The Pearsons will be battling their past once more when This Is Usreturns.
Ghosts of our past certainly seem to be the theme of this season, and This Is Us Season 5 Episode 5, “A Long Road Home,” is committed to exploring these hauntings in their full glory.
Visiting the Big Three’s college years again, we see Kevin debate his future with Madison by exploring his past relationship with Sophie. For anyone still holding out hope these two will find their way back to each other, it’s always a good sign to see young Sophie stop by.
Unfortunately, this flashback also means a visit from the worst of Kate’s past boyfriends — Marc.
I will say Austin Abrams made good on his time absent as this vile character, starring as the cynical but charming Dash of Netflix’s Dash & Lily. However, Marc is still an unwelcoming presence and one can only hope his ugly tendency to treat Kate like trash won’t stall this season’s early momentum.
None the less, the details of Kate’s pregnancy reveal will surely add to the shock value This Is Us has been building to.
No one has had more ghosts to contend with this season than Randall. Not only is he on the cusp of a huge revelation with his mother, but William will once again return to the past to gift us with more of their father-son relationship.
It’s always a pleasure to see William back in the Pearson household but his return is shrouded in mystery with the inclusion of Hai, presumably the last living connection to Randall’s mother and an unexpected recipient of Randall’s viral striptease.
It would seem the Pearsons have to take a step back in time in order to confront this season’s future. And as always, we prepare ourselves for a caliber of drama so good, it transcends time.
Check out the photos and promo video below for a preview!
Episode description: Kate confronts her past; Randall’s brush with viral fame leads to an unexpected discovery; Kevin debates the best path for his future.
Photos from This Is Us Season 5 Episode 5:
THIS IS US — “A Long Road Home” Episode 505 — Pictured in this screen grab: Susan Kelechi Watson as Beth — (Photo by: NBC)THIS IS US — “A Long Road Home” Episode 505 — Pictured in this screen grab: Chrissy Metz as Kate — (Photo by: NBC)THIS IS US — “A Long Road Home” Episode 505 — Pictured in this screen grab: (l-r) Mandy Moore as Rebecca, Amanda Leighton as Sophie, Logan Shroyer as Kevin, Rachel Hilson as Beth, Niles Fitch as Randall — (Photo by: NBC)THIS IS US — “A Long Road Home” Episode 505 — Pictured in this screen grab: (l-r) Amanda Leighton as Sophie, Logan Shroyer as Kevin — (Photo by: NBC)THIS IS US — “A Long Road Home” Episode 505 — Pictured in this screen grab: Justin Hartley as Kevin — (Photo by: NBC)THIS IS US — “A Long Road Home” Episode 505 — Pictured in this screen grab: (l-r) Justin Hartley as Kevin, Caitlin Thompson as Madison — (Photo by: NBC)THIS IS US — “A Long Road Home” Episode 505 — Pictured in this screen grab: Susan Kelechi Watson as Beth — (Photo by: NBC)THIS IS US — “A Long Road Home” Episode 505 — Pictured in this screen grab: (l-r) Austin Abrams as Marc, Hannah Zeile as Kate — (Photo by: NBC)THIS IS US — “A Long Road Home” Episode 505 — Pictured in this screen grab: Niles Fitch as Randall — (Photo by: NBC)THIS IS US — “A Long Road Home” Episode 505 — Pictured in this screen grab: (l-r) Mandy Moore as Rebecca, Amanda Leighton as Sophie, Logan Shroyer as Kevin — (Photo by: NBC)THIS IS US — “A Long Road Home” Episode 505 — Pictured in this screen grab: (l-r) Justin Hartley as Kevin, Caitlin Thompson as Madison — (Photo by: NBC)THIS IS US — “A Long Road Home” Episode 505 — Justin Hartley as Kevin, Caitlin Thompson as Madison — (Photo by: NBC)THIS IS US — “A Long Road Home” Episode 505 — Sterling K. Brown as Randall — (Photo by: NBC)THIS IS US — “A Long Road Home” Episode 505 — Pictured in this screen grab: (l-r) Austin Abrams as Marc, Hannah Zeile as Kate — (Photo by: NBC)THIS IS US — “A Long Road Home” Episode 505 — Pictured in this screen grab: (l-r) Justin Hartley as Kevin, Caitlin Thompson as Madison — (Photo by: NBC)THIS IS US — “A Long Road Home” Episode 505 — Mandy Moore as Rebecca — (Photo by: NBC)THIS IS US — “A Long Road Home” Episode 505 — Pictured in this screen grab: (l-r) Rachel Hilson as Beth, Niles Fitch as Randall — (Photo by: NBC)THIS IS US — “A Long Road Home” Episode 505 — Pictured in this screen grab: (l-r) Justin Hartley as Kevin, Caitlin Thompson as Madison — (Photo by: NBC)THIS IS US — “A Long Road Home” Episode 505 — Pictured in this screen grab: (l-r) Susan Kelechi Watson as Beth, Sterling K. Brown as Randall — (Photo by: NBC)THIS IS US — “A Long Road Home” Episode 505 — Pictured in this screen grab: Logan Shroyer as Kevin — (Photo by: NBC)THIS IS US — “A Long Road Home” Episode 505 — Pictured in this screen grab: (l-r) Mandy Moore as Rebecca, Amanda Leighton as Sophie, Logan Shroyer as Kevin — (Photo by: NBC)THIS IS US — “A Long Road Home” Episode 505 — Pictured in this screen grab: (l-r) Rachel Hilson as Beth, Niles Fitch as Randall — (Photo by: NBC)THIS IS US — “A Long Road Home” Episode 505 — Pictured in this screen grab: Justin Hartley as Kevin — (Photo by: NBC)THIS IS US — “A Long Road Home” Episode 505 — Pictured in this screen grab: (l-r) Caitlin Thompson as Madison, Justin Hartley as Kevin — (Photo by: NBC)THIS IS US — “A Long Road Home” Episode 505 — Pictured in this screen grab: Sterling K. Brown as Randall — (Photo by: NBC)THIS IS US — “A Long Road Home” Episode 505 — Susan Kelechi Watson as Beth, Sterling K. Brown as Randall — (Photo by: NBC)THIS IS US — “A Long Road Home” Episode 505 — Pictured in this screen grab: Vien Hong as Hai — (Photo by: NBC)THIS IS US — “A Long Road Home” Episode 505 — Pictured in this screen grab: (l-r) Mandy Moore as Rebecca, Amanda Leighton as Sophie, Logan Shroyer as Kevin, Rachel Hilson as Beth, Niles Fitch as Randall — (Photo by: NBC)THIS IS US — “A Long Road Home” Episode 505 — Pictured in this screen grab: (l-r) Justin Hartley as Kevin, Caitlin Thompson as Madison — (Photo by: NBC)THIS IS US — “A Long Road Home” Episode 505 — Pictured in this screen grab: Sterling K. Brown as Randall — (Photo by: NBC)THIS IS US — “A Long Road Home” Episode 505 — Pictured in this screen grab: Niles Fitch as Randall — (Photo by: NBC)THIS IS US — “A Long Road Home” Episode 505 — Pictured in this screen grab: Logan Shroyer as Kevin — (Photo by: NBC)THIS IS US — “A Long Road Home” Episode 505 — Pictured in this screen grab: Vien Hong as Hai — (Photo by: NBC)THIS IS US — “A Long Road Home” Episode 505 — Pictured in this screen grab: Logan Shroyer as Kevin — (Photo by: NBC)THIS IS US — “A Long Road Home” Episode 505 — Pictured in this screen grab: Caitlin Thompson as Madison — (Photo by: NBC)THIS IS US — “A Long Road Home” Episode 505 — Pictured in this screen grab: Sterling K. Brown as Randall — (Photo by: NBC)THIS IS US — “A Long Road Home” Episode 505 — Pictured in this screen grab: (l-r) Justin Hartley as Kevin, Caitlin Thompson as Madison — (Photo by: NBC)THIS IS US — “A Long Road Home” Episode 505 — Pictured in this screen grab: (l-r) Sterling K. Brown as Randall, Ron Cephas Jones as William — (Photo by: NBC)THIS IS US — “A Long Road Home” Episode 505 — Pictured in this screen grab: Ron Cephas Jones as William — (Photo by: NBC)THIS IS US — “A Long Road Home” Episode 505 — Pictured in this screen grab: (l-r) Mandy Moore as Rebecca, Hannah Zeile as Kate — (Photo by: NBC)THIS IS US — “A Long Road Home” Episode 505 — Pictured in this screen grab: Hannah Zeile as Kate — (Photo by: NBC)THIS IS US — “A Long Road Home” Episode 505 — Pictured in this screen grab: Ron Cephas Jones as William — (Photo by: NBC)THIS IS US — “A Long Road Home” Episode 505 — Pictured in this screen grab: (l-r) Caitlin Thompson as Madison, Justin Hartley as Kevin — (Photo by: NBC)THIS IS US — “A Long Road Home” Episode 505 — Pictured in this screen grab: Ron Cephas Jones as William — (Photo by: NBC)THIS IS US — “A Long Road Home” Episode 505 — Pictured in this screen grab: (l-r) Mandy Moore as Rebecca, Hannah Zeile as Kate — (Photo by: NBC)THIS IS US — “A Long Road Home” Episode 505 — Pictured in this screen grab: (l-r) Mandy Moore as Rebecca, Hannah Zeile as Kate — (Photo by: NBC)THIS IS US — “A Long Road Home” Episode 505 — Pictured in this screen grab: (l-r) Justin Hartley as Kevin, Caitlin Thompson as Madison — (Photo by: NBC)
Alicia is a Rotten Tomatoes Certified Critic and a Critics Choice Association member. She credits her passion for TV to workplace sitcoms, paranormal dramedies, and coming-of-age stories. In her free time, Alicia loves to curl up with a good book and lose herself in a cozy game. Keep a lookout for her coverage of Ghosts. You can also find her work on Eulalie Magazine and Cool Girl Critiques. Follow Alicia on social media: @aliciagilstorf
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