This Is Us Review: Changes (Season 5 Episode 3)

This Is Us tackles its most daunting challenge yet — teenagers.

It’s no secret that our teen years are not exactly great. Puberty is a messy subject, and yet This Is Us Season 5 Episode 3, “Changes,” is anything but messy as it attempts to rationalize the hormones that can get the best of humanity at times.

The decision to transition immediately from pandemic to puberty is an interesting one, and it’s certainly not one many other series would make. It’s certainly not one I would make.

Despite that, I find myself enthralled by this episode’s need to match a worldwide pandemic with the same level of alarm, in a completely different context. It’s not Kate and Stuart’s science project that keeps us invested, it’s this show’s willingness to dive headfirst into any human experiences.

I wouldn’t necessarily praise “Changes” for its execution. The transitions don’t always flow together in that magical way This Is Us episodes are more than capable of.

The opening moments spent with a Vietnamese father and his daughter don’t mesh with the other two paralleling points of the episode. They do, however, foreshadow the greater mystery this season of Randall’s mother. So kudos to this series because — damn that was a good reveal!

The topic of puberty ultimately ends up working against the story, as the focus of one too many irritable teens get to be a little much. It all fun and games until your favourite TV show attempts to recreate a viral Tik-Tok trend, then it becomes considerably less fun.

This episode works when it is focused on each parent’s role in these adolescent changes and emphasizes the paralleling themes of change in the Big Three’s present-day lives as adults, and those changes they experienced during puberty.

None the less, This Is Us has an ace up its sleeve with this one. I’m of course talking about the episode’s exquisite taste in pop culture references.

The sheer-amount of Buffy the Vampire Slayer references during this episode is enough to entertain, from the movie poster taped up in teen Kate’s room, to the daughter named Willow, to the passionate discussion involving Toby and the masterpiece that is “Hush”.

But the series doesn’t stop there with the name dropping.

Outlander fans also get treated to a laughable shoutout as Madison confesses to Kevin that she is obsessed with the show and has even attended conventions. As someone that enjoys the historical drama, I’m comforted to know Outlander fans are now being referred to as “those people”.

Pop culture references seem to be popping up more and more this season, with another shout out to One Day At a Time on the premiere. It’s most likely a survival tactic This Is Us has picked up to come off as hip with viewers in its old age. As someone who loves when TV shows refer to other TV shows, I am perfectly okay with it continuing.

It would seem lately to bet against Kevin and Madison is to bet against the success of This Is Us.

Kevin has proven he works great solo, but ever since this unique dynamic with Madison has been introduced the unlikely pair have become an undeniable force onscreen. Regardless of their romantic chemistry, their shared desire to work through their addictions and become better parents is intoxicating to watch.

The currency of being an actor who takes their shirt off all the time is not healthy. That’s something we as a society have always know, but rarely discuss.

So it’s refreshing to have the series confront this issue with Kevin and have him admit his addiction to working out is similar to what Madison has experienced with her eating disorder, in that it has never been healthy.

“Changes” does an exceptionally good job of reminding the audience that Madison’s eating disorder is still a piece of her story, despite it often being overlooked.

Of course, she would be struggling to keep herself in check as she begins to gain weight for the baby and, of course, Kevin’s Olympic swimmer’s body would not help her feel any better.

Her opening up to Kevin about why the baby photo is on the fridge feels raw and emotional in all the ways needed to deepen their connection. She’s patient with Kevin but she’s also asking that he be patient with her.

I love that This Is Us is not pushing for these two to fall into a happily-ever romance, nor is the show promising Kevin and Madison will ever be more to each other than co-parents.

As this episode demonstrates, they are just two strangers thrown together by circumstance and nothing truly romantic may come of that. But they are going to give love a try and there’s something incredibly special about watching two people work through their feelings in such an honest way, without knowing where it will ultimately take them.

Kevin and Madison, you’ve got our attention and if you keep it up you’ll have our hearts too.

Their addictions and struggles parallel each other beautifully, and the couple’s raw moment of honesty in the garage is just one of many moments during the episode that makes a dingy garage feel like a decent place to have a good cry.

Kevin and Jack’s time in the garage is such a sweet callback to their father-son relationship, but this bonding also plays into the bigger arc brilliantly.

Despite Jack taking a more positive approach to working-out with Kevin, he is still instilling a toxic lifestyle in his son’s mind from an early age.

What is seemingly a harmless interaction, leads to a lifelong struggle for Kevin. It a very This Is Us thing to do as the series continues to establish through Randall’s identity struggles and Kevin’s workout obsession, that even the best parents can fail.

This episode demonstrates the growing pains of a family that is slowly lifting back the veil on their perfect upbringing. That doesn’t mean for one second that this series is demonstrates growing pains of its own.

As Kevin explains it, the Big Three had the most supportive and connected parents growing up. And yet, Rebecca and Jack still missed so much. As it turns out, so have we.

“Changes” doesn’t always hit the mark, but the content itself feels far from exhausted. In many ways, it feels like we are still acquainting ourselves with the Pearsons, even after five seasons.

That’s a feeling I hope never changes.

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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