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Warning: this post contains spoilers for this week’s episode of This is Us

Another week, another drama-packed visit with the Pearson clan on This is Us. Without the excitement of a Sylvester Stallone cameo, we were able to focus on mother-daughter relationships, which seemed to be the thread running through this episode. Back in the 80s, Kevin and Kate got chicken pox and Rebecca’s critical “Mom-ster,” played by Elizabeth Perkins, invited herself over to help out when she let her casual racist flag fly. I Love EP, don’t get me wrong, but she does play a great sub-par mother. Picture an older version of her character from About Last Night and you’ve got the gist of who she is on the show.

It’s still a rocky road for Randall and Beth, as they desperately try to assimilate their foster child, Deja, into the family. Her hygiene leaves a little to be desired and, after Randall fails to break through after an aborted trip to the bowling alley, Beth finally gets Deja to let her hair down (see what I did there?) and gives her beautiful braids. Unfortunately, Beth breaks some unwritten foster mom/foster daughter code and tells her husband about Deja’s struggle with alopecia. Deja acts out by chopping off her locks.

Kevin needs a mother figure as Brian Grazer, who is producing his big budget Stallone-starring movie, insists he get his injured knee looked at. He has a torn meniscus and eventually consents to surgery. Afterwards, he refuses to follow doctor’s orders and use the old RICE technique to heal, opting for stubbornness and pain pills to get him back on set. Bad idea.

And then there’s Kate. The first time we see her on this episode, she’s working out, to make sure she fits in the dress she wants to wear for her singing debut with the band. Toby tries to get her to relax and eat a muffin. (Side note: How many of you were yelling at the TV, like I was, “SHE DOESN’T WANT THE MUFFIN, TOBY!”?) We see her later head to the drug store, making a beeline for the “Weight loss” section. Uh oh. Fortunately we learn that she was actually there picking up pre-natal vitamins because, guess what? She’s six weeks pregnant! I don’t think I’ve been happier for a fictional character in quite some time.

Chrissy Metz, who plays the mom-to-be, said it was difficult to keep her character’s maternity under wraps. In response to a fan who asked her, “How hard was that to keep to yourself?” Chrissy replied: “Beyond difficult! My real family didn’t even have a clue.”

Beyond difficult! My real family didnt even have a clue 😇 #ThisisUs https://t.co/VrH0WeDpp4

— Chrissy Metz (@ChrissyMetz) October 18, 2017

And, since none of the actors seem to know their characters’ fates very far in advance of filming, it’s not really a surprise that Chrissy’s co-stars were also kept in the dark about Kate’s delicate condition. Susan Kelechi Watson, who has been knocking it out of the park as Beth, told Entertainment Tonight that “It was one of the those things that was left out of the script when we first got it. But it was such a lovely moment. When I finally did get to read the script for that scene, I could just imagine Chrissy [Metz].”

When asked by The Hollywood Reporter how many episodes she filmed knowing her character was with child, she replied, “In my mind, probably the episode before. At least in my backstory, she has some sort of an inclination but didn’t necessarily believe it to be true. She didn’t completely believe it until she went to the doctor’s.” And, as far as why she feels her character hasn’t told Toby about the upcoming arrival, she said:

She’s very afraid. She’s afraid to admit it’s real because then your heart becomes involved. Then there’s that potential for disappointment. I didn’t even realize this but after 35 years old it’s considered a geriatric pregnancy. Like, what? And not to say people don’t have healthy, wonderful, perfect geriatric pregnancies, but there’s this thought of disappointing…it’s one thing to handle your own disappointment. Mostly she knows how he’s going to react but they’re not married. As his mother probably believes, they’re living in sin. They just got together; it’s not even a whole year really. And she doesn’t want to disappoint him because God forbid. What if he’s not into it, or what if there’s a potential complication or problem? You don’t ever want to break a loved one’s heart because that’s harder to deal with than your own.

[From The Hollywood Reporter]

Like most fans, I hope the pregnancy is an easy one for Kate, as my heart might not be able to handle any complications. I’ve already felt so many feelings while watching this show. And it’s cool that I’m not the only one. P!nk recently tweeted these all too common sentiments:

This Is Us needs to come with a free box of tissues

— P!nk (@Pink) October 17, 2017

Chrissy replied to the tweet, stating, “I agree, I resort to toilet paper” and then appropriately fangirled out over the fact that P!nk watches the show. Too cute.

I agree, I resort to toilet paper. #desperatetimes #ThisIsUs
(Also , omg! 🙈😍) https://t.co/yGb9JCPvdX

— Chrissy Metz (@ChrissyMetz) October 18, 2017

Photos: Getty Images, WENN.com