Is this season bigger on meals than ever before?
I ask because just liketwo weeks ago, tonights episode The Dinner and the Date focused on special dinners.
Adult Kevin and Kate get the whole episode off.
Credit: Mitchell Haddad/NBC
Lets break down the heady and heartful plots.
Rebecca doesnt think dinner is necessary and busts Jacks chops about it.
Meanwhile, Corys wife Trish is also skeptical.
During dinner, tensions between Cory and Jack rise as Cory and Randall carry on an exclusive conversation.
Things only get worse when the subject comes up of an African culture festival the Pearsons didnt know existed.
Jack realizes hes been insecure and selfish.
He takes the book to Randall and, to Randalls delight, says he wants to read it together.
Soon their guests arrive.
Randall greets them and Kelly, in a cold first impression, shushes him because the baby is sleeping.
Beth and Randall are shook by seeing Malik with his daughter.
In Darnell and Randalls first interaction, Darnell basically calls Randall bougie, to Randalls dismay.
Still, the men soon seem to hit it off.
Darnell admits skipping school was Maliks idea, probably because he thought it was smooth.
Randall seems to believe him and softens toward Malik.
(Cue my tears).
Things boil over at dinner.
With the children out of the room, the mothers again go at it.
Darnell says he used to live the hood life but its behind him.
After the Hodges leave, Randall and Beth tell Deja shes grounded, but she can still see Malik.
They ask her to tell them more about him.
Deja recalls being in Philly when she was a child with her mother and grandmother.
She vaguely remembers Christmas lights on houses, lights reflecting on the water.
She says she wishes she could remember more of when her grandmother was alive.
Then Malik suggests they skip school so he can show herhisPhilly.
They start at Maxs.
Deja loves the gesture.Awww.
Deja assumes its a line he says to all the girls.
A later stop reminds Deja of her childhood visit.
Deja lays down beside him, and soon theyre holding hands.
But as they turn their faces to one another, Deja suddenly breaks away.
Malik follows her to apologize for making her uncomfortable.
Deja tells him shes never liked anyone before.
She doesnt want anything to mess with her life plans.More tears.
Deja then allows him to take her to one more spot in the city.
Deja is taken aback, and soon she and Malik share a kiss.
He is a bridge between all Dejas worlds.
