This is Us s5

[Steala]

So exciting, it's on Amazon Prime 28 October!!!

The Vietnamese grandad is named Hai according to credits and there is another actor credited as Young Hai presumably as it's him in the photo? Seems like there might be more to come from that character?

I audibly gasped at the end op episode 2. Cant wait to see how it turns out. I thought there'd be a twist with the new psychologist possibly being his mum, but now thinking perhaps his half brother? Will be interesting to see why she never searched for them.

Thanks @P1242 I wasn't quite sure!

That’s interesting @WaxOnFeckOff. If he’s 20/30s in potentially the 80s, he could have been a child during the Vietnam war?

I know that child was killed in the accident with Nicky. And the necklace from Vietnam that Jack gave Kevin. Was it from a woman there? Maybe the boy who dude’s mother? Or another woman. Maybe there is more to come out of that backstory that could link to Laurel?

Seems might far fetched but it is This is Us!

When Kevin and madison were having the conversation about all of their problems at the end of ep 3 (in the garage), and he says his parents were amazing and they still missed loads of stuff, it did make me think.

Between them, Kevin, Randall and Kate are like an a-z of addictions and mental health issues. Nothing wrong with that obviously, it's what makes the show so relatable.
Buuut....hear me out - if Jack and Rebecca were such great parents and Pearson family life so idyllic (before Jack died) then why are the kids all so messed up ?

Randall I can understand the anxiety and ocd given his adoption etc, but they a have multiple isms to the point where I sometimes forget some of them!

I'm a massive fan BTW, not complaining just wondering.

I guess it highlights that what can appear idyllic into the outside isn't always idyllic to those living it.

I think they've done a good job of exploring how Kates constant comparison with her mother and her perceived failure to live up to her has created issues, ditto with Kevin feeling like Kate was Jacks favourite and Randall was Rebecca's and where did that leave him.

I guess I agree to an extent though I’m sure all the characters’ flaws are upped for dramatic effect.

I think maybe what the show is also trying to address is generational change. How people evolve their own approach to parenting, either rebelling against their parenting or aping what they thought was effective. And also how things change as life moves on. Eg in the last episode we see Randall and Beth trying to parent Tess around issues such as the internet and transgender issues, which were not at the forefront when they themselves were teenagers.

For Jack, he manages to break the cycle of alcohol dependence that hit us father and grandfather. Yes, Kevin does have a point that no one talked to him about this addiction in the family but I’d like to think jack would have been on this if he’d lived. Also, Rebecca’s parents were awful! Snobbish and racist and her Mum was a 50s housewife stereotype that Rebecca did not want to be so she certainly did a better job than them!

The producers have said there is still a lot to come re Kate so I think that will be interesting to see. Lots more about her story I think that needs to come out.

Just watched episode 4. I really feel the series is getting into its stride now. Really enjoying it.

I can't find episode 4, has it been released on Prime today? It's not showing for me if so!

Yes. I watched it via the prime app on my virgin tv box. I didn’t try today but I’ve had issues trying to see the new episodes via the Amazon fire.

I’m watching via Prime on Apple TV and it was there but last week I had to click on the previous episode to make the new episode appear

I’ll watch later but I did see some comments on Twitter from US viewers saying that episode 5 won’t be shown until January 5th (presumably the 6th for us).

Gutted that episode 5 won't be here til new year!! But also glad they aren't rushing things through as there are so many storylines going on, there is danger of Game of Thrones style disappointments!

So, any predictions how we think the Vietnamese grandpa met Laurel and what happened after?

Surely when she was taken to hospital, the doctors would have noticed she'd just had a baby, so would police/child services have been involved at that point?

I started watching series 1 last week and I'm now up to date! Oh my goodness this has to be the best programme ever. It has also made me obsessed with the princess bride. I'm going to start all over again tonight just to pick up on little things I may gave missed first time.

Did anyone notice what was in the box that Kate had when she was 18 in episode 4?

Props department messed up there!

I did, WingBingo!

I didn't! What was it?

I need to know what it was!

It’s a potential spoiler:

It was an ovulation test, not a pregnancy test.

I completely missed that! Thanks. This has sent me down an internet rabbit hole. Lots of people think it might not have been a mistake but intentional? Can’t believe we have to wait until next year to find out!

Ah so she wants to be pregnant? Interesting.

I noticed that but figured it was a mistake. Would a teen in the 90s really have known about them?

LittleMissBrainy I've been thinking about this too. Surely the hospital would click? Presuming it's the same hospital.

I'm really not sure about Randall's mother resurfacing - is this the story line that we will all look back on in another 2 seasons and identify it as the point when it all started getting a bit away with itself?

Hope not!

Ooh hello... I am finally up to date on this. I started series 1 about a month ago, I'd somehow assumed it wasn't going to be my thing. But I loved it - except season 3 which i fast forwarded loads of. I think the problem with series 3 was it was all big dramatic set pieces and the really interesting bits are the daily interactions which look like nothing but end up having a profound effect years on.

Like pp said earlier I have wondered why adult kids are so screwed up.. i mean you can see why but why didn't Rebecca and Jack notice earlier and course correct a bit. Like why do they put up with Randall and Kevin not getting on?

I did wonder whether it was supposed to be a by product of them having a great love story so their attention is on each other not the kids. I know a couple of people whose parents were madly in love it wasn't great for them!

I think losing a parent in such a traumatic way is bound to have repercussions on the children's mental health. Plus they all have a lot of guilt wrapped up in Jack's death which they've had to grapple with. Kate wanted the dog to be rescued, so Jack went back for it, Randall wanted to go in and pull Jack out but didn't, and Kevin wasn't there that night. Then there's a whole load of other stuff each of them has to deal with - Randall's adoption and lack of connection with his racial identity as a child, Kev's fame and Jack's expectations on him, Kate's weight and self-esteem...

I also think the family put a lot of emphasis on occasions and traditions, so for someone looking back on their childhood all of those Christmases, Thanksgivings, birthdays, first days of summer, etc would stand out vividly and give a pen impression of a happy family.