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'This Is Us' Season 2, Episode 8 'Number One' Recap: Kevin Reaches Lowest Point [SPOILERS]
BY Mikah Cutts
Published 6 years ago
!['This Is Us' Season 2, Episode 8 'Number One' Recap: Kevin Reaches Lowest Point [SPOILERS]](https://i0.wp.com/www.screenspy.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/11/MV5BZmU2N2RiZjUtZTdiZi00NmYwLWFmNDEtN2ViMmQxODk4Zjc4XkEyXkFqcGdeQXVyNzQ0MDUyMzg@._V1_.jpg?fit=645%2C430&ssl=1)
“This Is Us” Season 2, episode 8 titled “Number One” reveals Kevin at his weakest point. And while he walks unsteadily at this point of his life, his beloved experiences a loss of her own. We’ve all known Kevin to be the least stable in The Big Three. And one of the primary reasons for this would be his father’s death. Although in this episode, it narrates that he’s been quite a roller coaster ride of ups and downs in his years—besides his father’s death.
Young Kevin and his Troublesome Teen Years
Besides knowing that Kevin was pretty much the most popular, most handsome, most admired all-American hot throb in his school years even on elementary, we find out more about his supposed Football career. On his last year on high school, Kevin grabs the attention of a University that wants him playing on their football team.
NBC/Ron Batzdorff
Kevin handles this carelessly and overestimates himself and his talent. In this time period, Jack is currently undergoing his road to fix his drinking problems. So when Kevin disregards the University representative, Jack is furious and almost loses it. But instead, chooses the path forward and Kevin witnesses this—his father performing an AA practice to keep himself in check. On the last football game that changed his life, Kevin injures his knee and his dreams of Ivy league and Notre Dame all vanish before his eyes.
Kevin is at his darkest state
On the present time—right after Sophie closed the door on Kevin—he goes on a drinking spree. It’s almost like seeing young Jack developing his alcohol addiction. But hopefully, Kevin doesn’t get there. He receives a call from his old high school and reminds him of some alumni award-giving that he promised to attend. Disheveled and a little foggy, Kevin agrees, thinking it would be a nice distraction.
Ron Batzdorff/NBC
All the while, he abuses unmedicated painkillers he’s been chugging down since Episode 7. As he attends the homecoming, he is visited by hallucinations of his past like young Sophie, seeing Jack on the stage, and his football games. After the award-giving ceremony, Kevin walks back to the football field and does a drunk flashback of all his hardships in life. His monologue here was simply too heartbreaking to watch. He narrates how all the low points of his life like his failed football career, father’s death, second knee injury, and Sophie’s divorce, have all but catapulted him to new heights. But now, he’s not so sure anymore.
Kevin Sleeps with old High school classmate
On the high school homecoming, he also encounters Charlotte Everly, an old batchmate who had the biggest crush on him (along with everyone else). She flirts with him, and at first, he turns it down. But after intoxicating himself with liquor, we eventually see him naked with Charlotte beside her. Soon after, he leaves abruptly to get some more painkillers but realizes that his father’s pendant—a silver necklace that meant ‘purpose’ in Buddhist—gets lost somewhere on Charlotte’s flat. He comes back and pleads that she give it to him, but she’s too upset to let him in nor speak to him.
Sophie Loses the Baby
Just when we think Kevin has had enough problems in life, the last few minutes of the “This Is Us” tells us otherwise. With no one else to go to, he remembers that he’s got his family to run for help. But as soon as he gets there, he finds out from his brother Randall that Sophie lost their baby. Is Kevin ever gonna get out of this? As a Pearson, there’s no doubt that he will.
“This Is Us” continues next Tuesday with “Number 2,” at 9/8c on NBC.
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