The Game Plan is the fifth episode of the first season and the 5th overall episode of This Is Us.
Short Summary[]
Rebecca and Jack get into an argument about starting a family. The family backstory behind the long line of love for the Pittsburg Steelers is revealed. After accepting his part in the play, Kevin realizes his script is relevant to his own life. Randall and Beth encounter an unexpected turn of events.
Full Summary[]
Before their kids were born, Jack and Rebecca bond over him teaching her football. At a Super Bowl party, Miguel and his wife talks about difficulties they’re having with their kids, and Rebecca says she never wants kids. This prompts Jack to admit that he does want kids. They get into a loud argument that interrupts the game, and when a bystander tells them to be quiet, it escalates into a fight where Jack punches him in the face. This makes Rebecca tell Jack that he isn’t mature enough to be a father. Jack apologizes to Rebecca and opens up about his own neglectful father. Rebecca admits that part of her does want kids even if she’s not ready right now.
Kevin has been staying at Randall’s house for a while, and he’s starting to annoy everyone. Kevin says he likes being around family instead of being alone in the hotel he paid for, so Randall and Beth ask to use the hotel instead. Kevin babysits Annie and Tess while studying his lines for the play, and it becomes clear that he doesn’t know how to interact with kids. They get to talking and he accidentally tells them that William is sick and dying. William points out how Kevin is always doubting himself. Then he helps Kevin build his confidence with the play. Kevin apologizes to the kids and has a more mature conversation about life and death with them.
Kate tells Toby that she has plans to watch a Steelers game, alone, without him, which Toby thinks is weird, so he invites her to watch with him. She goes and finds that Toby also invited his friend Shooter. She feels awkward and uncomfortable that she can’t watch the game in peace, and leaves. Toby visits her later to ask why, and she says she only ever watches football with her dad, whom she reveals is now dead. So Toby and Kate watch the game with Jack’s ashes.
At the hotel, Beth suddenly tells Randall that she might be pregnant. They fight over what this could mean, but after they calm down, they check the pregnancy test and see that it’s negative.
Cast[]
Main Cast[]
- Milo Ventimiglia as Jack Pearson
- Mandy Moore as Rebecca Pearson
- Sterling K. Brown as Randall Pearson
- Chrissy Metz as Kate Pearson
- Justin Hartley as Kevin Pearson
- Susan Kelechi Watson as Beth Pearson
- Chris Sullivan as Toby Damon
- Ron Cephas Jones as William Hill
Guest Stars[]
- Jon Huertas as Miguel Rivas
- Wynn Everett as Shelly
- Reggie Watkins as Shooter
- Mackenzie Hancsicsak as Kate Pearson (age 9)
- Parker Bates as Kevin Pearson (age 9)
- Lonnie Chavis as Randall Pearson (age 9)
- Faithe Herman as Annie Pearson
- Eris Baker as Tess Pearson
- Ava Castro as Young Rebecca Malone
- Kiff VandenHuevel as Dave Malone
- Danielle Langlois as Dorothy Malone
- Jill Johnson as Laurie
- David Leach as Rams Fan
- Cesar Sebastian as Man
Co-Starring[]
Music[]
| Song | Performer | Scene |
|---|---|---|
| "" |
|
Notes and Trivia[]
- This episode scored million viewers.
Gallery[]
Episode Stills[]
Quotes[]
See Also[]
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A complete overview of this episode's crew can be found here. |
| This Is Us Season 1 | |||||
| #01 | "Pilot" | #07 | "The Best Washing Machine in the World" | #13 | "Three Sentences" |
| #02 | "The Big Three" | #08 | "Pilgrim Rick" | #14 | "I Call Marriage" |
| #03 | "Kyle" | #09 | "The Trip" | #15 | "Jack Pearson's Son" |
| #04 | "The Pool" | #10 | "Last Christmas" | #16 | "Memphis" |
| #05 | "The Game Plan" | #11 | "The Right Thing to Do" | #17 | "What Now?" |
| #06 | "Career Days" | #12 | "The Big Day" | #18 | "Moonshadow" |