This Is Us Review: Unhinged (Season 4 Episode 3)

This Is Us Season 4 Episode 3, “Unhinged,” settles into the Pearsons’ latest reality with a newfound sense of purpose.

Rather than overshadow them, the newest additions to the cast look to accentuate everything we already love about the Pearsons in intriguing ways.

Randall’s political storyline makes a triumphant return. Kate manages to revisit the weight issues that still haunt her with a fresh storyline. Meanwhile, Kevin once again charms the audience with his ability to win over even the most skeptical of acquaintances.

“Unhinged” is a great addition to the season that has This Is Us unable to derail the momentum it’s got going for itself.

The breakout star of “Unhinged” is also the newest and most polarizing of the 10 strangers to be introduced. Gregory, played by Timothy Omundson (Psych) is Kate’s rude neighbour and a man that isn’t afraid to voice his opinion on matters of the sidewalk.

Of course, This Is Us doesn’t let these first impressions simmer long and quickly redeems Gregory with a couple of sassy one-liners and one hell of a story to tell. And he tells it well with the same aggressiveness we disliked him for moments earlier and a new self-deprecating humour that makes Gregory instantly likeable.

This show’s ability to make even the most difficult of characters empathetic with a few well-delivered lines is commendable and a tool that comes in handy when introducing 10 strangers with as much baggage as the Pearsons. Greggory is a prime example of why we needed this twist going into Season 4.

None of this is nearly as important as the representation This Is Us continues to push for this season. Casting a legally blind actor as Jack Jr. gave the role authenticity. So, it’s fantastic to find out that the role of Gregory was written with Omundson in mind, given that the actor had a major stroke himself. Seeing a man who had a stroke play a character who also had a stroke is a whole other level of representation.

Gregory might be a slow walker but he sure is a fast learner when it comes to winning us over.

This Is Us has stumbled across a whole new cast of break out stars and in a chance to keep them in our good graces, the show isn’t looking to play dirty like these network dramas tend to do.

That starts with the decision to have Malik comes clean to Déjà before their relationship even begins.

I’m so grateful This Is Us didn’t go for the low bow by letting this baby secret build until it explodes in the form of a messy break-up. Sure, this means less drama now but it also means more respect for a show that chose the right path for the character and not the path to cheap shock value.

This series has proven time and time again that it doesn’t have to resort to the usual dramatics to prove it’s worth as the best drama on television and I can’t help but notice This Is Us falters when it stoops to a level it has no reason stooping too.

Foreshadowing the end of Malik and Déjà’s relationship before it even started would have put a damper on all the adorable meet-cutes and stepmother jokes we now get to be a part of. Also, we have to give Malik credit for laying it all out on the table like that — we stan a honest legend.

It seems as if romance is in the air this season because sparks are flying between Kevin and Cassidy.

Their first meeting is everything I could have hoped for and more. Yes, it went terrible but the more terrible the first meeting the richer the romance. How can you not enjoy watching Kevin try and make amends with Cassidy just for her to shut him down? Then Kevin has to try and act all cool like he didn’t just fall on his face trying to charm her. Ugh, adorable.

I know I said I didn’t want to see Cassidy and Kevin turn out to be love interests and I do believe there’s more depth capable from these two characters than a romance. But I also love a good enemies to lovers trope, so you can see my dilemma here.

Regardless of romantic intent, Cassidy and Kevin’s interactions provide the chemistry we all were hoping for and leave us wanting more — much more.

Allowing Kevin the opportunity to interact with Cassidy’s son first is a nice touch as well. I enjoy seeing Kevin level with children and treat them like adults no matter their age. We see the beginnings of that ability to make people feel at ease with Randall in the flashback scenes. It’s always been Kevin’s most attractive quality as a character and I’m glad we are seeing more of that.

Despite the numerous episodes devoted to telling us such, it is still hard to imagine Jack Pearson being anything less than perfect at everything he does. It’s even harder to believe he almost got fired from a job.

Jack’s workplace blunder plays out kind of like an episode of The Office — no, sorry exactly like an episode The Office. I mean his greatest asset to the team is making chilli, come on.

It’s enjoyable to see the origin story of the ride or die bromance play out, even if Jack and Miguel do take a back seat to the rest of this loaded episode.

Thankfully we are finally rewarded with that scene — the one scene that proves once and for all that Miguel is more than the man that married Rebecca after Jack died. His willingness to give up everything for Jack allows the viewers to finally realize Miguel would never do anything to undermine that friendship, regardless of who he ended up marrying.

Miguel took care of Jack when he needed it, so it seems fitting he would take care of Jack’s family when he no longer could.

The only aspect of this episode that misses the mark is the overall theme that ties everything together. There are so many scenes that work well on their own but when they come together as one moving part, not everything fits seamlessly.

On another nearly flawless episode, this is a relatively minor detail. However, the last two episodes of This Is Us succeeded because they clung to a central theme that worked so beautifully across all time periods. It’s impossible not to love the consistency of the entire production.

That extra step of tying a thread to each scene that the audience can so clearly follow is what takes this drama to the next level. It may be too much to ask of this show every week, especially as more intense storylines are introduced.

However, better defining a theme, whether it be grief or learning to cope, would have given this episode the extra push it needed to stand level with the rest of Season 4.

Now that This Is Us has spoiled us it’s hard to ask for anything less than perfection.

“Unhinged’ is yet another meticulously crafted episode that ends on a promising note for the series.

Whether it’s the three alcoholics laughing it up in an AA meeting or the young Big Three sitting side by side on the bedroom floor swapping stories, This Is Us has us looking to the future for more.

This series continues to demonstrate a level of precision and clarity in its storytelling that we haven’t had since Jack’s death.

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

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

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