This Is Us’ Final Season Review – A Fitting Last Run

“It is quite hard to really drag down how this final season has been done.”

It’s been six years of happy and sad (mostly sad) tears with the Pearsons. Now, the show has given us one last chance to burst into tears by rounding out the final ever 18 episode run. This sixth and final season chronicles the final stories for each of our characters. It mainly focusing on Rebecca’s health deteriorating, Kate and Toby’s marriage breaking down, and Kevin finally finding his true love story.

As usual, we can’t help but applaud every single cast member on this show. From the lead actors to the child stars. From the recurring characters to the one-off guest stars. This is an ensemble that gels so well and works in conjunction together beautifully. Our hands must be put together in particular for Mandy Moore. She’s played Rebecca Pearson at so many points in her life for the past six years already. But, this year she takes it up a notch by effectively and delicately playing an aged Rebecca who’s Alzheimers has worsened over time. She plays this character with such grace, and I think an Emmy should definitely be on the horizon.

Chrissy Metz’s Kate and Chris Sullivan’s Toby also go full circle by the time the series ends. From where we met them in Season 1, I think it is fair to say that these two have had the biggest journeys. Kate has grown to become more confident and willing to face her past. Toby has lost more of his goofiness and becomes more hardened (unfortunately – we love goofy Toby). These two have seen some big changes, and this season really makes you realise it.

To be honest, of the Big Three, Randall and Kevin don’t feel as transformed as they should do. Kevin still has some impulsive moments and Randall still feels the need to take over situations. It isn’t until we reach the final couple of episodes, with help from a massive time jump, that these characters see real change. As great as these actors are, in particular Sterling K. Brown, the characters should feel much more different from their Season 1 appearances as the show ends.

Our other cast members of course get some juicy moments in the season. But, most of all is Jon Huertas’ Miguel. This sidelined character finally gets a moment in the spotlight and it makes for one of the most emotional episodes. As much as we love Jack, Beth and all the other characters around our current surviving Pearsons, Miguel gets to have some really beautiful moments this season.

In terms of the plot, the overall theme and feel of the season tells us that this is the final stretch. Without even having to say it. Everything is executed so well and everything seems to happen naturally, at a really good pace. Not one thing is rushed and we follow each character as their lives continue to unravel in certain ways. It should be noted that the final episodes to round our the show are done in a very interesting way. Heart wrenching moments are used of course. There are even quite big time jumps into the future. But, both aren’t necessarily used in the final episode specifically. We begin bigger, more prominent time jumps to our main story earlier than expected, and our tears are used up in the penultimate episode ultimately. The final episode, in true This Is Us fashion, surprises us in breaking from stereotypical final episodes. It acts like a warm hug from the show to the fans.

Now for the overall tone and direction that the season takes us in. As usual, Showrunner Dan Fogelman steers the show like a genius. He smartly revisits some of the shows biggest moments on the show and makes it feel right to revisit them from a different angle. As expected, he also doubles down on simplistic everyday things about life and gives them amazing twists and makes the audience look at them under a microscope. The closer we get to the end, there are also more lessons and denotations for fans. One main one being from the penultimate episode about being sad when something ends, but remembering that you’re sad because the experience was so good. A lovely nod to how fans have not grown tired of the show. Even in the final season, plots are not rushed and there is pace is everything. We even get a new little mystery in the penultimate episode that is established and unwound in that single run time.

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One little something that is faulted when it comes to plot is Philip’s main part in the story. Without giving away too much, we don’t really get to see enough of his and Kate’s growing relationship to fully understand how they could connect. It feels slightly shoehorned. I’m guessing with a bit more time this would have been done perfectly. But to that point, this season did have a lot to cram in to 18 episodes. We can make a bit of an exception, but the point still stands.

From the opening of the season to the end, this season has been about remembering where the Pearsons have been, and prepping for moving on. Moving on seems the perfect phrase to be honest. Within this season, relationships shift for pretty much everyone. Through finding love, losing love or even losing someone. Or finding someone in general. This is both about enjoying the journey and also being happy that it is ending in a perfect, planned spot. With this final 18 episodes, our characters accept moving on in so many different ways, and we the fans learn to move on without one hell of a drama. This has always been pulled off as a simple drama with fantastic storytelling, and the way in which is ends so simply fits everything that the show represents.

All in all, it is quite hard to really drag down how this final season has been done. A cast that gives 100%. Paring of new and continued storylines that entwine exquisitely. The usual twists, turns and red herrings that still have us wondering and second guessing right until the end. Still being brave enough to revisit old moments from the show and have us still learn something knew even though we thought we had everything figured out. It’s amazing how Fogelman and his team have accomplished so much in this final lot of episodes.

Yes, some characters should have felt more change and development maybe, and a storyline or two would have been nice to stretch a bit more if possible. But, some slowing down at the final hurdle can be allowed – it’s been a long, hard run for the Pearsons.

It’s an easy one here. 9/10 from us.

This Is Us airs on NBC in the US, being available to stream on Amazon Prime Video and Disney+ in the UK.