Executive producers Elizabeth Berger and Isaac Aptaker offer insights into that fraught “Family Meeting.”
Warning: This story contains plot details from Tuesday’s episode ofThis Is Us, “Family Meeting.”
She was in need of it.
The Big Three pamper a declining Rebecca in “Family Meeting”.Ron Batzdorff/NBC
And they needed to figure out the best way to repay.
(Yes, sometimes Super Dad Jack slept in and she was left to go it alone.)
“That’s not our mom,” observes Randall (Sterling K. Brown).
The Big Three come to a decision about Rebecca in “Family Meeting”.Ron Batzdorff/NBC
“Our mother was magic.”
She shows her brothers how to actuallybepresent with Rebecca look her in the eye!
At last, a plan.
Chrissy Metz as Kate and Mandy Moore as Rebecca.Ron Batzdorff/NBC
Mom’s about to die.
Why are you so mean?
ISAAC APTAKER:[Laughs] I will say [the Miguel episode] certainly is sad.
I do think that it’s the best way to go.
We’re all gonna pass, and Miguel made peace with his own family.
He’s surrounded by the Pearson family, who were also his family.
It’s a lovely way to go.
So as emotional as that is, that’s as good as it gets, folks.
So I do hope people do see the lightness there.
Of course, the show loves to balance the dark with the light.
And therapy cat is doing a lot of work here.
APTAKER:Therapy cat!
Elizabeth wrote that scene and when I first read it, I was like, “What?
In no way did I ever believe that this was a real thing.
And then she sent me a link to this website she had found a medical Alzheimer’s-focused store.
And this is an absolute real thing that is supposed to be very helpful to people with Alzheimer’s.
And it definitely was a huge priority for us.
So we’ve done our best, and we hope that people feel that as they watch.
That’s what they’re all grappling with in this episode.
How do you come to terms with that?
How do you lean into that experience and find beauty and grace in it?
You’re not cheating here.
What has continued to intrigue you about exploring that process?
Certainly many people in our writers' room have stories that speak very, very specifically to this.
BERGER: as to whether we could and should take this on.
Once we decided to take it on, we really committed to hopefully telling it as truthfully as possible.
You mentioned the writers talked at length, but what were those discussions like?
BERGER:I will be the first to admit that I was worried that it was just too sad.
Siblings have their own language and rhythm, and that’s really comforting.
The problem is they also fall right back into old patterns, which this episode explores.
APTAKER:Oh, totally.
It’s so hard for people to change.
He’s come into his own, and he’s a substantial man who can take on this responsibility.
It takes Randall a minute to see that.
If he felt guilt for not being around when Jack died, he can be here for Rebecca.
We really feel like he’s grown and changed so tremendously.
This decision felt like a culmination of that journey.
I need you to be able to touch her.
I need you to be able to look at her.”
And only upon doing that is she releasing Kevin to realize what he actually is capable of.
So it all does go back to Kate, even though her logistical plan is usurped.
What conversations did you have with Mandy about bringing this specific era of Rebecca to life?
She seems so lost without Miguel, and losing a partner can accelerate the decline.
Honestly, we didn’t have to have many conversations with her, because she was doing her research.
She was consulting with doctors.
She was reading nonstop.
Then just through sheer talent and hard work, she really brought it to life.
We think it’s such a brilliant performance.
As Kate said, there’s a reason that there were three of them.
APTAKER:No, she didn’t.
So I put her on my headphones just to take a stab at hear that part.
And she was whispering, “I’m telling you a secret right now.
Act really surprised.”
[Laughs] So we did not ruin our sweet young actors.
In the spirit of not making this episode too sad, our secret weapon is always Susan.
She’s just so funny.
Susan and Alexandra nailed that role play as Randall and Kevin.
BERGER:They really did.
And they were bothvery muchenjoying themselves.
The episode ends with Kevin calling Randall and saying, “Get here as soon as you might.
It won’t be long now.”
Any hints as to where she’s coming from and how this mystery will resolve itself next week?
Elizabeth, would you like to be equally as cryptic?
So if we haven’t shown someone, that probably means that there’s a story to be told.
And we will be telling it over the next two episodes.
Then you’ll love this next question: Exactly how nigh is the end for Rebecca?
We’ve got two episodes left, and at the end of this episode, things are happening fast.
So this is certainly everyone gathering to say their final goodbyes.
APTAKER:There’s a train in it.
BERGER:There might be some really exciting cameos in it that people will find satisfying and exciting.
APTAKER:If they don’t, they don’t like the show.
This interview has been edited and condensed for length and clarity.
