'This Is Us' recap: 5 things you might have missed in season 1, episode 4

Have you forgotten the smaller moments of ‘This Is Us’? Let’s rewind to Season 1, Episode 4 and recap five things you might have missed.

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During the hottest summer months, it’s a universal strategy to hit the pool to sit back, relax, and beat the heat. Unfortunately for Rebecca Pearson, there’s no sitting back or relaxing when you hit the pool with the Big Three. This Is Us dives into the deep end in its fourth episode and uncovers the source of Kate, Kevin, and Randall’s modern-day dilemmas. Who knew an afternoon at the pool could be so impactful?

Everything that the Big Three encounters while going for a swim directly correlates to who they have become. Kate grapples with body shaming with her peers, which instills deep-seated insecurity that later leads her to stalk Toby’s ex-wife. Randall searches for his place in the world as a black child in a white family, which later comes to a head as William is racially profiled. Kevin feels like he habitually comes in last place with his parents, which resurfaces as an inferiority complex in adulthood. Do you remember Kevin’s near-drowning experience and bad audition? What about Kate’s super sleuthing? Let’s rewind and revisit five things you might have missed in Season 1, Episode 4.

1. The Pearsons take the community pool.

Honestly, the pool was not ready for the Pearson family. In an effort to escape their broken air conditioning unit, Jack proposes an afternoon out of the house, but it only produces more heat-induced chaos. Kate’s Care Bears bikini isn’t a big hit with her rude classmates, Randall runs off with a family that isn’t his, Kevin feels unloved, and Rebecca can’t catch a minute to finish but a page of the book she’s been working on for months. Not to mention, Rebecca tangles with a fellow mother who offers care tips for Randall.

2. Kate does research.

Proving that Kate Pearson is a true icon, she takes it upon herself to track down every piece of obscure information about Toby’s ex-wife Josie, whom Kate views as superior to herself. In procuring intel on Josie, Kate puts the rest of us low key cyber-stalkers to shame. A recon mission turns into a job interview with the woman she can’t fathom she has anything in common. However, Toby doesn’t respond well to Kate’s “research” as Josie’s bad deeds contributed to his personal struggles. Also, her physical appearance doesn’t translate to Toby being shallow. All’s well that ends well?

THIS IS US — “The Pool” Episode 104 — Pictured: Chrissy Metz as Kate — (Photo by: Ron Batzdorff/NBC) /

3. Randall and William talk racism.

This Is Us has had many important conversations about family and identity over the course of its first season, but Randall and William facing and unpacking racism in “The Pool” remains one of the series’ best. When William is stopped during a routine walk around the neighbor, Randall has to talk him down from standing up for himself. Sterling K. Brown delivers a powerful monologue as Randall recounts the casual inequalities he has had to face despite living a different life than William. The pair later break it all down following Tess’ role as Snow White in her school play.

4. Jack Pearson is the best dad ever.

But you hadn’t forgotten that, right? We’re all well aware that Jack Pearson has quickly put all of the other TV dads to shame. Just four episodes into This Is Us and he had secured a spot in the hall of fame. While Rebecca focuses on Randall’s needs at the pool, Jack goes above and beyond to comfort Kate and Kevin. He apologizes to Kevin for not being as attentive as he should, and he turns an interesting Daytona Beach story into something magical for Kate’s body positivity. Jack Pearson might have his flaws, but he’s an A+ parent.

Next: 'This Is Us' rewind recap: 5 things you might have missed in 'Kyle'

5. Kevin’s bad Trump reference.

“Baby say what?” Well, that’s not Kevin’s questionable reference, but it’s the former Manny catchphrase he’s actively attempting to shed. During his audition for a play, Kevin not only references not being one of those Hollywood types fishing for higher art (sure, Kev), but he makes a throwaway comment about judging a Miss Universe pageant for Donald Trump. In hindsight, that’s not a good look for This Is Us. At any rate, Kevin lands the role despite his clueless, foot-in-mouth syndrome. Olivia, the play’s lead actress, already despises him, but that could soon change.

What were your favorite moments from “The Pool”? Let us know in the comments, and keep the conversation going on Twitter!

This Is Us returns for Season 2 on Tuesday, September 26 at 9/8c on NBC. Season 1 is currently available to stream online.

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‘This Is Us’ rewind recap: 5 things you might have missed in season 1, episode 4

By Reed Gaudens | Jul 24, 2017