“Every Version of You”, which follows Kevin and Kate’s portions in this season’s Big 3 trilogy, focuses on Randall as he and Rebecca take a short road trip to Boston, for reasons we’ll see shortly. . The short and unexpected journey allows for a few memories and a lot of emotional processing, both for the announcement of Rebecca after Thanksgiving and for the progression of Alzheimer’s disease. In the process, we learn that there is a “strategy” in Randall’s career that could bring him to Washington, DC, in the not-too-distant future. Read below for the highlights of episode 10. A GREAT POOL DAY CLOSES On the way back, Kevin almost drowns and Kate hesitates to be in the water, but little Randall proudly goes down to the deep end to take the swimming test. OF COURSE he does and of course no one in his family cares about achievement. But by fooling Kevin, Randall puts his brother in the pool (at the shallow end)… and Kate and Jack follow… and at the end of the episode, all the Pearsons are splashing and fooling around. The shot: Rebecca and her whole family really wanted to swim together, and Randall did, because he lives to make Rebecca happy. This will become a recurring theme all the time. RANDAL SAVES THE DAY! | In retrospect when Randall, Kate and Kevin were stuck in the community pool after hours, the brothers try to convince a reluctant Kate over the fence when a police car gets up and demands to know what they are doing. Kate and Kevin are terrified that they will be arrested for illegal possession and consumption of alcohol, but Randall calmly approaches the car and asks to speak to the police. A few minutes later, he leaves the trinity free with a warning. Kate suggests that they go to the (closed for the evening) dinner where she works and have a coffee, taking advantage of the fact that she has the keys to the place. They do, but Randall arranges to call Rebecca to inform her that she is OK and that she will be home later. As they talk, he comforts her about Miguel and animates her by directing her to his backpack, where he has hidden some smiling cookies like the ones she and he enjoyed when he was a little boy. “Thank you,” she says excitedly. “I needed that.” Back at the kiosk, Kev and Kate push Randall over what he said to get them out of trouble. All he does is laugh and say that the cop was a sensible guy. But in a flashback, we see Randall’s quiet but passionate plea that the family is on the brink and a trio of arrests will hurt the Pearsons in a way they may not be able to recover. “There is a very good chance we will not make it,” said Randall, who is winning over the officer. When it is clear that he is out of the danger zone, Randall goes so far as to joke: “Oh, and I may end up becoming president one day, so I really can’t be arrested.” Or is it funny? Keep reading and then we will discuss. ROAD TRIP! | Randall is currently upset by Rebecca’s announcement that Kate will be her health attorney. As Beth helps him process it, Déja goes downstairs, angry: Malik broke up with her and she blames Randall for telling him to do it. “I literally hate you,” he spits. Their argument escapes very quickly, thanks to Randall’s already tough emotional state. at one point he says she is his daughter and she replies “No, I am not. Tess and Annie are your daughters. “I’m just a girl you got from her mom.” OUCH. The next morning, Déja is gone. Tess finally admits that her sister left last night and heads to Massachusetts to convince Malik that they need to be together again. Randall grabs his bag and heads for the car, planning to chase it, but Rebecca advises him to take a breath. “Or should we just let Kate handle it, because she handles all the big things now?” crumbles. The outburst seems to establish something about Rebecca and she announces that she will come with him. Along the way, they talk about first love, and things relax a bit. But when he mentions his comment about Kate, Randall quickly closes the discussion, saying that his vitriol was just a stupid joke. Rebecca knows better, but she does not press. Instead, she asks to stop for lunch so she can eat before taking her medication. Although the conditions are less than ideal, Rebecca really seems to enjoy spending time with her son. he keeps looking back when he was very young, and they had a lot of common interests that Kate, Kev and Jack did not have. When Beth calls and says she hears Déja, who has arrived safely in Cambridge, Rebecca asks Randall if they can give the teen some space and not rush to get it right away. He reluctantly agrees and they spend the intervening time having a drink at a nearby bar and then spend the night at a motel. REBEKA EXPLAINS HER CHOICE During their extended hangout, Rebecca reveals that she is carrying an excerpt from an article “Five Facts About Randall Pearson” that was published in a post. Later that night, after Randall pushed back a meeting with the senator who was trying to get in touch with him for a few episodes, Rebecca asked him what was going on. He tells her that the article in her wallet is “part of a bigger strategy” and that she receives phone calls from the Democratic National Committee about her interest in being a candidate to replace the politician in question. “My God, Randall, will you become a senator?” she cries, but he diminishes her excitement: With “so much uncertainty in the family,” she does not know if it is wise to make an important life decision. The next morning, as they leave, Rebecca asks him to sit with her by the indoor pool of the motel. She acknowledges that her illness has affected him “particularly” and apologizes for relying too much on him after Jack’s death. “And that’s why I could not make you the executor, because you and I know that you would move the heavens and the earth to see me improve and you would stop your whole life for me,” he says. “And I can not let you do that, not anymore.” They both start to cry, and the scene gets wetter from here. As soon as they both come together a little, he recognizes the arrogance of his thinking, but “If I do that, I will win, mom. If I run, I will win. “And if I win, I can not even imagine where this thing will end up.” She smiles at him, saying: “I can. I see it very clearly. “ Does this mean that Randall is running for the highest office in the country? He is not president / he has not become president in the flash-forward at Rebecca’s funeral home. Otherwise, there would be Secret Service agents in his area, right? Or are they there and we just haven’t seen them? Please fill in the comments with your thoughts on whether this is a premonition or just Dan Fogelman messing with us. WHERE WE END Randall and Rebecca drive to Massachusetts and take Déja, who is devastated. Malik is not doing much better. Randall softens at the young man, saying, “You know, these things have a way of coming back, Malik, if it’s written … sometimes the door opens again.” Malik thanks him for being a mentor and they shake hands, with Randall telling him “You are a very good kid”. That’s him! Oh, sad Malik. In the car, Déja apologizes for her bad words in the cabin. “I do not want to discuss it all at this time, but you are my dad,” he says softly. “You’re the only one I’ve ever had.” Before Rebecca and Miguel can return, he gives Randall an autograph on the article, which ends up in a box marked “Randall” at Rebecca’s house. Then, in excerpts from all the stories, we see: Randall tells Jay-Won to go ahead and arrange a meeting with the senator. Kevin brings the twins back to Madison’s place. and Kate tells Toby that she’s not ready to move to San Francisco, “not where we are right now.” Now it is your turn. Hit the comments with all your thoughts!
