This Is Us Roundtable: Did Déjà’s Story Give You That Sweet Déjà Vu Feeling?

This Is Us made the bold choice to have an episode center around Déjà, Randall and Beth’s foster child, and its confidence did not waver as the show demonstrated how effective something as simple as the human connection can be.

This episode certainly gave us all that sweet, sweet déjà vu feeling.

Tell-Tale TV writers Ashley Bissette Sumerel, Alicia Gilstorf, and Lauren Busser discuss This Is Us Season 2 Episode 17, “This Big, Amazing, Beautiful Life” below.

• Ashley Bissette Sumerel (@ashleybsumerel)
• Alicia Gilstorf (@AliciaGilstorf)
• Lauren Busser (@LaurenBusser)

Do you think it was a smart move for This Is Us to have a Déjà centric episode?

Ashley: I really did. It was clear to me that focusing on her meant she was going to become part of the family somehow, and I appreciated getting to see her background more.

I also liked the parallels drawn throughout the episode between her story and everyone else’s. That was a nice, thoughtful touch.

Alicia: It was brilliant! I went into this episode not expecting much as Déjà hasn’t been the most interesting character in the past. Boy, was I wrong!

Her life is just as profound and interesting as the Pearsons’, if not more. Every moment spent with her proved why she is an important addition to the Pearson roster.

Lauren: I think that given the way this episode ends it is a smart move. It looks like we’ll be seeing a lot more of Déjà, so I think it helps to see more of her backstory and where she came from.

Did your perception of Deja change after learning about her life before she met Randall and Beth?

Ashley: I already had the feeling that she was somewhat the caretaker and had taken on more responsibility than any child should have to, but this episode certainly cemented that and made my heart go out to her even more.

Alicia: Yes, absolutely. My perception of Déjà when she first came into the Pearson’s lives turned out to be so far from the girl featured in this episode. Déjà is such a soft, quiet, and incredibly smart girl who has had to be the adult in her household for so long. Seeing her life moments up to meeting Randall also helped me better understand why she was suppressing so much anger.

Lauren: I think I do have a deeper understanding of Déjà and where she came from. I definitely got a different perception of her. I liked her when she was with Randall and Beth but we didn’t have the same connection that we do with Randall and the other Pearsons.

Do you think incorporating flashes of the Pearsons’ lives throughout her journey was necessary?

Ashley: I think it was important to draw those connections. Quite frankly, that’s what this show is really about — those connections between people and those common life experiences.

Alicia: At first I was skeptical of This Is Us trying to connect Jack and Rebecca’s story to Déjà’s, but it wasn’t necessarily about showing how their lives intertwined like relationships that have come before but how the human connection can be so similar and so drastically different at times.

The symbolism behind something as ordinary as coming into the world the same, doing everything else differently, and then going to sleep at the end of the night all the same was executed beautifully through these two families.

Lauren: I was thinking about this and I think that it helps show the spectrum of human experience. Like the bit where all the kids are cooking with their parents and Deja is cooking for herself. It made the differences stand out that much more, but also the similarities.

What came as the biggest surprise to you about Déjà’s past?

Ashley: For me, it was how well she was able to take care of herself when she had to. I think, again, it was implied that her character had had those experiences, but seeing them was really interesting to me. I definitely appreciated that.

Alicia: I had expected Déjà’s mother to be a lot more black and white/good and bad with her life choices. However, I found she operated in a grey area that made her much more endearing. She started out a lot like Rebecca, uncertain about being a mother and not having that love for it that other mothers did.

The difference is Rebecca had Jack to support her and help develop as a parent. Déjà’s mother lost her support system early on, and so I do believe we could have seen Rebecca’s life turn out similar if she was in the same position when she had her kids.

Lauren: I think the biggest surprise was her mother. I think her mother was young but at a certain point, she was trying. Plus, I think the confirmation that Shauna really was innocent when Déjà ended up with Randall and Beth, was one of the biggest revelations.

Next week is the finale. Is there anything you would like to see or a storyline you would like addressed?

Ashley: I’m certainly excited about the wedding, for starters, and I’m curious about that glimpse of older Jack we’re going to see.

Mainly I’m just looking forward to whatever the finale has to offer, and I can’t believe it’s already the end of Season 2! I’m constantly impressed by the quality of this show, and it’s going to be difficult to wait for the next season.

Alicia: I’m excited to see Kate and Toby finally tie the knot. I caught a glimpse of an older Jack in the promo and even if he is a product of Rebecca’s imagination I hope we get a moment with Jack at Kate’s wedding that gives us all the feels.

Lauren: When it comes to This Is Us, I never really have anything I am looking for or anticipating beyond what’s shown in the trailer, I just like to go along for the ride. I think I just want to see all of the Pearsons together.

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What did you think of this episode of This Is Us? Respond to our roundtable questions with your own answers in the comments below! You can also check out our review of This Is Us Season 2 Episode 17, “This Big, Amazing, Beautiful Life” right here.

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

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