Tonight's episode of This Is Us is titled "Clooney," which we're reminded at the beginning is the name of William's cat. So, like, is this whole episode going to be about some cat? Because if so let's just skip this week. I don't have the patience.
Praise be, it's not: We start in the 1990s, when the Pearson three are teens. Kate needs a dress for Winter Formal and actually asks Rebecca to take her to the mall. Kevin's knee is broken from his football accident, so he's lying on the couch, guzzling soda and feeling sorry for himself. Jack tells him to snap out of it and drags him to the mall to get a Winter Formal outfit too. Randall tags along and is enthusiastic because he's the best.
While Kate and Rebecca are browsing dresses, Kate's clearly uncomfortable. It looks as if she has the number "7" written on her wrist, which is confusing. Is that...the dress size she's aiming for? I don't know. The dresses seem to not fit Kate, so she scurries off while Rebecca isn't looking. When Rebecca finds Kate and suggests they look for other dresses, Kate snaps. It's the first time ever I've empathized with one of the Pearson teens' bratty outbursts. Have you ever struggled to fit into clothes inside a public dressing room? The panic, the embarrassment, the sweat beating down your neck—it's horrible.
Meanwhile, Kevin and Jack are heading to a suit shop when they run into Miguel, who reveals his ex-wife is now engaged. Jack tries to make Miguel feel better, but annoying Kevin jumps down his throat and says Miguel is allowed to just let "things suck." I'm so over his angst, it's not even funny. (But I'm still crushing on him because I'm a masochist.)
Miguel, Randall, Jack, and Kevin are eating in the food court and talking about "lost dreams." Jack tells the boys he once wanted to open up his own construction company but didn't so his family could have a stable life. This is all so boring, and them eating at a food court makes me want to eat at a food court. They eventually get suits. It's cute. Later, Jack tells Rebecca he wants to quit his job and start that construction business: The Big Three.
But who cares about that because, OMG: Randall made a homemade eight ball and used it to ask a girl at the mall on a date. He's perfect. (This girl is also who Randall is seen with the night of The Fire, so đź‘€ .)
Adult Randall
Randall has a job interview today, and he's not excited about it, which is annoying Beth. He has to drive over to William's old apartment to pick up some random box they found in storage. Oh my God: What if the cat is in that box? No way, right? That's way too morbid.
OK, so the cat isn't in the box. He's missing, allegedly. I really hope we're not expected to care about this cat. In William's box, Randall finds poems he wrote about some "lady" and gets excited. I'm confused and, honestly, don't care. I've never not cared about Randall's storyline.
