
This Is Us Season 1 Finale
***This article contains spoilers for the This Is Us Season 1 Finale.***
“This Is Us” is NBC’s breakout show of the season, if not the decade. The family focused ‘dramody’ appeals to viewers on many levels: relationships, parenting, marriage, sibling dynamics, body image and death – to name a few. Basically, it’s life. Real life. Some reviews have speculated that the plot twists and cliffhangers are what have kept viewers watching for the last four months. Yet there’s something to be said about the way the writers seamlessly shift from different decades, characters and topics (all without ever having to subtitle the year). The perspective they offer is broad, which is something we simply can’t see when living our lives day-to-day. We have hindsight, but “This Is Us” reminds us that even through the cloudiness of tragedies, a ray of light can, and often does, shine through.
Receiving an invitation to attend the season finale screening and Q & A with the cast and writers is an exciting opportunity, which clearly was enthusiastically accepted. Emails in all caps with YES a few (hundred) times may have been written. The event was held at the Directors Guild of America on Tuesday March 14, and the energy was buzzing. Attendants at the doorway were passing out tissue packets, and most people’s responses were anxious. “Does this mean Jack dies?” “Oh no!” was overheard in the crowd.
Staying true to their style, the writers of “This Is Us” played with our heartstrings in the Season 1 finale. The build up of how Jack (Milo Ventimiglia) and Rebecca (Mandy Moore) met – or rather didn’t meet by way of blind date is a testament to how well they know their viewers; how well they know how life works: expectedly unexpected. The true talent of the entire cast, writers and crew came to light during the tear jerking fight scene between Jack and Rebecca. Most married couples with children can relate to that scene. “I’m a ghost!” Rebecca shouts, and the silence in the 600-seat theater was thick. Watch what fellow Today Parenting Team member Jill Simonian and I thought about it:
What’s most impressive about the team is that many of the writers and cast aren’t married/don’t have children. For those who say that writers write what they know, take heed. To understand the people around you, all it takes is the time to listen. Isaac Aptaker and Elizabeth Berger, just named co-show runners for next season, relayed stories of meeting with different people over the course of the season for inspiration. For example, they sat down with an African-American woman who was adopted by a caucasian family to figure out the complexities of their character, Randall. Jack’s hail mary, what we’re left with before the lonely tear Rebecca sheds and a dark screen, pays testament to the unparalleled ability of everyone on the show. Tapping into such multilayered emotion isn’t easy for most, let alone those that may find themselves in similar arguments…and those that never have.
Season 1 didn’t give us the huge cliffhanger that may have been expected, but they left us with hope. Hope for redemption, for love, and for that broad perspective that time – and a countdown to death – can only bring.
This Is Us has been renewed for Season 2 and 3. NBC has yet to announce the air date.
Thank you to The Today Show Parenting Team for another amazing opportunity. Check out fellow team member The Fab Mom’s take on the night by clicking here
- Photo Courtesy of Jill Simonian
- MrsMuffinTop and The Fab Mom

OMG! Season finale already? I’ve heard so many good things about this show! Can’t wait to watch it!
I have not watched this show, but I’ve heard a lot good about it. Guess I need to add it to my binge list.
I have not started it yet but have been recording. I would love to have started it but have not had time with other shows I am watching. I guess it will be fun to see them all at once.
I got so behind this season!!! I need to catch back up so I can watch the finale!
I have to make sure I’ve washed off all my makeup before I watch this is us. I makes me FUGLY cry.
A lot of my friends adore this show! I’ve been wanting to start it – I think I just might!
I’m part of the very few who have never watched this show. Maybe one weekend I will sit and binge watch it
I have not heard of this show but it sounds really good! I will have to add this to my list and watch it soon! I love finding new things to watch.
I’ve definitely been impressed with this show! It’s so cool that you were able to go to this screening of the finale!
ok, no lie- I did NOT read this, I have not watched it yet, and do not want to know !!! I have saved the last 3 to watch this weekend and lay in bed and cry and cry and cry. I am a little attached to this show!
I admit it i have not watch this show yet. That said with all the talk I am definitely binge watching it ASAP.
I’m so behind. I’ve been trying not to see FB comments about it! I need sit and watch it all!
Okay. I’m fine with every episode not being completely gut wrenching but that wasn’t the season finale I was expecting. Plus it made me like Jack more and hate Rebecca more. We’ll see what season 2 brings!
I absolutely love “This Is Us,” but I must admit that I was a bit disappointed by the season finale. Maybe my expectations were too high or I listened to too many people discussing spoilers.
This is such a great show. So happy to hear that it has been renewed for two more seasons!
Everyone keeps talking about this show and I’ve yet to see it. I’ll add it to my list.
I haven’t watched “This is Us ” yet. But I keep hearing about it on the radio.
I have heard so many good things about this show, but have yet to watch it. I am so excited now to sit down and watch it!!
I’ve heard this show but I have not watched it, it looks like great to watch!
I was hoping we got the answers we were waiting for before the end of the first season. I guess we’ll have to to wait for the second and third one to air. Glad they’re coming back with more though 🙂 It’s such a wonderful show, and I always have to grab tissues throughout the entire episode.
I haven’t had a chance to see this show, but it looks like it’s a good one. I’ll have to check it out.
I havent watched this one yet but i have heard about it on Facebook. Ill have to look into it!
That is so cool that you got to go on set and learn more about the cast/actors. I will have to check out this show. I haven’t heard of it but then again I don’t watch a ton of tv.
I haven’t seen this show, but my daughter keeps telling me I should. This sounds like a good show.
wow, season finale already? That was quick! Thanks for sharing.
I havne’t watched the finale yet but I plan on doing it soon. I love this show and can’t wait to see more!!
I have been enjoying This is Us and can’t wait to see what the upcoming seasons will bring! 🙂
Tracy @ Ascending Butterfly
I haven’t watched this show yet, but I’ve already heard so much about it and people who are hooked into watching it. I think I must check it out.
I love this show so much. I wasn’t sure that I would but I have fallen in love with every single character in the show. The writing is amazing.
This Is Us didn’t reveal details of Jack Pearson’s death in Tuesday’s season finale, as fans may have been expecting, but it left their marriage in critical condition.