What I’m Watching: This Is Us

This Is Us: Season 1, Episode 17 “What Now?” (B)

This episode’s title was very fitting, since the previous installment in which William died was a fitting farewell to the character but didn’t address how to move forward. William played an important and sweet role in this tribute, leaving instructions for his granddaughters to plan his “fun-eral,” which turned out to be a truly endearing and great goodbye. Randall giving a toast rather than a eulogy was a way to keep things from being too heartbreaking, and hearing stories from Jesse and from the mailman who got to know William on his morning walks helped to ensure that William is remembered fondly. Randall dreaming that Jack and William were talking to each other about their son was sweet, and the best part was Beth coming to home to find a postcard from her constituting her own ability to find closure. Pairing this with flashbacks to Jack having trouble dealing with Rebecca leaving for her tour and then ultimately showing him demonstrate his loyalty was moderately affective, and then we got the devastating news – not quite confirmed – that Kate caused her father’s death, presumably by sending him after his mother to apologize and make things right. Even though he didn’t get the theater critic he really wanted to come to the show, Kevin somehow managed to elicit a phone call in the middle of the night from Ron Howard offering him a part in his new movie, and he’s even gotten back together with the love of his life, putting him on top at the moment and at serious risk of falling down soon.