'This Is Us' Season 4 Episode 17: If Jack had survived, would the Pearson family be as lovable? Fans say NO!
This week's 'This Is Us' episode shed light on how things would have been different if Jack Pearson (Milo Ventimiglia) would have been alive. In one version, Randall Pearson (Sterling K. Brown) pictures a "happily-ever-after" scenario and in the other version, Randall sketched out a totally different outcome.
However, in both versions, one thing was common: Rebecca (Mandy Moore) confessed about having met Randall's birth father William Hill (Ron Cephas Jones) right after Jack was saved. In the second version, Randall had a difficult childhood, things between Jack and Rebecca were not as perfect and the Pearson siblings were at loggerheads with each other.
Fans are split about the entire thing. "And now I’m stuck home going through all those scenarios of how my life could’ve been different. Thanks, Randall Pearson," one viewer wrote and another said, "Imma have to watch this episode a few more times to absorb it all. And deal with the idea that had Jack lived, I don’t think I would have liked the Pearson Family as much."
One fan, however, understood the entire thing and said, "I understand your point, but I offer this real story. A husband was diagnosed with cancer and said he didn't want treatment (accepted death). His wife asked him to go to chemo. He did, outliving his projected expectancy. He died happy. Sometimes it's just fear."
Not happy with Randall's decision, one fan said, "Sometimes we have to step in as the "adult" in parent-child relationships to get them to a better place but this, Randall, this wasn't it. And I am intrigued to see how this season ends. Fin. #ThisIsUs." Another opined, " I don’t even know where to begin. Randall hurts my heart. Rebecca deserves every ounce of happiness. She deserves to enjoy what ever time she has left. No matter what trial is available. You guilted her for your selfish reasons you can’t overcome."
Moreover, one said, "He could have realized this and had two options: confront his mother about his resentment and make an effort to have a stronger more reciprocated relationship with her or actually forgive her transgressions and personally fix his damage #ThisIsUs."
What's done is done. But what's hurtful is that Randall's forceful decision on his mom might leave his brother unhappy and he would never be able to mend things with him. As the NBC show airs next week at 10 pm ET, it might show what really transpires in their lives.