teenagers. All it takes is to convince the cop that he will some day run for President and an arrest record won’t look good. He also finds time to check in on Rebecca, who is struggling after the news of Miguel’s likely relocation to Houston, while also making sure his siblings are ok. Randall has always been the one to take care of others.

Present day Randall…

It’s the protective parent in him that got him to talk Malik into doing what’s best for Deja and ensuring his daughter does not drop out of school to be with her 18-year-old single-father boyfriend. So, he rushes out the door the minute he hears that Deja slipped out of the cabin in the middle of the night after getting wind of what he’d told Malik. Rebecca joining him on his trip to Boston to pick up Deja, made for some of the best mother-son scenes of the season and Mandy Moore and Sterling K Brown were in stellar form, as she manages to finally get her son to take a chill pill.

Randall’s always been the ‘hero’ of the Pearson family. Even when he had a crisis of identity among his white family, he never let go and was always there for them. That’s the charm of Randall Pearson. So, it doesn’t sit right when Deja repeatedly overlooks all he’s done for her; that child is some next level ungrateful, methinks.

Verdict: Give us more of Sterling K Brown any day!