Before the Big Three arrived into this world, there was a time when Rebecca was pregnant with triplets.
Like, none of her shoes fit her swollen feet.
And she was overwhelmed and distressed that there was too much work to get done on the new house.
Credit: Ron Batzdorff/NBC
This was the day that was explored in depth on Tuesdays episode ofThis Is Us.
Want a little more insight into The Big Day?
Had you heard him talk about this, and was this on your wish list, too?
Whats the next episode like?
Where are you in the season?
What are your ideas?
Its such a cool idea, you know?
Its inspiring because it makes you realize that there are endless options.
Did you re-watch the pilot as research for this episode to get back into that mind-frame?
And if so, what struck you?
I definitely did not.
I probably should have.
A lot of new, contextual information is given to us.
What was your favorite revelation during these 24 hours?
Were you thinking about that while filming it?
But I guess that underlying characteristic that maybe took on even more resonance once the kids were born.
I dont think she knew that she had that kind of strength in her.
But yeah, I did think about that, absolutely, with William and protecting them fiercely.
She is the ultimate mama bear.
And taken care of and acknowledged.
I think about that often.
I cant imagine how overwhelmed this woman was, in everything.
That was literally something added at the last second while we were shooting the pilot.
And then they ended up using it.
What was the biggest challenge in recreating moments like that and the feel from the pilot?
Or did it just come naturally?
Weve seen all the different colors of their life thus far within the 12-episode scope.
It wasnt as hard as drawing from nothing, when we did the pilot.
So, we found a happy medium.
Were there trippy little moments of deja vu though as you were back in that hospital bed for you?
It was definitely weirder.
I just remember thinking, like, I dont know how this is going to match!
I dont know how this is going to match!
But they managed to make it pretty seamless, which I was impressed by.
But it was deja vu, like, Wow!
Here we were like nine, ten months ago shooting this, and weve come so far.
She obviously forgets Jacks birthday, and shes pretty tough on him.
Did you guys have to calibrate that?
Were there moments where she was even tougher on him and you were like, I dont know.
That feels like shes a little too mean?
I think thats a testament to the writing, too.
It just is always there on the page.
which I find funny.
I watched it, and Im like, Jesus, I really am a monster!
Hes so beyond understanding and perfect.
Obviously, I think Rebecca comes to that realization in the episode as well, like, Oof.
I have it so good.
I am the luckiest woman.
But I think in her mind she had no choice.
It all hinges on a banana muffin.
All of that is so great.
That whole backstory is so interesting.
Both of them with Gerald McRaney.
We get to see more of Dr. K and a very vulnerable side of him.
Pretty much anytime hes on screen and hes somewhat emotional, I get emotional as well.
Hes just such a brilliant actor.
But I loved the scene, the vulnerability and the fragility in his life at this juncture.
And certainly this is a man who has his lifes affairs in order.
Is he going to take his wifes pills and overdose?
Who knows what hes talking about when hes like, I cant do this anymore?
And to see that he is not what we imagined him to be in the pilot is pretty fantastic.
Were you worried that Dr. K was a goner when you read the fall finale?
Yes, I was, actually.
And even while we were shooting it, I was like, Huh.
I know he wakes up and sort of mutters a little bit, but does he really make it?
Everybody else was like, Yeah!
He lived, and Im like, Are we sure?
But apparently, yes, he was alive and well after that surgery.
That was a really intriguing, big move with a character we were not expecting to revisit.
A character that has one line, although it is the most pinnacle moment in the pilot episode.
That potential I think is what makes this episode so fascinating and so interesting.
Its the power of the ripple.
Randall [Sterling K. Brown] slowly moving to the path of forgiveness with Rebecca as were seeing.
Dan describes the process as a slow thaw.
What can you tease about Randall and Rebeccas next interaction in the present day?
If Im honest with you, at this point in time we havent addressed it yet.
But at this point 15, 16 episodes in, we havent.
Im assuming that in the next episode, it will be addressed.
Or at least hinted at a little bit.
The moment youre talking about is when Randall says, I forgive you its Christmas Eve, right?
Sterling talked about that with us.
What kind of feedback did you get on the street from the fallout of that revelation?
Did people think that Randall went too easy on you?
Or too hard on you?
It was pretty split.
A lot of women who didnt understand and then a lot of others who did understand.
I mean, only a mother knows.
Its such a case-by-case situation, and I hope that people dont continue to judge her too harshly.
It only came from love, and thats as cut and dry as it is.
Which era intrigues you?
I want to know who Jack and Rebecca were before they met.
