-You're watching the "This Is Us" aftershow.
-We're talking moms, dads, and baby Jacks.
-So, stay with us.
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-Presented by Chevrolet.
-To know that a baby could be born prematurely,
and, of course, in a situation that is so uncertain,
is really frightening.
And I know that a lot of people, of course,
are gonna relate to it.
But it was quite a challenge,
and wanting to just be authentic and be present in making sure
that we're telling the story in a way
that brings us closer together, of course,
as Kate and Toby as a couple.
-Do you find, like, for me,
and I don't know if you're the same,
like, in these more difficult seasons,
where we have more things to go through,
more trials and tribulations, it's hard to separate
going through all those things on the show
and allowing it to, like, creep in.
-Right.
-It was very physically tasking to kind of go
the places we went this season.
-When I look at him, all I can see is tubes and tape
and needles and pain.
But when you look at him, you see our son,
and you know exactly how to take care of him.
And I have no idea how you do that.
-W-when I look at Jack, I'm scared as hell
of his tubes and his tape, too.
But then I look at his eyes, and I see that his left
is just a tiny smidge bigger than his right...
like yours.
-Toby was so strong for so long for Kate
while she was just sort of a puddle and a crumble
of all these emotions and pieces
that she was sort of putting back together.
Because, you know, obviously, Kate carried little Jack,
I think of course there's a bonding that happens.
But, also, that she's, like,
"It's okay if Toby doesn't understand,"
or if he's having a harder time with it, because she's gonna be
the one to sort of hold them all together.
And I think it's a beautiful arc and a change
and an evolution in Kate
to see Toby just not understand how to navigate that.
And I don't think Kate does, either,
but she's going to be strong for everybody.
-Hopefully, what you end up with in a relationship
is somebody who complements you and somebody who fills in
the places where maybe you're not as strong and can show up,
because it's gonna go around.
People are gonna need support.
Kate needs support, and Toby's there.
Toby needs support, and Kate's there.
And in a secure, functioning relationship,
hopefully that merry-go-round continues to service
both partners.
-What if I'm just not cut out for any of this?
-No, you are.
[ Chuckles ]
And I believe that so much that I'm going to take a shower.
-That's weird.
-Nope. It's necessary.
-Whenever you watch television, there's a bit of a removal
because in your life, you don't have a team of writers.
-Right.
-And you don't get 12 takes... -[ Laughing ] Right!
-...to whip out the perfect one-liner.
So, it might be a little idealized sometimes.
It teaches me. It gives me tools...
-Right.
-...to see these scenes play out the way they could.
-Yeah, a different perspective of
"Oh, I didn't see what he might have been going through."
-Yeah.
-'Cause we're so sort of insular in our own feelings.
We can't step outside of ourselves.
But that's what this show is so beautifully good at.
-You get to travel amongst the other cast members
a little more freely than I do.
And so, it's so interesting to watch the show
and watch people who
I have almost no professional interaction with...
-Yeah. -...in these other storylines.
It's almost like for me watching the show,
it's like, "Oh, here's 'The Chris and Chrissy Show.'"
-[ Laughing ] Right!
-Oh, and then this other show comes on.
-It's "The Beth and Randall Show."
-Yeah, "The Beth and Randall Show."
But those aren't scenes that we're around for.
I think that the Beth and Randall relationship
is an amazing relationship... -Oh, yeah.
-...especially this season, when stuff starts to get complicated
and difficult.
-In relationships, not just from the woman,
the compromises and the sacrifices that two people make
and to have that through-line of what it is
that Beth wants to do,
and we get to see the backstory of her, the love of dance,
and to see Randall doing his thing in the political circle
and the things that are going on with Kevin,
and then, of course, Griffin Dunne playing
older Nicky is really cool.
Also, I have to say, when the baby grows up,
I am concerned about having a real infant on the set.
-[ Laughs ]
Um...but yeah, somebody asked me if I was ready to be a TV dad.
And I was like, "I'm gonna be a TV dad."
-Yeah.
-Jack...this is your dad.
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-[ Laughs ]
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