A ‘This Is Us’ Season 5 Recap Before the NBC Drama Returns With New Season 6 Episodes
On Jan. 4, the Pearsons are back for the This Is Us Season 6 premiere, and many fans are trying to remember what happened at the end of season 5. Randall (Sterling K. Brown), Kate (Chrissy Metz), Kevin (Justin Hartley), and Rebecca (Mandy Moore) went through the wringer last season. So here’s a quick This Is Us Season 5 recap before the sixth and final chapter airs on NBC.
Kevin and Madison didn’t get married in ‘This Is Us’ Season 5
Throughout This Is Us Season 5, many fans wondered whether Madison (Caitlin Thompson) and Kevin would get married. Madison got pregnant with twins after a one-night stand. Then Kevin claimed that he was all-in, and the two bonded quickly, especially after the birth of Frances and Nicholas. So it seemed like happily ever after was in the cards.
However, Madison realized that Kevin didn’t love her in the This Is Us Season 5 finale. So she broke up with the father of her children. That said, Kevin and Madison were extra chummy in the future flash-forward.
Kate gets married to Phillip and seemingly divorced Toby
In This Is Us Season 5, Toby (Chris Sullivan) and Kate took major steps forward together. They adopted baby Hailey, and Toby supported Kate as she confronted Marc. However the finale hinted at trouble ahead in season 6.
After Toby lost his job, it became clear that he didn’t want to become a stay-at-home dad. Kate also started working at a music school, and she fell in love with it. Then in the finale, Toby received an opportunity to work for a startup in San Francisco three days a week, and Kate tried to resign from her position. But Kate’s co-worker, Phillip (Chris Geere), reminded her how good she was at her job. So Kate and Toby settled on a bicoastal relationship for half the week.
Meanwhile, the This Is Us Season 5 flash-forward revealed that Kate will get married again – this time to Phillip. So it seems like Toby and Kate will break up and divorce at some point in season 6.
Randall, Beth, and their daughters will experience new adventures
At the start of This Is Us Season 5, many viewers were worried about Randall and Kevin. The two brothers had a massive fight at the end of season 4, and some fans weren’t sure whether they could rebuild their relationship.
That said, Randall was able to start healing after going to therapy and learning about his birth mother, Laurel (Jennifer C. Holmes) during a trip to New Orleans. Then eventually, Kevin and Randall were able to have a difficult conversation about their past and race. Randall also spoke to Rebecca in the finale, and the Pearson matriarch apologized to her son because she never gave him the “forum” to talk about his birth parents.
Now, there’s a lot to look forward to when it comes to Randall’s future. In the flash-forward, the City Councilman is seen in a New Yorker profile, which calls him a “Rising Star.” Meanwhile, Beth’s (Susan Kelechi Watson) dance studio closed amid the coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic. But fans know that she owns some sort of dance theater in the future.
This Is Us Season 5 also caught up with Beth and Randall’s daughters. In the present day, Tess (Eris Baker) started dating for the first time, which caused some tension with Beth. Meanwhile, Deja (Lyric Ross) and Malik’s (Asante Blackk) relationship took a turn when Janelle’s mother, Jennifer, wanted to reconnect, and Malik got into Harvard.
That said, it seems like Deja, Tess, and Annie (Faithe Herman) will get their happy ending in season 6. The three Pearsons were finally shown in the far-future. Deja is also a medical student, and she is pregnant in the flash-forward.
Nicky is married in the future
This Is Us fans got to know Nicky (Griffin Dunne) a little more throughout season 5. In the past, Jack’s (Milo Ventimiglia) brother met and fell in love with a girl named Sally (Genevieve Angelson). But when Sally wanted to go to California with Nicky, he backed out, and they never saw each other again.
However, Nicky finally made it to California in the present day after Kevin named one of the twins after him – and a little help from Cassidy (Jennifer Morrison). Then at the end of season 5, Nicky searched for “Sally Brooks” online, seemingly indicating that he will try to find her in the sixth season. The fifth season finale also confirmed that Nicky has a wife by the time Kate marries Phillip.
Miguel and Rebecca’s love story still needs to be told
Throughout This Is Us Season 5, Rebecca and Miguel (Jon Huertas) faded into the background. At the end of the fourth season, Rebecca was supposed to go to a Alzheimer’s clinical trial in St. Louis. But due to the pandemic, Miguel and Rebecca ended up quarantining at the family cabin. But the two didn’t receive a major arc together.
As mentioned, Rebecca started to repair her relationship with Randall in the season 5 finale. The Pearson matriarch also told the Big Three she wasn’t sure how much time she had left. But before she dies, she hopes to spend her life with the ones she loves.
Now, it seems like Rebecca and Miguel’s backstory will finally be told in This Is Us Season 6. It’s also likely viewers will see Rebecca’s health decline as the series leads up to the far future flash-forwards. So stay tuned. This one’s going to be an emotional ride.
