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This Is Us fans know Kate and Toby’s split is inevitable in the final season. The NBC series has hinted at Chrissy Metz’s Kate marrying Chris Geere’s Phillip, her co-worker. But fans on Reddit say This Is Us has been teasing Kate and Toby’s (Chris Sullivan) demise since the beginning. Here’s what we know about Kate’s trilogy chapter “The Hill” and what it means for Katoby.

Chrissy Metz as Kate, Chris Sullivan as Toby in 'This Is Us' on NBC
Chrissy Metz as Kate, Chris Sullivan as Toby | Ron Batzdorff/NBCU Photo Bank/NBCUniversal via Getty Images

Kate’s previous trilogy episodes have teased the end of her and Toby’s relationship

In previous seasons of This Is Us, the series featured “trilogy episodes” — episodes that highlight a different Pearson kid. Kate’s trilogy episode of the final season airs Mar. 22 and is titled “The Hill.” 

But in previous season’s trilogy episodes focused on Kate, fans noticed a pattern. “[They] have some focus on her relationship with Toby,” points out a Reddit user.

“In the first one, they are struggling with the miscarriage and fight a bit but come out of it seemingly having a stronger relationship than before. In the second Kate trilogy episode, Toby is struggling to accept Jack’s disability, causing Kate to doubt if Toby is the person she needs him to be.” 

Each episode demonstrates the growth of Kate’s character. With each trial life throws at her, Kate realizes she’s strong enough to take care of herself. In the end, fans think she’ll learn she can be happy and “survive even if she and Toby end up breaking up.” 

Chrissy Metz teases Kate’s happiness in the final season of ‘This Is Us’ 

As strange as it Is for Kate not to end up with Toby, This Is Us creator Dan Fogelman admitted it was always part of the plan. “The honest truth is really loving, great marriages don’t always survive,” he told Us Weekly in May 2021. “And marriage is not for everybody.”

Even though Kate’s marriage is going to end, Metz says her character will end up happy. “I think there’ll be contentment,” Metz told Us Weekly later in August 2021. “… They’ll feel that bittersweet feeling that I think a lot of the episodes leave you with. I think there will feel like a sense of closure and some bittersweet memories.”

‘The Hill’ made Chrissy Metz ‘physically ill’ while filming

The synopsis for “The Hill,” reads: “Kate visits Toby.” We know from the preview Kate and Toby take a trip to San Francisco together. The plot seems harmless, but Metz says this was one of the hardest episodes of This Is Us to shoot. 

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‘This Is Us’ Spoilers: Fans Think NBC Published a Summary for Unaired Episode of the Final Season

“There were a couple scenes where I was like, ‘Chris, I’m, like, physically ill,'” she told E! ‘s Daily Pop. “I think it was just the beginning of the end, of course of the series, but the beginning of the end of their relationship too.” 

Metz referred to the end of Kate and Toby’s relationship as a “bummer,” having spent the last six years loving each other. “But it’s also an honor to address this as well as our writing staff is,” the actor admitted. 

Watch “The Hill” directed by Mandy Moore and written by Metz, Casey Johnson, and David Windsor, beginning at 9 p.m. ET on NBC. 

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