There are some shows, some characters, and some families that come into your life and change everything.
Since its premiere, This Is Us has always been that show. Each episode has been an emotional tsunami that opened the flood gates and assured fans that it was okay — more than okay — to feel all the feels and let out the tears.
The series sent waves when it introduced three timelines that all connected with each other, so the expectations have been high for the final few episodes, especially the penultimate episode that said goodbye to the matriarch, Rebecca Pearson.
Everyone always raves about what a great guy Jack Pearson is — and he was a terrific father albeit a flawed man — but no one ever gives Rebecca the credit she deserves.
Until now.
The episode, which detailed Rebecca’s journey to the end, highlighted that Rebecca was really the glue that held it all together in the face of loss, heartache, and trauma. She endured so much so that, in their own ways, her children could thrive. And she made sure that — until her very last breath — her children were taken care of in a way that only a mother can.
When you think of death, you typically think of pain and suffering, which makes all the sense in the world. It’s hard not to. But This Is Us once again challenged those emotions by showcasing Rebecca’s death as a beautiful way natural process in this journey we call life.
Dan Fogelman and team brilliantly brought to life the quote: “It is said that your life flashes before your eyes just before you die.”
For Rebecca, that life was weaved in seamlessly through her journey to the caboose car on the train. Ever since she was a little child, Rebecca absolutely loved riding on the train with her father, so it was fitting that she took one last ride with a final destination.
I mean, the writing is exceptional hitting on every major and minor moment that meant anything to the series and these characters.
It was also a creative way to incorporate and celebrate all the people that shaped the show and made an impact on Rebecca’s life along the way.
William guided Rebecca on the journey with all of the wisdom that he collected throughout the years.
Dr. K made an appearance to commend Rebecca on truly living his advice about taking lemons and making lemonade to the fullest — she took everything that was thrown her way; She turned it into this big, messy, gigantic, and spectacular thing.
When her life flashed before her eyes, the pain was overshadowed by the love and the light.
Obviously, at the forefront were her three children, Randall, Kevin, and Kate, but there was also the incredible family that they all built.
The house was filled with people who loved and cared for Rebecca in many different ways, including people who learned from her over the years and found her to be a role model and source of inspiration.
As all those loved ones said their final goodbyes, it was acknowledged that Rebecca heard everything they were saying deep in her subconscious as she saw flashes of memorabilia that meant something to her throughout the years along with visions of characters in various moments in time.
When Beth thanked Rebecca for being a guiding force and showing her what it was like to be a mother, Rebecca saw her as both a teenager and a grown woman.
When Sophie said goodbye and mentioned that her love story with Kevin was a once-in-a-lifetime love much like Rebecca and Jack’s, Rebecca saw Kevin and Sophie when they were toddlers, teens, and adults.
Rebecca was lucky enough to be part of every single moment — the good and the bad. She was the bedrock of the family and had a fierce love and loyalty for her kids.
As she made her way through the train, there was also a sweet moment with Miguel, though, admittedly, it felt very brief particularly when you think about how much Rebecca meant to him. The man dedicated his whole life to taking care of her, so I wish there was a little bit more love exuding from her at that moment.
However, Mandy Moore also sold that chapter in her character’s life as she displayed the emotions that come along with confusion, excitement, and fear all wrapped up into one.
Rebecca knew that her time was running out, and she was trying to make sense of it all while absorbing all that was being thrown her way. She was proud of what she accomplished yet sad that she was leaving it all behind.
There were a few side stories, including Deja’s pregnancy, and even one final mystery that magnificently tied it all together.
Deja informed Randall that he was going to be a “grandpappy,” and the magnitude of life vs. death of it all could be felt. They always say, as one life ends, another begins.
It was revealed that Deja was pregnant with Malik’s child, which allows their relationship to come full circle. I’m happy for those crazy-in-love kids.
However, the idea of one life ends, another begins was also underscored with the introduction of Marcus and his family.
We met Marcus and his family during a traumatic moment in their lives when a car crash landed him in the hospital.
It wasn’t immediately clear how Marcus’s story fit into the grand scheme of things but isn’t that always the case with This Is Us?
Eventually, we learned that Marcus’s father had a heart-to-heart with Jack Pearson on the night of the house fire — and as we know — moments prior to his death.
THIS IS US — “The Train” Episode 617 — Pictured: (l-r) Justin Hartley as Kevin, Sterling K. Brown as Randall — (Photo by: Ron Batzdorff/NBC)
And even then, Jack had it in him to pass on some sound piece of advice — a motto about lemons that Marcus’s family lived by for all these years.
Two families going through absolute hell that were unknowingly connected on a cosmic level.
They weren’t much different from the Pearsons, except that Marcus survived while Jack died that night. A real “one lives while the other dies” kind of moment.
Another life quote also comes to mind at this moment: “everything happens for a reason.”
Jack’s death was a pivotal moment for the Pearson clan as it changed everything and shaped them into the people that we know today, but if the scales tipped and Marcus died instead of Jack, then the world would’ve never gotten groundbreaking research about Alzheimer’s disease.
Marcus, again unknowingly, went on to make great strides in eliminating and treating the disease that killed Rebecca.
Not everyone’s bad day is a bad day. There is balance and order.
As William explained — if you look at the whole picture, you’ll see the beauty even in the sad moments.
And, of course, if we were to get really technical, Jack would’ve never wanted the doctor to save him over a young boy.
Rebecca’s subconscious kept telling William that she was “waiting for someone” throughout the episode, and it soon became clear that it wasn’t Jack. She knew, just like we did, that she would see her husband again. She was, however, waiting for Kate, who was on a 12-hour flight back from London after taking her music program for the blind international.
A mother just knows (kind of like Beth knew that Deja was pregnant before she even said anything), call it motherly intuition, so Rebecca held on until all three of her children were by her side.
As they said their final goodbyes, she acknowledged that she heard everything with one last hand squeeze.
Now, naturally, you were already balling your eyes out this whole time. And if you know anything about This Is Us, you knew that Rebecca’s reunion with Jack was going to be the final moment. When she finally saw her beloved husband, it would indicate her passing.
You braced yourself and it still hit so hard.
When Rebecca laid down and turned to face Jack in bed, I looooost it.
Then, she simply said “hey,” which is what the children told her to say when she finally saw him, and I lost it even more.
It was so pure, simple, and perfect because it’s what we all envision our final moments being. We’re all staring down that barrel hoping that our end will be as comforting as Rebecca’s.
We want to see the people that have passed on and we want them to guide us since they’ve already crossed over. And we want to reunite with our one true love.
Rebecca gets to rest easy knowing that she did everything she could for her kids and left them as capable adults with their own families to raise.
It was a beautiful end to a beautiful story.
And we’re not done. We have one final episode to say goodbye to the Pearson clan, so get your tissues ready!
Other Thoughts
- How nice is it to see all the kids now? Like Kevin’s children as preteens!
- Why did Kevin look older than everyone else? Sophie barely aged. Nicky still looked the same!
- Toby continues to be the show’s comedic relief by asking Rebecca, on her deathbed, if she liked him better than Phillip.
- There were so many good moments, but Joni Mitchell? Flawless touch. It was the soundtrack to Rebecca’s life because it led her to Jack.
What did you think of the episode?