'This Is Us' Season 4 Episode 11 Review: Randall has 'hell of a week', but who is the woman next to Kevin?
The review contains spoilers for 'This Is Us' Season 4 Episode 11 — 'Hell of a Week: Part One'
Who was the scary man in Randall Pearson (Sterling K Brown)'s kitchen last episode? Yes, that's the question buzzing in most minds after the suspenseful cliffhanger in Episode 10. The new episode picks up right there and shows a close call between the burglar and Randall.
Noticing the knife in his hand, Randall tosses his money clip on the counter and warns him, "If you stay, you will not get past me." After a few tense moments, he grabs the money and dashes off. At least, there is no physical harm and Randall manages to ensure the safety of his family.
While he pretends everything is normal, the burglary and Rebecca's illness take a toll on his mind and the demons of his past come back to haunt him. He is breaking inside and struggling with sleeplessness. In his flashbacks, he recalls how as a child he was scared of the nightmares but his dad, Jack, told him: "I need you to be brave."
In college, his sleep trouble resurfaced as he admitted to Beth, "I just feel so helpless like I have no control over anything." He also remembers how his emotional well-being was suppressed for the family's well-being when Rebecca cancels the birthday dinner because "something's wrong with Kate", after her intense fight with Marc.
In the present day, Jae-won realizes something is amiss with his boss and suggests him to delay the town hall meeting. However, Randall suggests he is perfectly fine and says, "I'm not going to let this affect my work."
However, it does impact his work. When faced with some resistance at the town hall, his mind is preoccupied and he seems lost as soon as he hears his phone notifications buzzing. Malik's dad Darnell is irked by his attitude and tells him, "We'll talk at the town hall. Maybe you'll listen then."
At the suggestion of cops, Beth and Randall install a security system at home but soon realize that her topaz earrings and cufflinks are missing. Randall panics at the thought of the robber being inside the room while Beth was sleeping. While he fights his anxiety, Beth tries to calm his down saying that everything "is a lot, for anyone". The two decide to take a day off and talk it out.
Later, Malik tells Darnell about the break-in and he decides to talk about it with Randall. "Us men of a certain shade, we’re not used to talking," he says. "But that's therapy, right? Talking." However, Randall just isn't ready to accept it. He curtly says, "Running suits me just fine."
While out for his morning jog, he comes across a man and a woman struggling in a parking lot and without a second thought, beats the guy black and blue. While he is hailed as a hero and wakes up to notifications that read, 'Hero Councilman, what is this, Gotham City?' he seems to be in a state of shock. He shuts himself in his upstairs bathroom and falls apart.
Sterling K Brown brings his marvel to screen as he shows the struggle of weighing in with everyone's responsibility on his shoulders. The episode, in all, is a peek at how difficult life can get if the heart's woes are not addressed on time. The biggest question, however, is: Why doesn't he go for therapy?
Finally, seeking help, he calls Kevin and confesses, "I lied, man. I need a catch. I’m not OK. He (the robber) could've done something to Beth. He could've done something to my girls." Understanding his situation, Kev tells him to calm down with some breathing techniques.
He also mumbles how he is "kind of in the middle of a whole thing" and the camera pulls back to show a woman next to him. Kevin says, "It's been a hell of a week," leaving viewers wondering who could it be.
Is Sophie back in Kev's life? Moreover, why are Kevin and Randall not talking to each other in the future?
The next episode might shed light on that as it airs on NBC on January 28.