This is a big one for us, guys. A couple of weeks ago, Hulu presented us with the chance to talk to Ann Dowd (Aunt Lydia) about The Handmaid's Tale. We jumped at the chance. We've known Ann's work with complex characters since she played Patti Levin on The Leftovers, so getting a chance to talk to her was a dream come true. This episode fits the interview inside the usual podcast review we've been making since the show started. If you really need to jump ahead, look around the six-minute mark for Ann's interview. We talk with her about Lydia's motivations and what makes her tick. As usual, definitely watch episode 308 "Unfit" before listening!

Ann Dowd discussing her character on HBO's The Leftovers at ATX 2015. At this point, she still didn't know that her suicidal character would return for season 2.
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Ann Dowd (Aunt Lydia) Interview and The Handmaid's Tale 308 - DR 214

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THIS IS US -- "Strangers: Part Two" Episode 418 -- Pictured: (l-r) Justin Hartley as Kevin, Sterling K. Brown as Randall -- (Photo by: Ron Batzdorff/NBC)



This week's episode, This Is Us Season 4 Episode 18, entitled "Strangers, Part 2," gave us the knock-down drag-out between Randall and Kevin we've been waiting to see since the mid-season finale. Last week's big question of, How will the Big 3 find out got answered as soon as Kevin's brain locked in the very un-Rebecca-like phrase 'investment in my future" spilled out of her mouth. Then it was off to the races with Kevin having to deal with a deceptive and smug brother on one side and the news of his impending fatherhood on the other. Sure, other stuff happened, but this is what we tuned in to see.



So, now that the only proof of the brothers making up comes in the form of Rebecca's death-scene about 10 years from now in the show's timeline, we have to wonder. Is that the first time they see each other or will they make up before the scene in Kevin's future-house?



Caroline and Paul dig into that and other questions, like:



* The build-up to this fight has lasted half this season. But was the fight -really- as nuclear as you thought it was going to be?* If you've listened to this podcast before, then you know that our own twins spent a looooong time in the NICU. So, we ask each other, Did Toby and Kate's return to the NICU and its wall of fame resonate with you?* And, of course, since this was the season finale, we HAVE to ask each other What do you think happens next season?



Listen in to hear what we have to say about theses and MANY more questions!



Be sure to check out our other podcasts for This Is Us:



Season 4



1 - 3 | 4 - 6 | 7 | 8 |9 | 10 | 11 | 12 | 13 | 14 | 15 | 16 | 17



Season 3



1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 | 10 | 11 | <a href="http://daleyreview.

This Is Us Season 4 Episode 18


THIS IS US -- "After the Fire" Episode 417 -- Pictured: (l-r) Ron Cephas Jones as William, Niles Fitch as Randall, Milo Ventimiglia as Jack -- (Photo by: Ron Batzdorff/NBC)



This week's episode, This Is Us Season 4 Episode 17, entitled "After The Fire" should have been called "What Randall Did". Last night, we saw Randall describe two "What-Ifs" to his new therapist, both assuming Jack had lived after the fire which claimed his life in reality. In one, Mary Sue... er, I mean Randall, lives his best life, magnanimously forgives Rebecca for lying about William, and catches his stomach cancer early (plus other pro-Randall achievements). In the other "Bizarro" version, he assumes the both he and Jack could not forgive Rebecca for lying about William. Randall becomes estranged from his siblings and mother, is rejected by William, and lives an empty life as a philandering academic. After this highly productive session, a suddenly clear-headed Randall decides it's high time to call Rebecca as a "good son" and emotionally strongarm her into agreeing to his plans. So...



Now we know what will cause the right. The last real question is, How with the rest of the Big 3 find out?



Caroline and Paul discuss that and several possible scenarios for the last episode of the season, as well as:



* First off, How dare he?* In his Bizarro version, Randall depicted his siblings as probably much happier people than he did in his ideal scenario. What's up with that?* On a more personal side, we ask each other Do we ever play "What If" about our own lives, like Randall?



Listen in to hear what we have to say about theses and MANY more questions!



Be sure to check out our other podcasts for This Is Us:



Season 4



1 - 3 | 4 - 6 | 7 | 8 |9 | 10 | 11 | 12 | 13 | 14 | 15 | 16



Season 3



1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 | 10 | 11 | 12 + 13<...

This Is US Season 4 Episode 17


THIS IS US -- "New York, New York, New York" Episode 416 -- Pictured: (l-r) Justin Hartley as Kevin, Sterling K. Brown as Randall -- (Photo by: Will Hart/NBC)



This week's episode, This Is Us - Season 4 Episode 16, entitled, "New York, New York, New York" featured three parallel New York City-centered storylines. Well, really three and a half, but who's counting? Anyway, We've been talking about the Big 3 and the impending rift since mid-season. This episode brings what the rift probably involves into sharper focus. Nothing is set in stone yet, but it looks the future of Rebecca's care and the Pearson boys' differing opinion of it will be at the rift's core. What will cause the break?



Although we consider this one of our best TIU podcasts in a while, we were still left with a few lingering questions, like:



* Kate barely made an appearance in this episode.  Where will she stand? With Kevin or Randall? We know she ends up with Kevin in the cabin later on (from the mid-season flash-forward), but will she start out on Kevin's side?* Rebecca has a husband. Why wasn't Miguel even invited to the clinical trial discussion?* We're all going to grow old and possibly go through this same kind of thing. What would we choose? The trial? Or finishing up all the "next times" that never got done?



 Listen in to hear what they have to say about theses and MANY more questions! 



Be sure to check out our other podcasts for This Is Us:



Season 4



1 - 3 | 4 - 6 | 7 | 8 |9 | 10 | 11 | 12 | 13 | 14 | 15 



Season 3



1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 | 10 | 11 | 12 + 13 | 14 | 15 | 16 | 17 | <a href="http://daleyreview.

This Is Us Season 4 Episode 16


This week's episode, This Is Us - Season 4 Episode 15, entitled "Clouds" offered a pretty balanced look into the lives of the living Pearsons. Post-cabin meet-up, the Big 3 get back to their lives, trying to use the positive energy (if any) gained from their time spent together. With every passing week in which the show dances around the issue, the biggest question of the week continues to be: What will cause the giant rift among the siblings?



Caroline and Paul found this episode super enjoyable, but many questions rose up post-show, such as:



*  Should Kevin and Madison give it a shot? I know this was also one of last week's questions, but it's still very relevant. * Is Toby's change of heart for real? We want to believe in him, but what he-said, Kate can't un-hear.* Should Randall have found another therapist? I mean, for real. 



Listen in to hear what they have to say about theses and MANY more questions!



Be sure to check out our other podcasts for This Is Us:



Season 4



1 - 3 | 4 - 6 | 7 | 8 |9 | 10 | 11 | 12 | 13 | 14 



Season 3



1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 | 10 | 11 | 12 + 13 | 14 | 15 | 16 | 17 | 18



Season 2



1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | <a href="http://daleyreview.

This Is Us Season 4 Episode 15


 This week's episode, This Is Us Season 4 Episode 14, entitled "The Cabin," centers all four of the depicted timelines around the Pearson family's cabin. The Big 3 converge there as adults to try and get their lives back on track. Did it help any of them? As teens, Kevin and Randall joined Rebecca's rescue mission to check on and eventually retrieve an abused Kate. Was I the only one that wanted Kevin and Randall to light Marc up? And finally, we get a short peek at the far-future timeline, bringing the time capsule story full-circle. 



This podcast is a little shorter than usual, but we still tackle ALL timelines. Plus, we throw in our experience as the parents of a blind preemie to weigh against the realism of Kate and Toby's story. Other questions we tackle include:



* Are we done with Marc? Listen in to get our dire predictions.* Should Kevin and Madison give it a shot? Paul, despite the desperate phone call to Kate, believes they should. Listen in to see if Caroline agrees. * Since this meeting didn't cause the rift described in the mid-season finale, then What causes the division of the Big 3?



Tune in to hear what we have to say!



Be sure to check out our other podcasts for This Is Us:



Season 4



1 - 3 | 4 - 6 | 7 | 8 |9 | 10 | 11 | 12 | 13 



Season 3



1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 | 10 | 11 | 12 + 13 | 14 | 15 | 16 | 17 | 18



Season 2



1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | <a href="http://daleyreview....

Ann Dowd (Aunt Lydia) Interview and The Handmaid's Tale 308 - DR 214

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