This Is Us promo analysis: season 3 episode 15 “The Waiting Room”

This Is Us is back and tonight’s episode is like nothing we’ve ever seen on this series before. As the Pearsons anxiously await news of Kate and her baby’s wellbeing, tensions run high and speculation runs wild. Here’s what the promo hints about what’s coming.

Last time on This Is Us, Kate confronted Kevin about his alcoholic relapse and ended up facing a crisis of her own. As she drove Kevin to a local AA meeting, the 28-week pregnant Kate’s water broke and far too early. With Kevin drunk and unable to drive, he calls Toby and then calls an ambulance to take Kate to the hospital. While doctors have administered a drug to postpone labor for as long as possible, there is obviously great risk to both mother and baby and a whole lot of uncertainty. 28 weeks is very premature, and Kate’s age and weight are both high risk factors in this pregnancy.

This Is Us season 3 episode 15, “The Waiting Room,” will take place exclusively in said location and is filmed in the style of a play for television. The promo opens on a high shot of a clock – showing the time as 4:23 – with the Pearsons spread out around the hospital waiting room. A doctor addresses the family, informing them that he wants to keep the baby in as long as possible, that timing is everything. Various Pearsons rise urgently from their seats, faces grim and concerned. Another worrying shot a clock, this time showing the time as 5:03. Miguel and Rebecca sit next to each other as he reaches for her hand. Randall talks to Kevin, saying that he knows he’s worried about her, “we’re all worried about her.” Sounds like Kevin might be acting out, being a dick and making a show about how concerned he is about Kate. Settle down Kevin.

The Pearsons are still waiting around as Kevin walks away from Randall. Kevin comes back at some point, announcing that Kate just went in for emergency surgery. Rebecca stand up and says, “What?!” A lot of hugging and hands over mouths and shocked and grieved looks ensue. A shot lingers on Toby looking possibly devastated, but maybe relieved – it’s really difficult to tell out of context. So really, the promo doesn’t tell us anything we don’t already know, because the Pearsons are in the same situation as the viewers. Like us, they’re waiting for news, forced to worry and speculate because there’s nothing else to do.

This Is Us airs tonight, Tuesday, March 12 at 9pm ET on NBC.