WARNING: The following contains spoilers for This Is Us Season 5, Episode 15, “Jerry 2.0,” which aired Tuesday on NBC.
In the latest episode of This Is Us, Season 5, Episode 15, “Jerry 2.0” Beth and Rebecca bond and bring out the best in each other in both the present and in the past. In the present, they both attend Madison’s bachelorette party and find strength and liberation in each other unrelated to the festivities. In the past, Rebecca helps guide Beth when she needs some advice and support about a summer internship.
In the flashback, Rebecca helps Beth gain the confidence to accept a summer internship in Boston. During the flashback, Rebecca takes Kevin, his wife Sophie, Kate, Randall and Beth to the cabin for the weekend. While there, Sophie expresses the fact that she found it difficult to be in a long-distance relationship with Kevin, and Randall thinks that Beth’s hesitation about the internship stems from the same concern. However, Beth confides in Rebecca that she’s not worried about making her relationship with Randall work long distance.
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Instead Beth is worried about taking up another endeavor where she could end up failing. She is still recovering from the failure of her dance career and the internship opportunity is very intense and competitive. She is scared to fail all over again. Rebecca shares that she used to be a singer and understands how difficult it can be to move on from a failed dream. Then she encourages Beth and says she’ll be great at the internship, which helps Beth feel comfortable to go after her dreams again. During the same weekend, after being able to talk to Beth, Rebecca starts to feel like life is going back to normal, like she could be open to finding love again after Jack’s death.
At the bachelorette party in the present, Beth gets an email about some potential job opportunities at prestigious ballet academies. Beth doesn’t share the news with the group, but Rebecca recognizes that something is going on with her and reaches out to find out what is going on. Beth explains that she is worried about accepting any of these job opportunities because her experience with these kinds of dance academies are what damaged her relationship with the art form in the past.
Rebecca tells Beth that she should accept the opportunity and if necessary, change the system from within. She uplifts Beth and supports her, giving her a gentle confidence boost that she needs. Rebecca comments that sometimes Randall can be a bit intense, and fans know that Beth’s relationship with her own mother is complicated. Rebecca is the softer hand that helps Beth when she needs it.
After the bachelorette party, Rebecca thanks Beth for treating her normally. Ever since Rebecca was diagnosed with Alzheimer’s disease, everyone has been treating her differently. Miguel is anxious around her and for her, and Randall doesn’t confide in her the same way anymore. Beth lets Rebecca feel like herself — like a mother again, which Rebecca really needs. In turn, Beth pushes Rebecca to reach out to Randall and ask about his trip to New Orleans to learn about his birth mother. Beth helps Rebecca not only feel like a regular mother again but helps push her to be the best version of herself in her relationship with Randall.
Rebecca provides the support and encouragement Beth needs to chase after her dreams, both in the present and the past. Beth helps Rebecca feel normal after Jack’s death and after her Alzheimer’s diagnosis. Together they are able to be the best versions of themselves.
Created by Dan Fogelman, This Is Us stars Milo Ventimiglia, Mandy Moore, Justin Hartley, Chrissy Metz, Sterling K. Brown, Chris Sullivan and Susan Kelechi Watson. New episodes air Tuesdays at 9pm ET/PT on NBC.
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