‘This Is Us’ Director Teases How They Finally Tackle ‘Randall’s Core Wound’
NBC’s critically acclaimed drama, This Is Us, follows Randall Pearson (Sterling K. Brown) throughout his struggles as a Black man adopted by a white family. Viewers found out all about his birth father; however, nothing about his birth mother. The director of This Is Us explained how they would tackle “Randall’s core wound” and his biological mother.
‘This Is Us’ shocked viewers who thought Randall’s birth mother died after his birth
Throughout This Is Us’s first four seasons, viewers believe that Randall’s birth mother, Laurel (Jennifer C. Holmes), died of a drug overdose shortly after giving birth. That event led to his biological father, William H. “Shakespeare” Hill (Ron Cephas Jones), leaving Randall at the fire station.
However, in the This Is Us Season 5 premiere, fans see that moments after William left with Randall, the paramedics found Laurel’s pulse. It turns out that she lived a long, eventful life.
In the winter premiere, Randall received a letter from a man named Hai (Vien Hong) and his birth mother’s photo. By the end of the episode, he finds the courage to call the man. Soon, he will learn about his birth mother’s life.
The director teased how ‘This Is Us’ tackles ‘Randall’s core wound’
After years of following Randall’s story and struggles, director Kay Oyegun of This Is Us said viewers would finally see the character’s “core wound.” Hopefully, this process will lead to healing for the anxiety-filled Randall. Oyegun opened up to Awards Daily in an interview about the episode on Jan. 12, 2021, where fans will finally get answers.
“I think it’s an extension of Randall’s core wound, essentially,” she told the outlet. “And the exploration of putting the puzzle pieces together of what his life is. I think a lot of times, people underestimate the blank slateness of being an adoptee who has no idea who they are. I think that picture is starting to crystallize in a way. And I think this is the second half of his experience as a person who is coming to realize their mother’s side of things.”
The director adds that viewers might not have had an “emotional connection” to Laurel before. However, she expects that fans’ feelings will change after seeing her story on screen.
Show creator Dan Fogelman teased ‘a full, beautiful story’
The story fans were waiting years for is finally upon us, and This Is Us’ creator Dan Fogelman promises there won’t be any more questions after it’s completion.
“The story right now is not only incomplete, it’s barely even painted,” Fogelman told Entertainment Weekly. “So, in short order, a full, beautiful story is going to be told. I think it will be a satisfying and elegant answer to a lot of stuff, as opposed to something that necessarily begs more questions.”
