Watch This Is Us Season 6 Episode 8

Okay, let's talk This Is Us, Season 6 Episode 8. "The Guitar Man" right? It's the one where we deep-dive into Uncle Nicky's past. Prepare for some opinions. Possibly unpopular ones.

Nicky Gets His Groove Back?

First, I love Nicky. Always have. He's the quirky, grumpy uncle we all secretly wish we had. But this episode? I have thoughts.

We see young Nicky, pre-Vietnam. A small-town vet with a shy smile. He's hopelessly in love with Sally. Remember her? The free spirit with the VW bus?

Their whirlwind romance is, admittedly, cute. Road trips, flower crowns, and dreams of California. It's all very 1960s. But here's where I raise an eyebrow.

Sally, Sally, Sally...

Am I the only one who thinks Sally was kind of...meh? She was adventurous, sure. But also a bit flighty. Did Nicky really see something there, or was it just the escape she offered?

I'm not saying she was a bad person. Just that maybe, just maybe, Nicky romanticized her a bit too much. He built her up in his head.

Let's be real, Nicky spent decades hung up on a brief fling. Maybe it was less about Sally and more about avoiding his responsibilities. Like enlisting.

The Great Escape (That Wasn't)

Their grand plan to drive to California? Epic fail. Nicky chickens out at the last minute. Classic Nicky, right? Self-sabotage at its finest.

He lets his fear get the better of him. Which, okay, is understandable. But still. Sally deserved a better goodbye. Maybe a heads-up.

And honestly, her moving on wasn't the biggest shocker. She seemed like someone who needed to keep moving. Nicky held her back a little. He was a weight.

Jack, the Golden Boy

Of course, we get flashbacks of Jack. Because what's a This Is Us episode without a healthy dose of Jack Pearson? He's the comparison to Nicky.

Young Jack, ever the responsible one, tries to talk Nicky out of running away with Sally. Because duty and honor! He's the polar opposite of free-spirited Nicky.

Jack's a good brother. We know. But sometimes I think his "always do the right thing" attitude puts too much pressure on everyone else. Especially Nicky.

Unpopular Opinion Alert!

Here's the spicy take: Maybe Jack wasn't always the best influence on Nicky. He meant well, I'm sure. But his rigid moral compass could be suffocating.

He probably made Nicky feel guilty for wanting something different. Something less...ordinary. A free life away from the farm. A life with Sally. California dreamin'.

It's easy to see Jack as the perfect brother. The hero. But he also set a very high bar. A bar Nicky could never quite reach.

Nicky's Redemption (Sort Of)

The episode ends with Nicky finally tracking down Sally. Decades later. It's a sweet moment. Closure, right? He gets to apologize, sort of.

She remembers him fondly, but she's moved on. Married. Living a good life. It's a reminder that time marches on, whether we're ready or not.

Nicky seems to find some peace in that. Maybe he realizes Sally wasn't the answer to all his problems. He needed to find his own happiness. With Edie, maybe.

So, "The Guitar Man." A solid episode. But definitely one that made me question some long-held This Is Us beliefs. Anyone else?

Don't get me wrong, I still cried. It's This Is Us! But maybe I cried because I'm finally seeing the characters in a new light. Maybe.