‘This Is Us’ Season 5: A Major Kate and Toby Theory Resurfaces After Episode 14
This Is Us Season 5 has been dropping subtle hints about Kate (Chrissy Metz) and Toby’s (Chris Sullivan) life together, and the new episode on May 11 has everyone worried. Previously, multiple viewers predicted that Kate and Toby will divorce in the future. Then the fan theory resurfaced after NBC aired This Is Us Season 5 Episode 14, “The Music and the Mirror.” Here’s what went down and what to expect next.
[Spoiler alert: This article contains spoilers from This Is Us Season 5 Episodes 14.]
Why ‘This Is Us’ fans think Kate and Toby are divorced in the future
This Is Us frequently drops flash-forward scenes to leave clues about the Pearsons’ future. But Kate is the only member of the Big Three who has yet to be seen.
That said, Toby appeared in a flash-forward in This Is Us Season 3. But the character was spotted without a wedding ring, possibly suggesting he is no longer married. He also seemed distant from the Pearsons.
As a result, many This Is Us fans questioned whether Kate dies or divorces Toby in the future. Of course, everyone will just have to watch the story unfold in the NBC drama. But “The Music and the Mirror” might have dropped a few more clues.
How ‘This Is Us’ Season 5 Episode 14 added to the Kate and Toby theory
In This Is Us Season 5 Episode 14, fans started to see the major cracks in Kate and Toby’s relationship. Previously, Toby lost his job and became a stay-at-home dad. He wasn’t happy about the change and didn’t tell his wife how he was really feeling.
Meanwhile, Kate got a job as a music teacher, and she was thriving. But in “The Music and the Mirror,” Kate told Rebecca (Mandy Moore) she couldn’t share her excitement with Toby because he was “hurting.” Later, Kate brought her mom to a class, and Rebecca got to watch her daughter light up the room.
Toby also spent some time with his father, Allan (Dan Lauria), in This Is Us Season 5 Episode 14. Initially, Toby wanted to fix a plumbing problem on his own. But when he couldn’t, he called his dad. Then once everything was fixed, Toby admitted he was frustrated with his work situation. Finally, Toby’s father shared one solid piece of advice.
“It’s nice your in-laws talk about stuff that’s bothering them,” Allan said. “I wish I’d done more of that. You keep your eye on this. People only look for leaks where the water’s coming out. But it’s the pressure that’ll get you.”
Nevertheless, Toby did not follow his father’s advice. At the end of the new This Is Us episode, Toby claimed the leak was a “super easy” fix and failed to mention his father. Kate also bottled up her excitement and said her class was “no big deal.”
What the ‘This Is Us’ Season 5 team says about Kate and Toby
Following the May 11 episode of This Is Us Season 5, many fans wondered whether this was the beginning of the end for Kate and Toby.
“Toby and Kate not telling the truth about their day is the start of their downfall,” a fan wrote on Reddit. “Sad they were a good couple. But just goes to show how relationships start to fail with lack of communication.”
Meanwhile, This Is Us co-executive producer Kevin Falls and writer Jonny Gomez teased what’s next when speaking with Entertainment Weekly. But whatever happens, it looks like Toby and Kate have plenty of work ahead of them.
“Toby strikes me as somebody who is going to do the best he can no matter what to stay married and work on his marriage,” Falls said. “We’ve seen that in the past — that they do that. I presume that they will continue to do that, but whether it works or not remains to be seen.”
Gomez later added, “[Toby] and Kate frequently have difficulty communicating. We’ve seen that in the relationship. But I have hope for this couple; I really like this couple.”
This Is Us Season 5 airs Tuesday nights on NBC.
