Randall wanted to be exactly like Jack and to have a marriage exactly his parents. Rebecca didn’t have a job outside of their home, so Jack frequently made big decisions on behalf of their family without talking to Rebecca first. The difference between Jack and Randall is that these decisions usually involved some heavy self-sacrifice on his part. When Rebecca brings up the fact that they might be forced to move in with her mother when she learns about the triplets, Jack goes to his father (who he doesn’t want anywhere near his family) and gets the money for their house so Rebecca won’t be forced to do that. He gives up the career that he wanted to provide for his family and to allow Randall to go to private school. There seemed to be an implied understanding between Jack and Rebecca that because he provided for them he was trusted to make these big decisions and that he would protect them and give up what he wanted for their benefit. In return, Rebecca wouldn’t pry into Jack’s past and the stuff he couldn’t talk about.
For the most part, this arrangement works for them … until it doesn’t. It’s at that point that Rebecca comes to get Jack and they agree to work on their problems. Jack goes to AA and tries to change. Unfortunately, he dies before he can get very far into the process.
I think Randall saw the way Jack and Rebecca worked and wanted to emulate that example. However, Beth isn’t Rebecca and their marriage really can’t work EXACTLY that way and I don’t think Randall understands that. I also don’t think he realized the extent to which Jack sacrificed for his family and why Jack went to such great lengths to cut himself off from his past. Jack never told anyone any of that stuff and he’s not around to explain it now.
So yes, maybe some therapy is needed for Randall (and Beth) to figure that stuff out. If Jack could suck it up and go to therapy, I think Randall can, too.
Okay honestly I know we’re supposed to see that as sweet and romantic and obviously it ended up working out (well… until this season) but going straight from “Please don’t call me again” to “I’m gonna marry her” is creepy as fuck.
it’s march and like, you know what? that’s fucked up. literally, it was march this time last year too, and what’s up with that? like, a year has passed since it was last march, what the fuck ?
