This Is Us recap: 5 things you might have missed in Season 1, Episode 7

Have you forgotten the smaller moments of This Is Us? Let’s rewind to Season 1, Episode 7 and recap five things you might have missed.

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We can often take washing machines for granted, but as This Is Us poetically reminds us, one of the most important household appliances witnesses a family’s evolution over the years. As the Big Three grow up, the Pearson family’s laundry necessities increase and individualize. Who knew that something as average as a washing machine could contain such a valuable metaphor about life?

In its seventh episode, This Is Us jumps into a new decade as the flashbacks fast forward to the ’90s, when the Big Three were 15 and riddled with angst. “The Best Washing Machine in the Whole World” finds Kevin and Randall struggling with pent-up differences that haven’t been settled since they boiled over in adolescence. Meanwhile, Kate’s hard work dieting and exercising isn’t showing up at her weigh-ins, and Toby’s success puts dangerous pressure on her. Also, we begin to see minor cracks forming in the previously rock-solid union of Jack and Rebecca.

Do you remember the forgotten kiss that screamed stagnancy? How about the celebrity that pops up to break up Kevin and Randall’s fight? And what secret comes out when Beth makes adult brownies? Let’s rewind and revisit five things you might have missed in Season 1, Episode 7.

1. This Is Us basically turned into Friday Night Lights.

Without transporting to small town Texas, This Is Us managed to harness the divine spirit of NBC’s former hit drama Friday Night Lights. After all, it was the precursor for Parenthood, which was the precursor for This Is Us.

Anyway, Kevin and Randall play football for different schools, and during a game against each other, their beef off the field turns into a full-blown fight on the field. Kevin’s none too pleased with the attention Randall receives, and Randall feels hopelessly blown off by his brother. Teen angst at its worst.

2. Beth and William got high.

Because his chemo treatments have him extra worn down, Beth decides to whip up William a pan of adult brownies. A little herbal backup helped Beth’s father during his cancer battle, and she’s more than happy to join him in having dessert. Well, be careful what you wish for because you just might learn your family’s best kept secret. William lets it slip that Rebecca has kept William away from Randall since birth. Somewhere a clock is ticking…

THIS IS US — “The Best Washing Machine in the Whole World ” Episode 107 — Pictured: (l-r) Mandy Moore as Rebecca, Milo Ventimiglia as Jack — (Photo by: Ron Batzdorff/NBC) /

3. Kate binges.

When all of her hard work counting calories, cutting carbs, and sweating it out at the gym doesn’t pay off during a weigh-in, Kate’s spirits are dashed. Especially when Toby steps on the scale and he’s lost eight pounds to her one. Despite giving Toby the space to have his victory moment, she ghosts the meeting.

In asking Toby for forgiveness, she learns that he has binged, which incites red flags in their dynamic. Kate tries to be more open to Toby keeping a less restricted diet, but the pressure leads her to binge eat in the gas station parking lot. It’s an honest and heartbreaking moment, one that surely means a lot to many This Is Us viewers.

4. Seth Meyers restores the Pearson peace.

Who else could squash Kevin and Randall’s decades-long beef? Before Seth Meyers steps in to break up their latest fight, their close-quarters living arrangement resurfaces their adolescent competitive streak. They compete during morning runs and try to one up each other. Kevin and Randall are cordial, but they’re not close, as evident by their ill-fated one-on-one dinner. Finally, they have it out on the street, but Seth Meyers saves the day.

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

5. Jack almost forgets to kiss Rebecca.

We love to call Jack and Rebecca our This Is Us OTP, but we have to remember that their marriage is far from perfect. While their love story might seem like the flawless romance that garners sighs from hopeless romantics, Jack and Rebecca don’t have all the answers. The years, the worries, the responsibilities wear and tear them down, as they do to any relationship. Episode 7 magnifies the cracks in their marriage when Jack forgets to kiss Rebecca goodbye. You know you need to reassess your relationship when a peck on the lips in no longer routine.

What were your favorite moments from “Career Days”? 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 7

By Reed Gaudens | Aug 9, 2017