This Is Us Review: The Dinner and the Date (Season 4 Episode 7)

Regardless of whether their ship name is Dejik or Maleja, it’s clear Randall is having none of it. 

This Is Us Season 4 Episode 7, “The Dinner and the Date,” forces the Pearsons into another uncomfortable dinner party after narrowly escaping from the last one just episodes ago.

All should be good this time considering Jack is still around to cook for Rebecca and Beth keeps the wine in the pantry. However, a number of setbacks, snarky comments, and ego trips lead to an uncomfortable dinner where the children are behaving better than the parents.

It’s the most we’ve ever seen the Pearsons unfiltered and out of their element. Yet I can’t seem to decide if this episode’s depiction of television’s most beloved family is one I entirely enjoyed.

Deja and Malik are the stars of “The Dinner and the Date,” and rightfully so.

Their chemistry on screen together is an instant hit and effortlessly carries the brunt of this episode. The two teens take on the intensity of all the This Is Us romances that have come before them and do so without as much as a misstep.

Despite bringing the same ride or die passion to their relationship as Rebecca and Jack, Maleja (yes that’s the ship name I’m going with) brings a fresh new dynamic to the show as rookies in the dangerous game of love. Yet there’s an old soul quality to these two characters that is just as compelling to watch.

It’s adorable to see Malik and Deja galavant around Philly and sharing their deepest truths amongst some gorgeous city backgrounds. It might also be one of the strongest storylines we’ve seen this season.

Unfortunately, their romantic escapades are cut short when Randall and Beth find out Deja skipped school to be with a boy they had outlawed her from seeing.

Forbidden love and a pissed off Beth is the perfect combination for some rather juicy drama. But I don’t think anyone could have predicted such a chaotic dinner to erupt between the meeting of Deja and Malik’s families.

For the most part, this chaos works to the episode’s advantage. Beth and Kelly’s unspoken determination to prove their child is better, fuels most of the tension at the table. Seeing Beth unhinged and ready to jump this lady for the sake of Deja’s reputation is admirable, and a little comical. Beth and her pantry wine are easily the best part of this dinner party.

However, as Randall begins to incorporate politics and stereotypes into their dinner conversation, the enjoyment of seeing everyone suffer takes an uncomfortable turn.

This episode hosts two difficult dinners about race and class beautifully. But the moments in between make these dinners feel rather tedious and muddled.

As Randall and Beth’s hospitality begins to slip, both families forgot entirely about their children as they make a decision based on what they think of each other. For an episode focused almost entirely around Deja and Malik, this entire scene feels like a complete disservice to their characters.

Sure Randall apologizes later for not getting to know Malik but it feels like This Is Us should have tried to include the two in the dinner more from the start.

The same goes for Jack during his dinner party with the Lawrences. For the most part, it’s great to see This Is Us continue the discussion of colour with Randall and Jack. I especially enjoy the scene between Jack and Mr. Lawrence when Jack asks how he can encourage his son to be more black and the teacher just looks at him in horror.

But just like with Randall and Beth’s dinner, the festivities turn sour with the help of some uncomfortable dinner talk. Jealousy doesn’t look flattering on Jack, nor does this storyline.

The Office was the first to prove that just because your audience is forced into an uncomfortable dinner party, doesn’t mean they have to hate it. “Dinner Party” is still one of the series best episodes despite how much that storyline made us suffer.

This Is Us, unfortunately, does not hit the same mark with the dinner part of “The Dinner and the Date” for me. The date, on the other hand, is a beautiful look at young love through the eyes of two wide-eyed teens. With the rest of their lives to explore Philly together, one can only hope Deja and Malik take us along with them.

It’s easy to root for Maleja. It’s just not as easy to root for this episode.

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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