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It was the end of something pretty special last night.   We said goodbye to the Pearson family.  We said goodbye to six seasons.  The laughter and tears.  “Big Three!”.

The SERIES finale of This Is Us happened last night.  If I’m being honest I expected MORE.  But I’m not sure what MORE they could have given us.  Maybe I just thought I would cry more.  But I guess they managed to wrap up a lot of loose ends in the second last episode.

I didn’t realize just how much has happened in the course of six seasons.  THIS article shares a lot of moments that were so special.

Rebecca and Jack reunited.  I guess our hearts can be happy with that.  Jack telling her she would never be gone from her kids, from her family.  Letting us know he never really left and he has been a part of every day, every big moment and every small moment since he died.

Rebecca’s instructions to her kids in her final days is being lived out.  All three are chasing big dreams.  Randall possibly running for president of the United States.  “I’m doing it for mom.”  Rebecca’s words are still with them.   They still have power.

We see the powerful force of a mom on her kids.   How the love, care and compassion can carry into generations.  It’s made me look at myself, as a mom.  To wonder what my kids will do with the rest of their lives, and how I may have influenced them.  Am I a “12” like Rebecca? (smile).  Powerful.

The love of family.   The influence.   To see Jack’s brother Nicky come to be such a big part of a family he never knew.  Blaming Kevin for “screwing up his life” because he actually changed who he was.  He grew to care enough about this family that it was hard to say goodbye.

Kate and Toby.   We wanted them to be happy forever.  We were crushed when the dream died.  But so happy to see them so happy.  When Toby told Kate he was proud of her and loved her.  Sigh.  Beautiful moment.  So much love between them.

And Kate.  Oh how we love Kate.  We see the family in flashback scenes.  Making the most of a rainy day.   Taking it easy. Playing Pin the Tail on the Donkey.  Kate saying “”As Long as I Know Where You Are, I Always Know Where I’m Going”.   It’s how the Pearson family works.  They are always there for each other.  No matter what.

Randall speaking out after losing his mom.  Throwing out the comment that everything was pointless.  Ouch.  I felt that one.  When you go through loss it seems so unfair when life goes on.

Randall’s birth dad – William – reflecting on being a grandpa.  Not having enough time with his grandkids.  Wondering what they will remember about him.

It was a beautiful episode.  We didn’t get ALL the answers, but we got a sense that it’s done.  Life goes on.  And the people we love are always with us.  Family matters.

Lots of tears last night and over the years.   Now to let go of the characters we have loved for so long and find something new to love.  It’s going to be hard.  This show took us on so many journeys, so much emotion.  We could relate to so much of it.

We’ll remember the words of William as he escorted Rebecca on that final train ride –  “If something makes you sad when it ends, it must have been pretty wonderful when it was happening”

That it was.  This Is Us was a wonderful show.  Thankful to the cast and crew and to Dan Fogelman for bringing his vision to life.

One of those shows that will stay in our hearts forever.

Categorised in: Afternoons

This post was written by Carrie Buchanan