Honestly, saying goodbye to the Pearsons felt like losing a group of friends you’ve known for a decade, even if it only lasted six years. When we finally hit the home stretch with this is us season 6 episodes, the show didn’t just wrap things up; it basically forced us to confront the reality of time moving way too fast. We all knew where it was headed. We’d seen those flashes of the "big house" Kevin built for Rebecca. We knew her memory was fading. But watching it actually happen? That was a different beast entirely.
The final season is a weird, beautiful mix of "finally!" moments and "wait, why is this happening?" choices. You’ve got long-awaited reunions, a divorce that actually felt earned, and a finale that was surprisingly quiet for a show known for massive emotional pivots. It’s not perfect—some fans still argue about the pacing—but it’s definitely one of the most intentional final runs in TV history.
The Big Three and the Weight of this is us season 6 episodes
The season starts by grounding us in 1986 with the Challenger disaster. It's a heavy way to kick things off, but it perfectly sets the stage for how the Big Three process trauma. Kevin is in denial, Kate is observant, and Randall is already trying to fix the world. Fast forward to their 41st birthday in the present, and those same traits are steering their lives into the final turn.
Kevin finally stopped being the "Manny" in his own life. Watching him build the cabin—the one Jack always talked about—felt like the ultimate full-circle moment. He wasn’t just building a house; he was finally building a foundation for himself. And yeah, the whole "who does Kevin end up with?" mystery took up a lot of oxygen. When it finally landed on Sophie in "The Night Before the Wedding," it felt like the only ending that actually made sense for a guy who spent years running away from his first love.
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Then there’s Kate and Toby. Man, that was rough. "Katoby" (Episode 12) is probably the most polarizing hour of the season. People are still split on whether Kate was too harsh or if Toby just couldn't adapt to her growth. The show didn't take the easy way out by making one of them a villain. They just grew into two people who didn't work together anymore. Transitioning from that heartbreak to her marriage with Phillip felt rushed to some, but the show was trying to prove a point: life doesn't stop for your first big love story to end.
Randall’s Ascent and the Search for Peace
Randall spent five seasons being the "fixer," but Season 6 finally allowed him to just be. His journey to find his biological mother's roots in earlier seasons paved the way for him to become a political powerhouse. By the time we get to the later episodes, he's not just a city councilman; he's eyeing a seat in the Senate.
But the real meat of his story this season was Deja. Watching her grow up, sneak off to Boston to see Malik, and eventually reveal she was pregnant with a boy (little William!) gave Randall the closure he needed. He realized his legacy wasn't just about his career; it was about the family he built, even when he didn't share their DNA.
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The Episode That Broke Everyone: "Miguel"
If you didn’t cry during Episode 15, are you even a fan? For years, Miguel was the guy who "replaced" Jack, and the show finally gave him the spotlight he deserved. We got his whole history—the immigrant experience, the struggle to feel like he belonged in the Pearson orbit, and the sheer devotion he had for Rebecca as her Alzheimer's took hold.
It was a masterclass in storytelling. Seeing him care for Rebecca while his own health failed was devastating. It shifted the perspective from the "Big Three" to the man who had been their rock in the background for decades. When he died before Rebecca, it felt like a gut punch, but it also forced the siblings to finally step up and take the lead in their mother's care.
The Train and the End of an Era
The penultimate episode, "The Train," is arguably the peak of this is us season 6 episodes. Using a train as a metaphor for Rebecca’s transition into death was a stroke of genius. It allowed the show to bring back everyone—William, Dr. K, and of course, Jack.
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Mandy Moore’s performance this season was honestly next-level. Playing a woman losing her sense of self while still trying to anchor her children is a tightrope walk. The scene where she finally reunites with Jack on the bed at the end of the train? That’s the image that’s going to stick with people for twenty years.
The actual finale, "Us," was a bit of a curveball. Most shows go for the big, dramatic ending, but Dan Fogelman chose to focus on a simple Saturday from the 90s. The kids are just hanging out, Jack is teaching them to shave, and nothing "huge" happens. It was a reminder that the small, mundane moments are actually the ones that make up a life. It was a quiet, contemplative way to say goodbye.
What to take away from the Pearson journey
If you're looking to revisit the season or just trying to make sense of the timeline, here’s the best way to process it:
- Watch for the parallels: The show loves to mirror the kids' childhood reactions with their adult decisions. Notice how Kevin’s reaction to the Challenger disaster mirrors how he handles Rebecca’s final days.
- Pay attention to the background: Season 6 is full of "Easter eggs," like the painting William gave Rebecca or the way the family uses the smoker (despite the trauma associated with it).
- Don't skip "Our Little Island Girl: Part Two": Beth Pearson is the MVP of the series, and her closure with the dance world is one of the most satisfying subplots in the final season.
If you’re planning a rewatch, try grouping the episodes by character arcs rather than just watching them in order. It makes the emotional payoffs feel a lot more earned. Start with the "Trilogy" episodes (13, 14, and 15) to see how each sibling handles the transition of their mother’s care. It’s a heavy lift, but it’s the best way to appreciate the writing depth.
The legacy of the Pearson family isn't about the big speeches or the "perfect" ending. It’s about the messy, complicated ways we try to love each other while time is actively slipping through our fingers. Season 6 didn't try to fix the Pearsons; it just showed us that they turned out okay, despite everything. That’s about as human as it gets.