Every episode of This Is Us elicits tons of emotions as viewers sit back with a packet of tissues, ready for the waterworks to flow.
The series, now in its fourth season, flips among different timelines, looking at the lives of the Pearson family including mom and dad Rebecca and Jack, their three children, Kate, Kevin, and Randall, and their respective families.
With plenty of heartbreak as we see how the family deals with the emotional death of Jack when the kids were teens, and additional hardships to come, they have all done some pretty terrible things. Here are the worst things each character has done.
Jack Pearson: Got Drunk and Into a Bar Fight
In a scene that many fans thought might have been what caused his death, a jealous Jack got drunk then drove to a bar where Rebecca was performing with her band to confront her bandmate and ex.
Sure, he was right that the guy still had a thing for her. But he embarrassed both himself and Rebecca when she could have (and did) handle the situation herself. Not to mention that he put his life in danger by drinking and driving.
Rebecca Pearson: Didn’t Tell Randall About His Father
It was discovered that Rebecca knew who Randall’s biological father was all along, even trading letters with him and meeting with him in person. But she didn’t let William see his son. She thought she was doing what was best for him, but was also selfishly fearful that she would lose her adoptive son. Any mother can understand her position.
Nonetheless, when Randall finally found his father and realized that he and Rebecca had been in contact when he was a child, it cut deep. And rightfully so.
Randall Pearson: Always Took the Best Chips
In a heart-wrenching talk during a tumultuous time in their marriage, Beth found the perfect analogy to describe the dynamics of their relationship and how Randall always put his own needs ahead of hers and she constantly bent so he could have what he wanted. As they munched on some chips, she pointed out that, without even thinking, he grabbed all of the biggest, perfectly formed chips, leaving her with nothing but the broken bits.
This is an ongoing “thing” he has done, but it came to a head when Beth asked Randall to be home so she could attend an important event with her co-workers. He blew it off as unimportant compared to his needs as he ran for office, and failed to show up for her.
Kevin Pearson: Drove Drunk With Tess in the Car
In arguably the worst, most terrifying situation of the series to date, Kevin, struggling with his sobriety, gets in a car and drives away while under the influence, mirroring something his father had done in the past. He didn’t realize Tess was in the car.
Nonetheless, he put her life in danger, and also missed the birth of his nephew because he was intoxicated, then continued to drink vodka hidden in a water bottle. Thankfully, he turned himself around. But that was definitely a low point.
Kate Pearson: Pushed Her Mother Away
Continuously, Kate pushed her mother away. It’s not uncommon for a daughter to have a strained relationship with her mother. But while Rebecca seemed like nothing but loving to her daughter, albeit sometimes intrusive, Kate seemed to dislike her mother more out of jealousy, and always wanted to compete with her.
A beautiful and thin woman with a lovely singing voice, Rebecca was everything Kate wanted to be. And while Kate struggled with her own inner demons, her mother took the brunt of her anger.
Beth Pearson: Deferred Her Dreams
Beth didn’t really do anything terrible to anyone, although she has lost her temper a time or two, and even stood up to Rebecca a time or two when she felt Randall needed protecting. But overall, Beth really can do no wrong.
Arguably the worst thing she ever did was to herself: she was forced to abandon her dream of becoming a dancer when she was a young woman due to her mother’s wishes. But she continued to push that down when she met and started dating Randall, helping him achieve his dreams instead. At least she finally decided to put herself first.
Toby Damon: Lied to Kate
While Toby appears to be the model boyfriend and then husband, he lied to Kate on a number of occasions. He lied about taking anti-depressants, then hid the fact that he was going to the gym several times a week after work.
He never did anything maliciously in an effort to hurt Kate. Nonetheless, he seems to get more and more annoyed with Kate as she tries to handle dealing with a blind son and battling her own issues with food and weight. Mainly because he is facing his own internal struggles, too, and clearly not opening up about them.
Miguel Rivas: Always Had Feelings For Rebecca?
Viewers have mixed feelings about Miguel. While he seems to have done exactly what his best friend Jack would have wanted him to do after his passing, including helping the family and being there for Rebecca and the kids, he also began dating and eventually got married to Rebecca. We haven’t yet seen how that happened, but it still seems odd, nonetheless.
Did he always have feelings for her? Or did romantic feelings begin to brew between them decades after Jack died? We don’t know yet. Nonetheless, we feel like even in death, your best friend’s wife should probably be off limits.
Deja: Smashed Randall’s Windshield
Sure, Deja was going through a tough time as a young girl with a rough family life. The Pearsons wanted to adopt her but she still wanted to be with her biological mother, despite the hardships they endured. She was, after all, her mother. Until she discovered that even her mother thought it best that she be adopted.
We totally understand Deja’s anger and upset. And she has done a complete 180 and become a loving member of the family. But we can’t forget that time she, in a fit of anger, smashed the windshield of Randall’s car.
Tess Pearson: Tells Randall She Doesn’t Want To Be Like Him
After suffering from a panic attack, something her father also suffers with, Randall tries to console his daughter and share his own experiences so she can understand that she’s not alone. She, as any teenage girl would do, screams back at him that she doesn’t want to be like him and storms off.
There were a lot of emotions there, and she apologized later. But it was a terrible thing to say to her loving, caring, and sweet dad who was only trying to help.
Nicky: Took That Kid On A Boat
Uncle Nicky was presumed dead up until recently. The family discovered what really happened: Jack joined the army to watch over his little brother. But when he thought Nicky took a young boy out on the water and lit a grenade, purposely killing him, he cut all ties and told everyone his brother died in Vietnam. In truth, Nicky was trying to have fun with the boy, and the grenade was an accident.
Nonetheless, Nicky lived with the guilt all his life, and when he had a single opportunity to tell Jack the truth, he didn’t do it. He let Jack die never knowing what really happened. Jack might never have forgiven him. Nonetheless, choosing to live with the guilt instead of trying to make amends and move forward with his life was the worst thing Nicky has done.
