Fans Noticed Something Very Creepy About Young Kate’s Boyfriend on ‘This Is Us’

From Cosmopolitan

[Warning: Spoilers for This Is Us season 4, episode 5, “Storybook Love,” ahead.]

Guys, I have to admit that, for once, I was not picking up the hints the This Is Us writers were laying down. Throughout “Storybook Love,” I was excited to see sweet, young Kate Pearson (Hannah Zeile) with a boyfriend of her own, especially after Jack’s death. I mean, Randall (Niles Fitch) had Beth (Rachel Hilson), while stupid Kevin (Logan Shroyer) had his annoying wife Sophie (Amanda Leighton). Why couldn’t Kate have someone special in her life?

I will also blame actor Austin Abrams, who plays this mysterious record-store boy, Marc. You might recognize him as Ethan on HBO’s Euphoria, where he’s basically the closest thing to Jack Pearson you’re ever going to get on that show.

So I was completely thrown by the final scene where future Kate and Rebecca seem to reveal that something went seriously wrong with Marc.

Honestly, I should have realized something was not right when both Kevin and Randall were totally not feeling the guy. I wrote it off as protective brother BS, but the writers on this show rarely put something in for no reason. Still, there’s one more detail that should have been a major red flag. Fans were so not impressed by Marc’s attempt to “save” Kate by showing up at her house without an invitation:

These. Fans. Are. Correct. This behavior is creepy, invasive, and controlling. In my defense, I’m so used to this show promoting male grand gestures that it’s warped my perspective on dating. I mean, you can’t tell me Toby and Kevin's versions of love have been completely free of aggressive behavior. Remember Toby’s red-carpet date and how angry he got that she didn’t “appreciate” his efforts? Remember just last night when Kevin stuck his nose in Cassidy’s business? But I digress...

So, what happened to Kate? Fans have come to pretty much just one conclusion: Marc becomes abusive.

Here’s what one Reddit user had to say:

Fans in the comments and on Twitter are pretty much in agreement here. However, I will point out that she was also dealing with the death of her father, so I’m wary of putting her future struggles with weight on this one thing.

But there are one or two other interesting theories. One twitter user suggested that perhaps Kate has been pregnant before:

Meanwhile, some Reddit commenters who were really feeling Marc this episode believe the boy might have died, perhaps of sickness or drug overdose. Still, one user responded that Kate looked more disturbed than sad when she found the old polaroid, and I’d say they’re probably right.

Whatever the future (past?) may hold for Marc and Kate, fans have her back a hundred percent.

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