This Is Us Review: Lights and Shadows (Season 4 Episode 10)

The mid-season premiere of This Is Us chooses to step out of the shadows in favor of content that feels light and hopeful.

Seeing This Is Us Season 4 Episode 10, “Lights and Shadows,” deliver these tough stories without having to sacrifice the series’ spark this time around brings about a sense of relief.

Regardless of whether the Pearsons come away from this episode having failed, we feel elated to have watched them try. That feeling of triumph only comes from watching good TV.

This Is Us is really great at crafting these integrate episodes that intertwine multiple storylines together in beautiful ways.

But I don’t think we give this show enough credit when it comes to crafting an excellent episode motivated by storylines that have very little in common with each other.

Like any family exhausted from spending the holidays together, the Pearsons look for a little space as they try to fall back into routine and the separate journeys of “Lights and Shadows” reflect that desire at a time when many viewers are looking to do the same.

Instead of feeling like a hodgepodge of half-assed new year’s resolutions, This Is Us manages to make each individual story interesting enough this time around that we don’t really seem to care about the continuity of it all.

Kevin’s journey of personal growth continues to be a welcoming surprise.

His life has certainly been more spontaneous this season as he jumps from storyline to storyline without hesitation. But that unpredictability, matched by a revolving door of new characters to play off of, has made Kevin the easiest of the Big Three to get along with lately — and the easiest to root for.

Sophia Bush falls effortlessly into the role of mystery dream girl as she quickly wins Kevin and the audience over with her signature brand of charm. It seems only right that this new love interest is too good to be true because, well — she is.

There’s an important lesson for Kevin to take away from this celebrity hall pass blunder. It may be adorable to see him fall head over heels for this coffee shop girl and try to win her over in one day with everything she could ever want — including John Legend — but true love can’t be rushed or bought.

Let’s hope Sophie reminds Kevin of that before he gets too carried away and joins the cast of Married at First Sight, or worse, The Bachelor.

The two rocks of this series, Jack and Rebecca, continue to cash in big on their whirlwind love story.

It’s commendable to see This Is Us continuously find exciting firsts to explore with these two, even after four seasons on the air. Jack breaking up with Rebecca is a whole emotional moment in itself. Then Rebecca comes along with her first “I love you” and it’s as beautiful as one could imagine.

And while Rebecca’s trip to the doctor is not directly connected to these flashbacks, it doesn’t take much to realize her increasing lack of spacial awareness and these flashbacks of Jack will collide with each other soon enough.

I don’t know what’s more heartbreaking, the thought of Jack thinking he’s not good enough or Rebecca one day waking up next to Miguel thinking Jack is still alive.

The weakest link of this season continues to be Kate and Crossfit Toby.

And that’s rather unfortunate because most of their interactions within this episode are ones of real substance.

However, their fights are quite a rollercoaster in terms of quality. One moment Kate can be making an important point about Toby not being fully truthful with her and then suddenly the conversation takes a petty 360 so the two can fight about a minor issue that has no place in this argument.

These circular arguments may be a realistic representation of a couple lashing out but it sure doesn’t make for the best TV.

I don’t love that This Is Us is essentially recycling the same Beth and Randall drama from last season with a new couple. I do, however, love the moment when Kate and Toby realize Jack Jr. is reaching for the pineapple lights — that moment can have all the praise it wants!

“Lights and Shadows” does a wonderful job of establishing who will find themselves in the shadows for the remainder of this season, and who will ultimately see the light. And I got to say, things aren’t looking too bad for This Is Us going into the back-half of this seasonal arc.

Instead of being tied up in a heavy relationship storyline this time around, Randall will be caught up in a battle with his anxiety as the man struggles to come to terms with the tolls of his untreated mental illness.

The decision to have Randall starring down an intruder (who may or may not be real) at the end of this episode is not only a brilliant way to label a mid-season premiere as memorable, but it’s a thrilling way to reintroduce us to this series.

Well done, This Is Us! You have our attention. I just hope you’re able to keep it.

—

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

Critic Rating:

User Rating:

 

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

 Follow us on Twitter and on Instagram!

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

30 Favorite Network TV Shows of the Decade