‘This Is Us’ episode 8 reaction: Creator on that Randall – Rebecca shock

Tonight’s episode of “This Is Us” was themed around Thanksgiving, so of course with that in mind we understand the hope for this to be a happy episode that marked the celebration of an important holiday. However, the one thing you have to remember in here is that this is a show where happy endings are not exactly guaranteed, and this one in particular had some bittersweet moments.

No one moment, though, will probably be remembered more than Randall realizing that his mother Rebecca had been keeping a secret regarding William for much of his entire life. Not only that, but she had some sort of personal communication with him at one point. It would be bad enough if this happened at any ordinary moment, so for it to happen right in the middle of Thanksgiving — a holiday that Randall clearly loves — makes it all the more devastating.

Speaking to Entertainment Weekly, executive producer / creator Dan Fogelman detailed why this was the right time for this reveal to take place:

“I know. I love what Randall plays in the episode, which is this boyish enthusiasm for Thanksgiving that nears the enthusiasm he finds in the past story, but then makes it the worst possible time for him to have this bombshell that’s defined his entire life journey dropped on him, so there’s great stakes to it.”

Is there hope for Randall and Rebecca to turn things around? We’d argue so, if for no other reason than that this is a show where there is always a certain degree of hope for the future. The problem is that there are sounds in this world that are not easy to heal, and this will clearly be one of them.

To receive some additional news and updates now when it comes to “This Is Us,” be sure to head over here to further preview the next installment of the show. (Photo: NBC.)