'This Is Us' Season 4 Episode 18 Finale: After the big twist, are you on Randall or Kevin's side?
'This Is Us' perfectly bundles family drama with emotional conflict and in the last few episodes, Randall Pearson's (Sterling K Brown) character seems to have taken a 180-degree turner to stay away from her family for nine months.
To get his way, he even emotionally blackmailed her for a decision she took long back. Once considered one of the favorite characters among fans, he is now being criticized on social media after the harsh decision he took for his mother, Rebecca Pearson (Mandy Moore). Moreover, he also managed to piss off his brother Kevin Pearson (Justin Hartley) who simply wanted their mother to be happy as she battled the disease.
While several viewers feel Randall has lost his mind, others are actually siding with his thought process. As the final episode airs next week, whose side would you be on — Randall or Kevin?
Team Kevin
"I can’t believe Randall. He’s actually making me really mad and uncomfortable now. What if this 'treatment' actually makes Rebecca worse. Either way, it doesn’t look good in the future... Remember "It’s your son, Randall.'" one fan posted and another wrote, "I think he is asking too much. He’s asking her to give up time, when she may not have much of it. It was ok to ask, but the pressuring was too far."
Talking about how it's the first time they don't like Randall, one fan said, "She should have the last say in how she spends this time. 1st time I don’t like Randall. I feel the weight of Rebecca’s guilt & why she said yes. Amazing actors & storyline."
"Alzheimer runs in the family. It’s a heartbreaking disease to watch someone go through, as they’re a shell of their former selves; left without the most beautiful thing, our memories. I feel for Randal, and probably would have done the same thing. People may side with Kevin (enjoying now) Randal (thinking long-term) Kate (trying to appease everyone) or Rebecca (it’s her heath her say). However, it should be the whole family discussing airing everything out including her husband shocked he hasn’t chimed in, as this will affect everybody (sic)," said another fan.
"Good son? More like selfish son. Rebecca is going to miss out on precious months with her loved ones because of this," one said and another said, "Kevin is a really good son! The artist in him knows how to touch the artist in Rebecca! #ThisIsUs."
Team Randall
Even after what Randall did, many fans actually understood his stance. "So why does Randall all of a sudden get a pass now for his flaws, but Kevin and especially Kate still get the same hate from the beginning of the show? All three of them are great complex characters because we get to see their highs and lows. But enough of this double standard bs, Randall deserves every negative comment against him for his unbelievably selfish actions this episode," one fan posted.
Another viewer went on to break down all his moves. "Everyone is vilifying Randall, I'm not happy with him either. He used to be the most kind and caring one, now he has become the most arrogant one. Don't get me wrong, I like that the show is honest and shows that no one is perfect and I know Randall lost a lot (two fathers, a biological mother) and that he's worried about losing his mom (his only parent who is still alive) and thinks that the trial is what's best for her, but he should still take what She wants into consideration and trust her to be an adult and make her own decisions. Like teenage Kevin said, "she's a grown woman." He comes across as very arrogant when he acts like he knows her better than Kevin and Kate. He may have been closer to her growing up, but still," he said.
He also added, "On the other hand, People seem to forget that Kevin bullied Randall while they grew up and showed him no compassion or love until they were 36 and that Randall was the only kid that took care of Rebecca and helped her after Jack's death. Because of what happened when they were young, I understand why he developed an inferior complex and resentment toward his siblings, but it's still shitty of him to use their past against them when they've both grown up and changed so much it's also annoying that he won't trust his mother."
Shedding light on his good heart, he added, "I still think he has a good heart and he was a good son for helping Rebecca after Jack's death, but him becoming the "man of the house" caused him to develop an arrogant "I can do everything myself" and controlling side. I understand where he's coming from and why he's acting the way he is, but it's making him very unlikeable. People need to remember what while the way he went about everything was shitty, he did it because he thinks it's what's best for his mom and in his mind, he's doing it out of love. I still don't like the way he guilt-tripped Rebecca, but it doesn't change that it came from a good place."
As the final episode airs on NBC this Tuesday, March 24, it might finally reveal who is in the right and who is in the wrong out of the two brothers.
