This Is Us (TV Series) Vietnam (2018) User Reviews

Milos mouth

[dawnsacks-01578 · 7/10 · 22 October 2019]

To the person who made a smart ass comment about Milo's mouth here is what the issue is. He was born that way with lack of nerves on that side of his face very similar to Sylvester Stallone

Putting the pieces together

[skylark131 · 9/10 · 17 October 2018]

I found this episode compelling. Not just the trauma from Vietnam, but the special relationship Jack has with his buddy (who lost his foot) which foreshadows his bond with Randall. Also, the threads that have been woven in his family in terms of alcoholism and even the info related to Jack having a heart condition (which most likely contributed to his death). Was this episode the most surprising or full of unanswered questions that keep us dangling? No. But it's an important episode for the narrative of the overall storyline that is being told!

Very well done but a bit frustrating

[royalewithcheese2020 · 9/10 · 17 October 2018]

No doubt this episode was shot to perfection, especially for a dramedy series on NBC. Some scenes felt like they were taken out of movies like "Platoon". On the other hand, I was expecting more answers as to how Jack loses his brother. However, it was nice seeing the build-up and background between the two. I imagine the Nick character is going to be explored more as the season progresses. Great guest stars too, including Michael Angarano as Jack's brother and Michael Ironside as Jack's grandfather, who gave us a glimpse of why Jack's dad may have became the way he did. Overall great episode, just didn't quite live up to the hype.

In Country

[jdmac-04749 · 8/10 · 25 November 2019]

This powerful episode was co-written by Tim O'Brien, a Vietnam vet who later became a successful writer. Much of Nicky's character is drawn from Mr. O'Brien's experience.

Excellent story writing yet again.

[itsbhavyaokay · 10/10 · 17 October 2018]

When I first read the title, I was hoping it'd be all about Jack's character and his history, like they did with Kevin's in the last season. I am so glad it was. All of the pieces put together, very realistically showing every detail... the effect of a husband's alcoholism on the wife (specially the mailman scene), how the husband used to be a non-alcoholic... successfully leaving the audience curious as to why he started.... It's all just very realistic but very hypnotising at the same time.

Michael Angarano

[maryfurse · 9/10 · 17 October 2018]

He plays Nick Pearson. I liked this episode. You just never know what ur gonna get.

True, Real and Honest

[taniafranklin-72335 · 9/10 · 9 October 2019]

This is probably my favourite episode of the series. Yes some of the war scenes in Vietnam were a little 'Hollywood'. However, this back story provides great insight into the Pearson family and their different 'addictions' - be it food, alcohol, work/perfectionism, drugs - it shows just how much what happens to us and how we deal with it shapes who we are. Coming from a multi-generational family of addiction myself, I thought this portrayed sensitively and truthfully Jack's brother, father and grandfather, the impact of addictive behaviours and that even when we want to be different and break the cycle, we can end up hurting the ones we love. To me it has a huge part to play in how we see the characters unfold and develop in future series.

To answer question from previous post

[vdld · 10/10 · 17 October 2018]

The actor playing Jack's grandfather is Michael Ironside (Total Recall, Top Gun).

Best episode in the series

[captainkronik · 9/10 · 20 October 2018]

This episode gave a lot of insight into who I think is the best character in the show. They didnt try to pull on your heartstrings like they normally try to and it was 100% believable. People saying this is the worst episode do not know good storytelling.

Vietnam (#3.4)

[ComedyFan2010 · 8/10 · 7 October 2019]

It is nice to see a whole Jack episode. We find out so much more about him. I liked to see his relationship with his brother and also some of his father being an abusive alcoholic to his mother. We got to see him have a special friendship with another soldier and since this is the one who got an email from Kevin I am looking forward to what comes next. Great how his little brother has changed and how Jack made all this way to get to him. I really want to see more of the Vietnam time.

Not Boring, But Not Accurate Either

[rwaltz-86694 · 5/10 · 21 October 2018]

Maybe the show is catered to a younger audience, which would explain why a full episode about Jack and Vietnam would be labeled as "boring." Personally, as a Vietnam Vet (1969-70), I was apprehensive about watching it. But my wife and I watch it together, and so we did this episode. The writers totally captured the anxiety, stress, and confusion about what to do, when Jack and his brother (and their mother!!) were awaiting the draft lottery. Kudos to the writers and actors. Where this episode fails, and fails miserably, is when depicting the war itself. Except for a few scenes, this entire part of the episode looked and felt like Hollywood. Hadn't anyone associated with the production of this great show seen any film clips of the war??? The rambling talk on patrol. All that heavy gear. And a football out in the boonies? Really??? REALLY??? But one thing this period in our lives was not, was boring. Stateside and in-country, we were all (young men and women, moms and dads, brothers and sisters) on pins and needles, worried about our future. Doc Waltz

Excellent episode, but...

[ieinherjar · 17 October 2018]

Wonderful backstory in this episode between Jack and Nicky. Can someone please tell me the name of the actor playing Jack's grandfather in the hospital? He is not credited for the role.

The Draft Lottery

[Hitchcoc · 9/10 · 21 April 2024]

I remember sitting in a bar on the night of the draft lottery. I was 23 at the time and had finished college. One of my best friends was so hopeful, like Nick. He was born on September 14, the very first date. Although those under a hundred were likely to go. I lucked out. I think this part of Jack's life needed to be presented. He was a hero. He came looking for his brother when he could have avoided the whole thing. I thought the battle scenes were very good, although my understanding is that you kept your mouths shut as you made your way through this unfamiliar terrain to face an enemy who was born and lived there. We get more insights into Jack's father and mother and how he was formed.

Boring!

[tombohache10-152-872423 · 3/10 · 18 October 2018]

I LOVE this show, so I was so disappointed by this episode, which was extremely boring. Did they have to devote the entire episode to the Jack back-story? One of the best things about This Is Us is the way they intercut the various stories and time periods. This seemed like a whole different series. It would've been better if they had let the story of Jack and his brother unfold, instead of throwing so much at us all at once.

Who played Nick?

[janbug118 · 4/10 · 17 October 2018]

Didn't really like that a whole episode was devoted to Jack's past; could have been summed up in 15 minutes. But all through it I kept wondering who played adult Nick.

OMG>>> I can't watch this mess anymore

[hosenoggin-17437 · 1/10 · 17 October 2018]

When this show started, it was a cute family dramedy. This episode was a vietnam war movie. So confused. Not funny. Badly written. As of this message, i will no longer try to watch in hopes that it will get better. It won't. It just gets worse.

Dull

[tamjam6869 · 2/10 · 3 November 2018]

Very boring episode. Potential wasted. It doesn't ring true and it looks as if the writers/producers were going for more visuals than storytelling.