This is Us season 6 episode 5 recap: Heart and Soul

This article contains SPOILERS for This Is Us season 6 episode 5

Rebecca tries to get back to dating, Randall hosts a dinner with Malik, and Kate breaks some news to her mom in this week’s episode of This is Us season 6.

Catch up on everything from last week’s episode here!

The fifth episode of This is Us season 6 begins with the Jack and Rebecca making some memories at the piano with an adolescent Kate before jumping ahead in the timeline to a teenage Kate mocking a divorced Miguel and widowed Rebecca watching television on a weekend night. Kate’s words get to the single adults, with Miguel convincing both himself and his female friend that it is time to get back to dating.

This Is Us season 6 episode 5: Checking in with the Big Three

When grandma Rebecca is visiting her grandkids, Kate receives a call from Toby explaining he will be home late because of an invite from his boss, so grandma Rebecca offers to lend her bottomless compassion and love for her family. Kevin drops the twins over at Madison’s house, where he has another awkward interaction with Madison’s handsome book club friend Elijah.

As he driving back home to prepare for his adventure to the home is building by the Pearson family cabin, Kevin invites Cassidy (Jennifer Morrison) to come to visit the cabin with him and Nicky. Cassidy agrees but asks if this is a “sex thing,” something they are both unable to explicitly say if they are going to hook up or not.

Checking in with the Philly branch of the Pearsons, Randall returns home to passionately kiss his wife after an awful day of work. Beth informs her husband that Malik is in town from college, and he wants to make dinner for the two of them. They play their iconic “Worst Case Scenario” game where they list off the bad reasons Malik wants to have dinner, something that only makes them more anxious and worried about this dinner.

This Is Us season 6 episode 5: Rebecca gets back out there

In the 1990s, Rebecca and Miguel go to some speed dating, where Rebecca finds herself talking about Jack and how he died too much. As the thirty singles rotate, Miguel and Rebecca find themselves together, and they make a deal that if they strike out again, the two will leave. Rebecca’s next date, however, is Matt (Matt Corboy), who she talked to a couple of weeks ago in her timeline, and he was someone who she was interested in but had no desire to date at the time.

Before the dinner with Malik in their parents, Deja informs Annie and Tess the reason why Malik is coming to town, something the audience does not know about yet. The three of them adorably try to create a scheme so the dinner goes off smoothly when they are interrupted by mister mood-killer himself, Randall. He is heading out for a run when Kevin calls him. The two talk about Kevin’s plans for this weekend, and Randall jibes at his brother for being unable to have a one-night stand. Kevin arrives at the construction spot where he joins Cassidy, Nicky, and Nicky’s new flight attendant girlfriend, Edie (Vanessa Bell Calloway).

Aside, Kevin and Nicky talk about how they might both get lucky before the four of them have a nice dinner. After dinner, Nicky and Edie are watching a movie and looking adorable, while Kevin offers Cassidy a job as a supervisor for the construction project, mainly supervising Nicky and making sure he doesn’t hurt any of the workers. She says she will think about it before the two go and get some ice cream, just the two of them.

This speed date with Matt actually goes well with the right amount of sharing and casual conversation. During the next cycle, Matt asks Rebecca out on a date, and she says yes, something Miguel sees go down and looks sad about. After the date, Matt drops off Rebecca following a successful coffee date. Rebecca pulls away from a kiss, but she shows genuine excitement for the opportunity to see him again.

This Is Us season 6 episode 5: Dinner with the Pearson’s

During the very important dinner made by Malik, all of the food looks good before they all dig in. Malik apologizes on behalf of his part in Deja coming to Boston to visit him by looking both in the eye and acknowledging the mistake the two of them made. Randall and Beth silently express their respect for this mature moment from Malik before Tess and Annie try to play their part in buttering up their parents. These tactics and schemes are something that Randall falls for continuously, but  Beth does not. Deja finally spills the secret, and that is she is finishing this semester of high school before moving to Boston with Malik. Randall and Beth are speechless.

At her music teacher job, Kate introduces her two kids and mom to her students before Kate volunteers Rebecca to play the piano during their routine opening jam session. During this class, Toby calls his wife, and she explains how her mom looks so happy and how Rebecca has not looked like this since her illness. Kate explains to Toby that she can’t wait anymore to tell her mom something and that she has to tell Rebecca tonight, something that Toby agrees with and supports.

Back at a stressful dinner, Deja explains that she took on some extra AP courses this semester so she has enough credits to graduate. Randall is being the most impulsive with his decisions while Beth interjects with the suggestion to take a breath. Tess and Annie are “excused” from dinner, so it is just the two couples talking now. Deja rightfully stands up for herself using her dad’s words against her since Deja and Randall have both talked about how they have a lot more in their lives than other people their age. Randall, appalled at his daughter, has to excuse himself from the table.

This Is Us season 6 episode 5: Kevin and Cassidy get some ice cream

Rebecca enters her house to find that Kate is actually home and asks about who drove her home. Teenage Kate is insulted her mom is out there dating and forgetting about Jack. After Kate calls her mom a slut, Rebecca slaps Kate and tells her that she has no idea what she’s talking about. This scene compares to present-day Kate and Rebecca since, after a day of teaching and singing, Kate breaks the news to her mom that both she and Toby do not feel comfortable with Rebecca watching their kids because of her ailment. Clearly hurt and upset, Rebecca goes home and leaves her remorseful daughter.

Kevin and Cassidy are walking with their ice cream when Kevin tries to hold her hand. Cassidy pulls away. Kevin tries to initiate a conversation that shows his true desire for a romance like his parent’s fairytale marriage. Cassidy, with a more realist and pessimist head on her shoulders, says their trauma is not compatible, something Kevin tries to fight but ultimately accepts. Cassidy gives a reductive rundown of Kevin’s major relationships and how even though he means well, he messes up a lot. These tough pills come as a one-two punch for Kevin, but he takes them nonetheless.

With Randall taking a beat on his front steps, Malik comes out to talk to him. Randall apologizes for walking out after being caught off guard and says Malik is on a great path right now. Randall tells Malik that he has to break things off with Deja to protect her and make sure she finds her own path in life. Malik promises not to tell Deja about Randall’s words to protect Randall before he walks away.

This Is Us season 6 episode 5: Rebecca shares her deep grief

Rebecca in the 1990s calls Miguel looking for comfort from her friend. She explains how she struggled to even go out tonight, so when she came home and her daughter made her feel guilty for having fun, her trauma and emotions got the better of her. Miguel doesn’t judge  Rebecca explains that her grief is so deep-rooted in her that she has no idea how to function anymore in the world. While she is on the phone with Miguel, Rebecca is also, fortunately, being eavesdropped on by her daughter who feels her own guilt and grief.

Randall and Beth regroup after their eventful dinner, to say the least, saying they are retiring the “Worst Case Scenario” game from now on. Randall shares with his wife what he said to Malik outside and Beth brings up the perfect comparison of Romeo and Juliet’s parents trying to keep them apart. Beth goes on to say they are in a very volatile position right now and have to make the right decision to ensure they are safe and happy and their daughter is too.

The episode of This Is Us season 6 ends with Kevin telling Elijah some tips and tricks on how to maneuver Madison’s eating and showing his growth. Then, Kate shows up at her mom’s place, apologizes for taking out a lot of her grief onto her, and asks Rebecca to teach her son the piano using braille sheet music. This draws explicit parallels with Rebecca playing the piano with an adolescent, teenage, and now adult Kate.

With Cassidy out of the picture, who do you think will be Kevin’s future wife? What do you think Randall and Beth should do about Deja? Would you have made the same choice as Kate and Toby in regards to Rebecca? Let us know your thoughts and answers in the comments below!

Watch the next episode of This Is Us season 6 airing Tuesday night, February 8th, only on NBC, and streaming the next day on Peacock and Hulu!