One of the driving forces of This Is Us is the fact that we get to follow the personal development of our protagonists over the years. This allows us to sympathise even with Kevin, one of the weakest characters on the show so far. Had it not been for “The Pool,” it would have been easy to write him off as a self-absorbed Hollywood douche in this week’s “The Game Plan.” But having gotten to know his backstory and the insecurities he struggled with as a child, I’ve come to believe in his potential to outgrow his limitations. While his storyline may not be redeeming, the episode’s end shows a new side of him, one I hope will take the spotlight from now on. The flashbacks in “The Game Plan” take us even further into the past, and offer insight into Rebecca and Jack’s childhood growing pains, as well as their lives as a young couple prior to “the big three.” Their respective visions for the future set the tone of the episode. It underlines the importance of honest communication in any relationship, and how difficult it can be to stay true to yourself when you’re no longer thinking for one.
In the past, we see that Rebecca’s mother often puts herself last. She’s the typical ‘50s hausfrau type: Waiting on her husband hand and foot; making sure Rebecca and her sister keep quiet while his highness is watching the big game. Young Rebecca took her mother as an example of what she never wanted to become, so when Jack raises the question of children in their future, she feels cornered into reconsidering her principles. This is a conversation they’ve never had before. Until now, she thought they were on the same page, scoffed about how they would never become one of those couples. In Rebecca’s eyes, this meant not even entertaining the thought of children; in Jack’s eyes, it meant solidifying their relationship and making sure that they would never become the type of parents who no longer had a life and dreams of their own. Having grown up with a father uninvolved in the raising of his children, it’s Jack’s wish to become the father he never had. But without having openly discussed their hopes for the future, he and Rebecca find themselves having to reconsider their respective “game plans.”
The same can be said of Randall and Beth, whose relationship thus far has been one to envy. We’ve gotten to know them as people who place great importance on honesty and letting one another in on their own private thoughts, but as they prepare for a romantic night away, various unspoken issues come to the surface. For one, Beth’s period is late, and she’s freaking out about the thought of having to start the cycle of diapers again just as she’s preparing to head back to work full-time. I was surprised by Randall’s insensitive reaction, seeing as he’s always seemed so understanding and selfless. It appears Randall has his own plans for the future. He uses his quiet moments at work to dream up a future in Charleston and has already been looking at neighborhoods and houses. He has a certain vision for their retirement, one that seemed to be getting closer now that their daughters are getting older. The baby scare has put a damper on it and he’s obviously disappointed, but he never once stopped to consider how Beth felt about his fantasies. Beth is ready to rediscover who she is outside of the family unit and the thought of losing herself to motherhood entirely frightens her. Fortunately for her, it’s was a false alarm, and with Randall in the know, she can continue to focus on her own path.