'This Is Us' Season 4 Episode 15 Review: Kevin is the 'fun son' in Randall's absence, but is that good?
Spoiler Alert for 'This Is Us' Season 4 Episode 15 — 'Clouds'
A little love can go a long way. The latest episode of 'This Is Us' shows exactly that with a beautiful amalgamation of the past and present. In a flashback, Rebecca Pearson (Mandy Moore) and Jack Pearson (Milo Ventimiglia) sit by their kids for the report card day. Little Randall is anxious, Kate is sad but Kevin has a smug look for scoring two 'A's.
The flashback sets the tone for their individual characters in the present moment and shows three major plot twists: Randall (Sterling K. Brown) finally goes for therapy and Kate (Chrissy Metz) gets some much-needed relationship advice from Madison (Caitlin Thompson) — who, by the way, is swooning over her one-night-stand with Kev. But the most heartwarming junction is when Kevin (Justin Hartley) goes to meet Rebecca.
Like most of its episodes, 'This Is Us' continues to make heartbeats jump with joy and eyes moist with tears.
Randall and his 'mysterious' therapist
Randall gives therapy a chance. Finally. Watching him sit across the therapist makes you heave a sigh of relief. Quick to make references to 'Good Will Hunting' and 'The Sopranos', he says, "I am comfortable talking about my emotions." While he starts his life story all over again, it is surprising to find out that the therapist knows all about it from his speeches.
She soon points out his "control issues," especially how he tries to control to steer the conversation away from his mom. "But then I would have to admit that it is bothering me," he exclaims! Yes, Randall, you need to admit it. He soon expresses that he feels all the responsibility is on his shoulders. "If it wasn't for me, this whole family would have fallen apart," he blurts out. When the therapist questions him again, "Would they?" he starts to leave.
Back at home, his wife Beth (Susan Kelechi Watson) hears him out for his indignation towards therapy and gives him a stern warning: "I was worried if I lay anything else on you, you will crack. I need to tell you. You're my person." Randall finally gives in to the idea of therapy. But the biggest mystery through it all is 'Who is the therapist and why is she hidden'?
Kate and Toby mending ways?
Kate comes home to see Toby Damon (Chris Sullivan) and baby Jack having a good time. Toby finally apologizes and takes Kate to the garage for a surprise. He expresses his plans of setting it up into a music studio. It is, no doubt, an incredible idea but Kate is lost. She tells him to stop.
In the middle of their conversation, Kate gets a call from Madison. That's when she tells Toby about how Madison and Kevin slept together. Even in the midst of their argument, Toby utters out, "Whaaat?" after hearing it out. Madison meets Kate. Madison tells Kate how sorry she is for sleeping with Kev but also gushes about the night.
Later, the two ladies have a heart-to-heart talk where Kate discusses her problems with Madison. Surprisingly, Madison has a great pep talk ready. About sleeping with Kevin, she says, "It was nice to be with someone who actually knew something about me," and connects it to Kate's marital woes, "Shouldn't Toby be able to express all his fears without judgment?" Madison's words work like magic and mend Kate and Toby's bond — at least for now!
Kate tells Toby, "I am tired of the me-vs-you." Toby has a grand gesture planned in advance. The two happily rejoice over a musical playroom for baby Jack with every sound possible.
Kevin's day out with mom
"You look great," Kevin tells Rebecca as he goes to see her. In that split second, Rebecca gets the answer simply by looking at him. "They told you, didn't they?" she asks. Mothers always know, don't they? Miguel Rivas (Jon Huertas) suggests Kevin and Rebecca spend some time alone.
As the mommy-son duo sneak some time together, Rebecca listens to a record by Joni Mitchell. "My record collection was my whole world." She remembers how she tried to find Mitchell's house with Jack back in the day. Kevin listens to her story and suggests they go again. Like a good son, Kevin makes his mom's dream come true. The scene where she narrates the story to him with a twinkle in her eye just like she did to Jack is poignant and soul-stirring.
After spending the wonderful day together, Kevin finally confronts his mom, "Are you scared?" He answers, "A little. But I am not even thinking about it right now because I am with you. You have that quality where you make everything fun. Sometimes making people forget about their worries or what comes next is the most important thing you can do for someone."
The episode ends with the track 'Our House' by Crosby Stills and Nash. It truly melts hearts. In the end, Randall goes back to therapist and we finally come face-to-face with her. Dr Leigh (played by Pamela Adlon)'s big reveal only comes in the hour-long episode’s closing moments.
Directed by Sarah Boyd and written by Kevin Falls & Jonny Gomez, the episode ends on a good note, but it builds a fear. Somehow, the tiff between Randall and Kevin could be connected to his therapy. Will Dr. Leigh be the reason they are not on talking terms in the future? Or is it Kevin's closeness to his mom and the different approaches of the two sons to handle her? Only time will tell.
Next week, as 'This Is Us' airs at 9 pm ET on NBC, it might come with concrete answers.