Having first aired back in 2016, This Is Us is reaching its conclusion in the sixth and final season. It seems, with its finale expected in May, that we’re in for one hell of an emotional finale.
This Is Us has captivated viewers with its tear-inducing storylines, in-depth explorations of family and some emotional plot twists. Well, as well as getting another dose of all of those things so far this season, we have sadly had to come to terms with the fact that the NBC drama is reaching its end.
First hitting our screens in 2016, there’s been much speculation about how the series will wrap up and with the finale expected to air on 26 May, the recent episodes have given us sadness, tears and joy (all in equal supply, may we add) but we still don’t quite know what to expect of the final episode.
Speaking at the Dolby Theatre for the show’s PaleyFest panel on Saturday 2 April, series creator Dan Fogelman revealed that he had only completed the series finale episode the night before. According to Today, he stated that he’d been holding off writing the last words and said: “It’s funny because I’ve been away for the last week. So, I just literally finished writing the final.”
Fogelman also confirmed that the final scene is exactly what he envisioned since he created the show eight years ago. It seems, though, that one of the leading actors of the series, Mandy Moore, had the most visceral reaction when reading the final This Is Us scripts.
Fogelman said: “The second to last script – I sent [it] out to the cast and it made Mandy throw up.” After pretending to puke on stage, Moore explained: “It was so beautiful and upsetting. That was my physical reaction.”
Chrissy Metz also added: “I couldn’t breathe. I couldn’t catch my breath.”
Starring Moore, Milo Ventimiglia, Sterling K. Brown, Metz and Justin Hartley as the immediate Pearson family, the multi-award-winning drama has chronicled each character’s unique personal struggles, as well as the overcoming of trauma they’ve faced as a family.
The new series will air on 6th January 2022 in the UK and the US. And, as well as an emotional trailer, Fogelman has also teased some details about the expectantly emotional series finale. Speaking to Entertainment Weekly, Fogelman said one word springs to mind when thinking of that final episode: simple.
He says: “My hope is that it would feel like the end of one of those sprawling family saga novels, and that those of us who are readers, who like those kind of books and go on an adventure with a group of people through a couple of generations, close the book, take that three seconds and go, ‘Wow. Well done.’
“I do think it’s going to feel like that, closing a final chapter. I do think after a lot of ambition in the season, it will feel really simple.”
“I only talk about it globally because I don’t like to think about it too much,” Fogelman adds. “I don’t want to deal with it until I’ve actually written it – and I haven’t written it yet. But I feel like we have the right ending.”
It also seems like there will be no room for cliff-hangers in the finale, as he explains: “My hope is that by the end of the series, there is no stone left unturned. You would have nothing left to ask me about spoilers.
“But by the end of it, I don’t think there will be any of these timeline mysteries left. Hopefully it will set us up for a very beautiful and simple ending to the entire venture.”
You may also like
Winter TV: 24 of the best shows and films to watch while you cosy up for a night in
As well as details about the finale, the cast has also revealed some exciting new details on the upcoming series. Speaking to Deadline, Fogelman teased that he has hopes of bringing back some familiar faces from the past in the final season, “especially at the end” and Brown confirmed that we’ll “definitely” see Ron Cephas Jones’ William again.
Fogelman also revealed that the new series is “incredibly” complex as it involves “a lot of travel, a lot of time jumping” and we’ll finally get some answers around Miguel and Rebecca’s romantic history. He said: “Rebecca and Miguel coming together is a story we’ve always been excited to tell in the final season, and having done a bunch of that already, it’s really fun and exciting and lovely.”
Jon Huertas, who plays Miguel, also touched on his character’s arc in the upcoming season and revealed that Miguel will actually be getting “his own little showcase” episode.
“It’s really going to set up who Miguel is, what made him the person he is, how he’s played into the Pearson family dynamic and why,” the actor said. “The scenes that we have shot that are starting to touch on the relationship have been, some of them very touching, a couple very sad, a couple very exciting.”
Speaking about other plotlines, Fogelman said:“There’s a lot about Kevin and his continuing existential crisis, and what will be the end of his romantic story. There’s a lot with Rebecca and her ailment and how that will be not just affecting her, but her family.”
One thing’s for certain, according to the Deadline interview, “viewers should prepare to be surprised.”
Here’s everything we know so far.
You may also like
Best TV shows of 2022: 86 brilliant new TV shows you need to watch this year (with release dates)
Is there a release date for This Is Us season six?
This Is Us season six will be airing on Thursday 6 January 2022 on both Amazon Prime Video and Disney+, with new episodes streaming after the US broadcast. The first five seasons will also be available on the same day of the sixth season launch on Disney+ as well as Prime Video.
What will This Is Us season six be about?
Season five was an emotional rollercoaster, both on and off the screen: Covid-19 led to a delayed start in filming and the series was shortened by two episodes. That didn’t really matter though as the drama still went down a storm with fans.
We watched as Uncle Nicky finally got a backstory, saw Toby lose his job (and navigate that changing dynamic between him and Kate), Randall learning more about his past and Kevin, rather unexpectedly, starting a family with Madison.
The finale was supposed to see Kevin and Madison getting married, but as many fans anticipated, the wedding never came to pass. Madison decided she deserved more and called off the wedding to Kevin, who in a dramatic scene, couldn’t quite vocalise that he loves her.
Many other sweet moments transpire throughout the finale of season five but in true This Is Us fashion, the big plot twist came in the last few minutes where it was revealed that Kate and Toby are no longer together. In fact, we saw her preparing to marry her colleague/boss/new fiancée Phillip.
The new season picks up where that finale left off, with all of our jaws naturally on the floor.
Of course, the final season will hone in on Rebecca’s (played by Mandy Moore) advancing Alzheimer’s storyline. Speaking to Deadline, the actor revealed: “I think we all sort of understand where that’s headed.”
She also added: “I know that it will be handled with care and consideration, and grace and respect, in the way that I think we handle all difficult subjects on the show. I don’t know exactly how we’re going to see that unfold though, specifically. But I do know that it’s going to be pretty devastating, as the disease is devastating.”
In the same interview, Moore confirmed that we’ll also be given further insight into the history of Rebecca and Miguel’s (played by Jon Huertas) relationship.
As for the other family members, we’ll most likely be exploring Randall and Kevin’s past and futures too. We will also be given some (much-needed) clarity around Kate’s relationship breakdown with Toby after he took a new job in San Francisco in the last series. In an interview with Deadline, Chrissy Metz said: “I think what we’ll get to see is those five years in between [the present and flash-forwards], and how it’s sort of beginning, middle, end with Kate and Toby. I’m really intrigued about that and how it starts to really dissolve.”
Who will star in This Is Us season six?
The Pearson family will, of course, be returning for the sixth and final season. Series regulars Moore, Brown, Metz and Hartley will all be returning to our screens alongside Susan Kelechi Watson (who plays Randall’s wife Beth), Chris Sullivan (who plays Kate’s now ex-husband Toby) and Huertas (who plays Miguel).
Ventimiglia, who stars as Jack, will also be leading the cast as we’re set to see even more emotional flashbacks.
Chris Geere, following that season five finale twist, has also been confirmed as a series regular.
Is this the final season of This Is Us?
Unfortunately, yes. As This Is Us creator Dan Fogleman tweeted:
Is there a trailer for This Is Us season six?
NBC sure know how to get us emotional. In the new full length trailer, fans are reminded of past tear-jerker moments from the series and features a present-day Rebecca as she continues to struggle with Alzheimer’s.
She admits: “I’m not worried about forgetting about the big stuff, it’s the little things I’m not ready to let go of yet.”
You can watch it here:
This Is Us seasons 6 is available to stream on Amazon Prime Video and Disney+ now.
Images: Ron Batzdorff/NBC; Getty
Source: Read Full Article
