The Best ‘This Is Us’ Moment of the Season Just Arrived Courtesy of Mandy Moore

*Warning: Spoilers ahead*

During Tuesday’s episode of This Is Us, we dove into the last of the Big Three Sad Three's week-from-hell stories, this one from Kate (Chrissy Metz). Kate’s marriage to Toby (Chris Sullivan) has been in a tailspin and now we get a glimpse into her teen years and the emotionally abusive relationship with Marc (Austin Abrams). Were tissues necessary for this episode? I’d give it a two tissue-box rating. Am I enraged by Marc and Toby? Totally. But, thanks to mama bear Rebecca (Mandy Moore) and her words of wisdom, this episode contained a silver lining—and the season's best moment.

Kate and Rebecca are no strangers to discord in their relationship. Kate struggled with her insecurities, especially her weight, and being compared to her mother’s naturally good looks. Rebecca always tiptoed around calling out Kate’s weight, the passiveness likely adding to Kate’s frustrations with her mother. But, we’re finally seeing the bond build between the duo.

While away at a retreat for families with blind children (we’re still shaking our head at Toby’s absence), Kate opens up to Rebecca about the struggles she and Toby are going through. Rebecca doesn't miss a beat and insists that what they need is a late-night swim at the hotel pool. Kate is visibly hesitant to be seen in a swimsuit, but Rebecca responds with our favorite line/moment to date: “You're fat, I'm ancient, we're gorgeous, let's go swimming!” Yasssss, Mandy Moore!

Rebecca has a new lease on life following her memory diagnosis and this carefree attitude is exactly what Kate needs. Not only that, it is the first time that Rebecca fully accepted and acknowledged Kate’s weight. No more tiptoeing, no more worrying about sensitivities—Kate’s overweight, Rebecca is old and who freaking cares?!

Not only was this a fan favorite moment, the show’s executive producer Isaac Aptaker tells EW, but it was also the writer’s favorite line of the episode. He says of the moment, “We’ve told so many mother-daughter stories where Rebecca is tiptoeing around Kate’s weight and her feelings about it and perhaps her role in causing some of that weight gain. And it felt like this was this moment where she has this new lease on life and she’s just going to call it like she sees it.” The episode closes with a mother-daughter karaoke rendition of Alanis Morisette’s “Ironic”. It’s more sad than ironic that the two are finally getting along just as Rebecca is losing her memory (time for more tissues, please).  

Will Kate and Rebecca’s bond continue to strengthen? We sure hope so. With her relationship on the brink of disaster, girl is going to need all the support she can get. 

We’ll have to wait and see what's ahead for the Pearson women when This Is Us returns on Tuesday, February 25, at 9 p.m. PT/ET on NBC.