‘This Is Us’ Stars On Shooting Parts Of Series Finale “Seasons Ago”, Rebecca’s “Devastating” Future, Kate’s Season 5 Finale Shocker & More
Spoiler Alert: This story details the season 5 finale of NBC's This Is Us.
At the Rose Bowl FYC event on Tuesday night, This Is Us star Mandy Moore, Chrissy Metz and Kaitlyn Thompson spoke with Deadline about the season 5 finale, and revealed what they knew about the sixth and final season of the play Huh.
Moore, who plays the matriarch Rebecca Pearson, and Metz, who plays her daughter Kate, confirmed that the show's lead cast knows how the story ends. "We know some very big milestone moments. We just don't know in which order it's going to come out, and when it's going to come out necessarily," Moore explained. "But I think We know the big picture of big things, especially for our characters. "
In a conversation with Deadline, Moore also gave a reminder that "We've already shot some of the show's last episodes. Like the season before, too," as some of the show's creatives indicated in the past.
Regarding Rebecca's story in season 6, Moore said, "I think we all understand where this is going."
The actress is almost certainly referring to her character's battle with a growing case of Alzheimer's, which could result in her death by the end of the season. On the subject of that story, she said: "I know it will be handled with care and consideration, and with grace and respect, the way I think we handle all the difficult topics in the show. I don't know properly. Is how we're going to see it, though, especially. But I know it's going to be very devastating, because this disease is destructive. "
The Emmy nominee teased more appearances from her TV husband Jack (Milo Ventimiglia) to appear in the final season. "I think we'll still, in This Is Us style, flashback to the moments that connect the past to the present," she said. "So, he is still a part of the family, in a way that will touch everyone's heart." Moore also notes that season 6 will advance the history of the relationship between Rebecca and Miguel, as previously confirmed by producer Dan Fogelman.
For her part, Metz touched Kate's future, and it is likely that she will continue to pursue her passion for music. "I think Kate is really finished in her job right now, and I think, similar to Rebecca, that there is always a rough calling," Metz said. "And of course, we saw [Kate's son] Jack chasing the music on a larger and larger scale. So, I don't know if that's going to be enough for Kate, you know? But we'll see."
Of course, in season 6, Metz will also be discovering Kate's dissolution of marriage to Toby, after her husband accepts the job, which puts her in San Francisco three days a week. "I think what we'll get to see is [current and flash-forward] between those five years, and how it's like the beginning, middle, end with Kate and Toby," she explained. "I'm really worried about it and how it actually starts to dissolve."
Then, there's Thompson, who plays Kevin (Justin Harley) fiancée Madison - who closes their marriage in the Season 5 finale. While the character reveals that she won't marry someone she believes doesn't love her, Fogelman said Tuesday that the future is still a possibility for Kevin and Madison. "I think it would be awesome if they could find love," Thompson said in response. "But if not, I hope they find it in their respective relationships."
The three complete the conversation considering what the show means to them, and how they feel about the fact that the end is coming to a close.
Thompson praised the "integrity" on behalf of Fogelman and his writing staff, in going out on their own terms. Metz called the idea of ending the show "really bittersweet".
"It's really a huge, life-changing, six-year chapter of my life ... It's a beautiful time in my life and our lives, and it's so hard," she said. "I know we're all excited to start a new chapter, but [also] you're like, 'I want to read it again.'"
From Moore's point of view, thinking about the end of the show is "very strange" because "it feels like we've just started."
"The show changed ... our whole life, so it's hard to imagine ... like, where do you go from here? Just, selfishly, as an actor, I like, 'This kind of job.' It will never happen, ever again. ' It's like a dream on a dream, and it's a once-in-a-career job, "she said." So in that sense, I'm holding on for dear life, and I'll taste every single moment in the next season Going to get I think we all do this every year. "