
This Is Us Review: A Long Road Home (Season 5 Episode 5)
There is a point during Randall’s phone call to Hai on This Is Us Season 5 Episode 5, “A Long Road Home,” that I get chills down my spine, and there is perhaps a tear in my eye if you must know.
It’s the moment that Randall learns that William did not lie to him when he told Randall his mom was dead. We know that William would not lie, and it’s frustrating to watch Randall question his father’s integrity so quickly.
So, there is sweet relief when Randall learns from Hai that his father was telling the truth to the best of his knowledge. We don’t have to go through another episode screaming at our TV sets for Randall to relax and trust William.

But it’s the women on This Is Us who go down the hardest and most important roads “home.”
Kate’s journey is one of her most important throughout five seasons. Hopefully, someone gains the strength they need from her epic monologue while confronting Marc. The end particularly stands out:
Kate: I’m not broken, you’re the one that’s broken Marc. You’re the disease. And I’m not carrying it a moment longer. So, I give it back to you. Good luck with it, Marc.
Moments like this are why TV matters. This Is Us is so powerful so often because it has many of them, and when they aren’t forced, they can be breathtaking.
If you find yourself in a similar situation to Kate, borrow her words if you need to. Also, give the toxic person back their disease, don’t dare let them cut you off, and make them look you in the eye as you release their power over you.
I’m thrilled that adult Kate has taken such a huge step in her healing process. At the end of the episode, she’s watching Airplane! with a man who loves her and laughing just like she watched her parents do.
It’s a stark contrast to young adult Kate’s journey.

Hannah Zeile is to be applauded for all of the lonely work she does on this episode.
Young Kate has no parent or partner to help her through this — she’s completely alone.
I can usually find one person that a character can tell their deep, dark, secret to so they can avoid the pain of carrying their emotional damage alone whether the script tells them to or not.
There is no one in Kate’s life strong enough to share her burden. She is completely and totally alone. She even confirms as much by going to visit Marc before her abortion appointment.

Zeile does a wonderful job portraying that numb flavor of sadness as Kate is looking up at the exam table lights and staring at TV screens trying to escape her reality.
A story like Kate’s is worth 40+ minutes to exist on its own.
Randall’s search for the truth about another long lost parent most obviously gets in the way of Kate’s more compelling issue and weakens the episode.
But to Metz and Zeile I say bravo. Keep telling stories about women taking power back.

Kevin and Madison’s journey is tolerable as a parallel to Kate’s only because Madison has some power to take back, too.
It’s interesting to watch a pregnant woman in a new relationship set the terms for how she’s going to raise her family.
I care less about the movie star struggling to fit his impending family into his career. But to be fair, Kevin’s first instinct is correct and we can all hope that he turns the car around and insists on staying home.
If not for this movie (Madison wants him to go), then for one in his immediate future. He has the history to prove that putting his career first will eventually make his family disappear from his life.
If he doesn’t take the lesson Randall and a failed marriage once taught him, well — what would make Kevin Pearson worth rooting for anymore?

Notes:
- The women on This Is Us need to be given more screen time to shine.
- Every time Beth mumbles under her breath she speaks truths.
- Madison’s eating disorder is important and hopefully, the conversation about it will continue in the future.
- Scars can be beautiful, but don’t let anyone ever tell you you were broken in all of the “right” places. They don’t know what they’re talking about.
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This Is Us airs Tuesdays at 9/8c on NBC.
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