This Is Us

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Its Dejas turn to get theThis Is Ustreatment.

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and itll all make sense.

Or maybe well be like, No, seriously, did Jack really have to die?

I dont know the future.

I mean, other than the scientifically proven Milo Butt Theory.

When she first arrived at their house, Randall told Deja that she reminded him of her.

Deja thought he was crazy.

They are so different.

Isnt that incredible to think about?

We all have things that cause us pain.

We all have things that comfort us.

All very different, but also the same.

(Mom hugs: They are powerful things.)

Everyone readingGoodnight Moonis pretty great, too.

No ones family is the Pearsons, exactly, but we all recognize certain moments in their story.

Its what keeps us coming back each week to be emotionally destroyed.

So, how did Deja end up back at Beth and Randalls house?

Lets start from the beginning.

Shauna is in no way ready to be a parent to Deja.

Shauna is never willing to put Deja first.

As Grandma reminds her, she cant carry Shauna forever.

Shauna finally learns that lesson after Grandma dies suddenly.

As a devastated Shauna holds Deja, she asks, What are we going to do?

But we already knew it was Deja taking care of her mother and not the other way around.

Although that seems unfair, Deja and Shauna seem happy.

Watching them laugh together, all while knowing how things end up, makes these scenes brutal.

Which is your basicThis Is Usrecipe, I guess.

Shauna doesnt answer her phone, so Deja heads to the hospital on her own.

A child arriving at the hospital injured and alone sets off some alarms.

Glorious, underpaid, overworked social worker Linda!

Because of how bad the circumstances look, Deja is taken away from her mother, at least temporarily.

Linda finds a home for Deja with the Millers, who already have one foster child, Raven.

One day, Raven convinces Deja to steal some makeup from the corner store.

When Mr. Miller finds out what they did, he beats Raven.

Its horrible and Deja is shaken.

It isnt the first or last time he is abusive.

But Shauna also has a new boyfriend.

Now we know Dejas frame of mind when she first walked into the Pearson house.

This was just another bed for Deja to add to her list.

It was more than just a bed.

This time, we also get to see what happens to Deja after she leaves.

Again, Deja and Shauna dont have much, but they seem happy.

Shauna is working hard and they sit together to pay the bills.

(The little home bank Deja makes her mom is so sweet it hurts.)

We see her disappointment and anger in discovering that Shauna used their money to pay her boyfriends bail.

We see her inability to sell off her great-grandmas brooch, the last tie to her.

(Like Kevins attachment to Jacks necklace, sob.)

That is, until, she wakes up to the two precious faces of Randall and Beth.

Wouldnt you like to wake up to those faces?

Shauna tells Beth that shes never seen Deja act the way she has tonight like a kid.

Shauna knows thats her fault and that shes failed her daughter over and over.

(Joy Brunson is pretty spectacular, isnt she?)

When Randall comes down the stairs after his chat with Deja, he finds Shauna with her bags packed.

She tells him that she needs to leave and Deja cant go with her.

Randall and Beth stand there in shocked silence, knowing this will break Dejas heart.

Will Randall really let Shauna leave without at least one Randall Speech before she goes?