‘This Is Us’: What is the Hidden Meaning With the Donuts in Kevin and Sophie’s Relationship during tonight’s episode?
After watching the previews for Tuesday night’s episode of This Is Us, fans are dying to know if Sophie (Alexandra Breckenridge) is Kevin’s (Justin Hartley) future fiance and the mother of his child. Let’s take a look at why donuts are such a massive part of remembering Sophie and Kevin’s past—and what the donuts in tonight’s Kevin-centered episode represent.
[Warning: This Is Us Season 4 spoilers ahead]
The last time ‘This Is Us’ took us on a Sophie and Kevin flashback we learned a lot
During the episode titled “Storybook Love,” viewers finally found out how Kevin and Sophie ended up married at such a young age. At the age of 18, Kevin was already trying to find that perfect storybook romance that his father, Jack (Milo Ventimiglia), had with his mother, Rebecca (Mandy Moore).
Kevin decided to propose to his girlfriend because of several signs he saw while walking in New York City. First, he passed by a theater playing their favorite movie, The Princess Bride. At the same moment, church bells started ringing across the street, and a vendor selling bracelets walked by.
“In that moment,” Kevin tells his family, “I realized I couldn’t wait another second to start our lives together.”
Throughout the episode, viewers watch as various Pearsons throughout the decades went through difficulties over dinner. There was a lesson embedded in there; to move forward, you must embrace the past.
Kevin receives a call from Sophie and travels to Pittsburgh where they revisit their past
Kevin embarks on a trip to his old home town of Pittsburgh to support his ex-wife during her mother’s funeral. He attends the service, but then doesn’t immediately attend the reception after. Before arriving at the luncheon, he stops by Steel City Donuts and then brings the bright pink box up to the house.
“I wasn’t sure if I should come in,” Kevin tells Sophie when she comes out to greet him.
It is clear that she wanted him to come when Sophie asks him to get her out of there. He gets in Kevin’s car, and they engage in long talks and reminiscing.
Throughout the episode, we watch several flashbacks of Sophie and Kevin’s earlier relationship. Even at the young age of 10, fans see the couple laughing and giggling together.
Why does Kevin bring donuts to Sophie’s mom’s funeral on ‘This Is Us’?
After three and a half seasons of This Is Us, fans are accustomed to the subtle meanings and lessons found throughout the show. We know there is a hidden meaning in everything, right down to the donuts featured in tonight’s episode.
First, he brings a box of donuts to Sophie after her mother’s funeral. Then we see the couple at the age of 10 laughing over a donut, as Sophie smears chocolate on Kevin’s face.
Later on, fans watch 17-year-old Sophie eating another donut in a car with Kevin. It looks like she is the one who is the donut-lover. However, he admits he likes them too.
The couples’ favorite movie, The Princess Bride, shows that there are many different ways to say, “I love you.” As Sophie and Kevin grew up, it looks like the primary way Kevin always showed Sophie that he loved her was to bring her her favorite foods. Sometimes it was donuts, but when they lived in NYC, it was endless lava fries.
Since this is the first time in the series where we find Kevin bringing Sophie donuts, it seems clear that he has realized that she is his true love. The last time he obsessed over bringing her food, it was the lava fries when she gave him a second chance.
We still do not know whether or not she is his fiance in the future, but the donuts indeed point to “yes.” Hopefully, the third time is the charm for this charmer.
