This Is Us Review: The Most Disappointed Man (Season 2 Episode 7)

On This Is Us Season 2 Episode 7, “The Most Disappointed Man” the Pearsons face of the legal system.

Back in the 80s, Jack and Rebecca are in the process of officially adopting little Randall, but not without its complications.

The judge, who is black, has concerns about a white family raising a black child. It’s a thought-provoking idea, and I wish the show had more time to examine it. Instead, it neatly ties up the story after the judge recuses him by from the case, thanks to Rebecca’s moving letter to him.

This Is Us is guilty of this on occasion. It presents story ideas that have potential in being daring and showing different perspectives on complex issues, but then it wraps everything up within the hour, and then moves on to the next problem.

It would do the show some good to slow down its pacing and focus on one problem for a span of several episodes, otherwise it feels like a lot is happening, but also like nothing is really happening, because we don’t have enough time to invest in a particular story

We also find Young William in a situation himself. After being busted on drug charges, a white judge grants him a second chance.

And that’s the show’s new connection.

The white judge who granted leniency to William, and the black judge who recused himself from Jack and Rebecca’s case, know each other. This gives the sense that both cases exist in the same timeframe, meaning that little Randall and William both had major courthouse decisions made about them at the same time.

At this point, I’m not sure what this kind of revelation adds to the story, or even to the show anymore. It feels arbitrary, and doesn’t feel like a necessary move, given that we already understand the interconnectedness of these stories.

William’s story could also use some deeper exploration because of its relevancy, but again, the show’s pacing has something else in mind.

Meanwhile in present-day, Randall faces a new challenge with Deja. We meet Deja’s mother, Shauna, who is prison, and learn that she’s intent on getting Deja back. This is something Randall and Beth are going to have trouble with, given that they’re falling for this girl they’re raising.

But it’s worthy to note that one of the goals of foster care is to reunite the child with their parents, and as painful as that might be for Randall and Beth, it’s a reality that they’re going to have to confront in the future.

Elsewhere, Kevin continues to spiral, his pain-killer addiction is morphing into something deeply ugly. He breaks up with Sophie after dreaming about being a bad father.

I’m stilling waiting for a Sophie-heavy episode, one that would explain this relationship and justify her presence on the show, because so far, the writers have really dropped the ball.

It looks like next episode is going to be a major one for Kevin with flashbacks to his high school football years. Hopefully it will be an illuminating one that gets to the heart of who Kevin is.

Other final thoughts:

• Kate and Toby’s arc about marriage is kind of sweet, but it was distracting that we kept hearing about Toby’s mom throughout the episode, without actually getting to meet her in the end.
• I hate to say this, but This Is Us, on a wholly entertainment level, is becoming less appealing. Some of this stuff sounds like interesting story ideas, but when executed, I’m not going to lie, I get bored.

What did you think of this episode of This Is Us? Share your thoughts with us in the comments below!

Reviewer Rating:

User Rating:

 

This Is Us airs Tuesdays at 9/8c on NBC.

Follow us on Twitter @telltaleTV_

Want more from Tell-Tale TV? Subscribe to our newsletter here!