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

Have you forgotten the smaller moments of ‘This Is Us’? Let’s rewind to Season 1, Episode 5 and recap five things you might have missed.

More from This Is Us

Perhaps the most qualifying fact about This Is Us for its impending post-Super Bowl episode is the Pearson family’s obsession with the Pittsburgh Steelers. Jack’s father passed down a love for watching football to Jack, who passed it down to his children and even Rebecca. For personal reasons, Kate holds onto the tradition of watching Steelers games more than her brothers, and that reason will make you cry.

Following the Pearson family’s trip to the swimming pool, This Is Us travels back in time before the Big Three were even a thought in Jack and Rebecca’s mind. Lest we forget, Kevin and Kate were conceived in the Froggy’s bathroom after the Steelers won the Super Bowl. But it wasn’t without a contentious conversation. Meanwhile, Randall and Beth grapple with a pregnancy scare of their own, Kate explains her solo Sunday night football viewings to Toby, and Kevin wishes he knew how to explain death to his nieces. Do you remember Kevin’s monologue about his painting? What about Rebecca’s pre-Big Three mentality? Let’s rewind and revisit five things you might have missed in Season 1, Episode 5.

1. Rebecca didn’t want kids.

Believe it or not, but there was a time when Rebecca Pearson was completely content with her childless life with Jack. When she instructed Jack to teach her about football, their relationship turned a corner, and she was preparing morning shots and cracking jokes about their friends who scheduled their lives around their kids. Jack, on the other hand, wanted children and incited a fight during a very important Super Bowl. Finally, Rebecca opens up about fearing that they would lose their groove. Long story short, the Big Three were conceived 10 minutes later.

2. Kevin’s a burden.

It goes without saying that Kevin doesn’t integrate into the Pearson household seamlessly — and it’s hilarious. Beth isn’t having it (“When you leavin’?”), Randall’s not here for Kevin’s “dietary preferences,” and the girls are already following their celebrity uncle’s influence. Once again, this taps into Kevin’s lifelong struggle with feeling like a burden, which flares up because of his overwhelming role in the play and foot-in-mouth explanation of death to the girls. But you’re not a burden, Kev. Your beautiful thoughts about art and family more than prove that.

THIS IS US — “The Game Plan” Episode 105 — Pictured: Susan Kelechi Watson as Beth — (Photo by: Ron Batzdorff/NBC) /

3. Beth almost had another Pearson.

Having had enough with the hustle and bustle in their own home, Randall and Beth escape to Kevin’s large and lonely hotel room in the city. They plan to take advantage of the amenities for the weekend and score some much-needed alone time. However, Beth comes bearing some news: She might be pregnant. Despite an initial freak out, they both come around to the idea of having another child… but the test is negative. It’s one of Randall and Beth’s cutest moments to date, and it slightly foreshadows their future.

4. Kate watches the Steelers alone.

“The Game Plan” starts to piece together the greater This Is Us mythology. Where’s Jack? What’s he up to? Why isn’t he around? Well, we get answers to these questions at the very least. Toby invites Kate over, but she declines because she watches the Steelers games alone. He continues pressing, going so far as to plan a watch party. But these games are an emotional experience because she watches with her father. It’s a big day for Toby — he meets Jack, but not in the way that you would expect to meet the father of your girlfriend.

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

5. Jack is [SPOILER].

Now, if you’re a religious fan of This Is Us, you know the redacted adjective. But if you haven’t yet watched Episode 5, look away now. As Kate reveals when she grabs the urn from her mantel, Jack has passed away. She watches the Steelers games with her father like they had when she was younger. But how did Jack die? When did he die? Why does Kate still harbor a Sunday night loyalty to her father? These are the multi-layered questions that fuel This Is Us and bolster the rest of the first season into the highly-anticipated second.

What were your favorite moments from “The Game Plan”? 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.

Home/This Is Us

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

By Reed Gaudens | Jul 30, 2017