In the latestThis Is Usepisode, the flipped-script theme continues.
Ill elaborate on the above as we get into the thick of things.
But first, a quick synopsis of the episodes actual plot.
During the pre-teen Big Three era, they spend a day there before going to Randalls debate tournament upstate.
In the college-age era, Rebecca, Randall, and Beth visit to see Kevins acting showcase.
In the present, elderly Rebecca and adult Kevin and Randall attend Kevins movie premiere.
The three visits have in common Rebecca and the Metropolitan Museum of Art.
For more on the connection and everything else, lets jump in.
Inspired byHome Alone 2,Kevin picks a big toy store.
Randall picks the Museum of Natural History.
Kate wants to drink tea in a fancy hotel like childrens book character Eloise.
Rebecca wants to go to the Met.
Jack doesnt know his choice yet.
Rebecca reminisces about going to the city with her parents as a child.
Her dad made it feel magical because he knew everything about the city.
She and her mother called it Dads City.
Lost in Queens, Jack again refuses to listen to Rebeccas directions.
Stepping away from the kids, she insists Jack listen to her since she knows the city.
Rebecca says Jack offers a different trip than her father did, and thats what she wants.
Jack feels better but is worried they wont have time for all their stops now.
Rebecca says they will, but first lunch via cart pretzels (my personal favorite).
Kevin declares to his siblings that his dad fixed things as usual.
She arrives too late, though, and its closed, so she goes back to the hotel.
Jack feels bad and suddenly gets inspiration for his one thing.
Jack got the carriage idea fromHome Alone 2.
Hed always thought it looked cheesy but still wanted to do it with his wife.
He and Rebecca kiss, to Kevins discomfort and Kates admiration.
(Kate, whos post-breakup with Mark, stays home.)
After Kevins showcase performance, Kevin asks Randall what he thought of it.
To his disappointment, Randall gives a lackluster response.
(These moments where Kevin is vulnerable with his brother feel rare and precious.)
Kevin introduces them to his acting coach Kirby (Dave Annable).
Rebecca and Kirby share a flirtatious exchange before Kirby walks off.
Beth breaks the resulting tension by asking Sophie about New York.
When Sophie mentions Kevin studying his craft, Randall rolls his eyes.
Kevin then invites Kirby to join them.
Kevin talks about Kirby being a musician and his mom being a singer.
Playing into the obvious set-up, Kirby and Rebecca again flirt.
Kirby excuses himself, too.
Randall then bugs out at Kevin for trying to set up Rebecca.
He insists she isnt ready to date just a year after losing Jack.
Kevin says Rebecca is a grown woman and Randall cant be worried about her forever.
He adds that Jack would want Rebecca to be happy.
Randall insists he knows Rebeccas mindset better because hes there for her, unlike Kevin.
He takes another jab at Kevins acting career, making it clear he thinks its a joke.
Meanwhile, Kirby finds Rebecca struggling to hail a cab.
Rebecca thinks she had love once and now should be happy with just her kids.
Rebecca invites Kirby to join her at the Met.
He accepts, gladly, but suggests they walk through the park to get there.
Kevin doesnt think she should be away for so long.
Randall insists its whats best.
Kate hesitantly supports Randall.
Kevin resists but ultimately relents.
They walk into the hotel together joyfully.
Randall agrees to wait.
That night, Kevin and Rebecca walk the red carpet together and she revels in the excitement.
Afterward, Kevin introduces Rebecca and Randall to his agent.
Kevin leaves them briefly.
While hes gone, Rebecca forgets the name of her hotel.
She vents to Randall about her frustration with having good stretches interrupted by forgetting simple things at embarrassing times.
At this, Randall breaks his promise and mentions the clinical trial.
Predictably, this upsets Rebecca further.
Kevin notices the unhappy exchange and rejoins them.
He attacks Randall for mentioning it.
Rebecca initially defends Randall, but when the boys continue to bicker, she angrily storms off.
Kevin accuses Randall of refusing to accept that he might know better what Rebecca needs.
Kevin replies thats only because he wont let Kevin and Kate help him because he has a superiority complex.
Randall then storms off to find Rebecca.
Rebeccas missing but she texts them about where she went.
When the boys find Rebecca, shes staring at a painting of a woman in a black dress.
Rebecca tells them that once when she was a child, she saw a woman staring at this painting.
Thats why Rebecca was disappointed she couldnt get to the Met during those other trips.
My life has been full of next times, she says.
The boys accept this decision, though Randall does so quite reluctantly.
They then join her in staring at the painting.
Cut to Randall saying goodbye to Kevin.
Kevin lovingly assures him he couldnt have saved Jack.
Randall asks if Kevin ever wonders what life wouldve been like if Jack survived.
Randalls clearly never gotten over losing Jack.
Its impacted him in a way beyond how Jacks death impacted the other Pearsons.
Randalls lived in the past, with all the anxiety and other issues that come with that.
Hopefully therapy will help him cope better.
Kevin leaves Randall to an image hes clearly played in his head over and over.
Its the night of the fire.
Jacks on the roof about to go in after the dog.
Randall imagines yelling that if Jack goes in again, Randall will follow him.
Would that have really worked?
Poor Randall to have been living with this idea in his head for so long.
Tissues, c’mon.
