‘This Is Us’ Season 6 Episode 15 Recap: Miguel’s Story Wraps up as His Past, Present, and Future Are Revealed in ‘Miguel’
It’s no secret that This Is Us viewers were not Miguel’s biggest fans at the beginning of the series. However, over the years, fans have grown to love Rebecca’s second husband, and they have even begun to appreciate Miguel and Rebecca’s relationship. This Is Us Season 6 Episode 15 finally gave the people what they wanted and told the complete story of Miguel, from beginning to end.
[Spoiler alert: This article contains spoilers from This Is Us Season 6 Episode 15, “Miguel.”]
‘This Is Us’ Season 6 Episode 15 shows Miguel’s move from Puerto Rico to the States
The hour starts with young Miguel, who idolizes Roberto Clemente, playing baseball with his friends in Puerto Rico. When he returns home, his mother and father, Beatriz and Risto, discuss how his work laid him off. They agree to move to East Liberty, Pennsylvania, where Risto’s cousin lives and where he can find employment. Risto tells Miguel with the promise that they might be able to see Clemente play in Pittsburgh for the Pirates.
After moving to the States, Miguel accompanies his father to his job. He goes inside the house to use the bathroom, but he finds Risto’s employer watching a Pirates game. The man gives Miguel a foul ball he caught while at a game and tells him that he has to sit behind the home plate if he ever goes to one. Unfortunately, we never see Miguel at Forbes Field. Miguel’s family, including his parents and Aunt Gabi, only listen to the games on the radio.
When Miguel is older, he gets a job in sales after confirming that he speaks Spanish. And Miguel reveals to the recruiter that he sent in two resumes — one under “Miguel Rivas” and the other under “Mike Rivers.” The application for Mike was the one that the office responded to.
At Christmas one year, Miguel offers to hire someone to help his mother take care of Gabi, who is in a wheelchair after having a stroke when she was younger. Beatriz denies the offer, but Risto gets angry at Miguel for “waving his money around.” He tells his son not to forget where he comes from, which upsets Miguel.
Miguel says, “You moved us here! Learn English. Fit in. What was the point? You split me in half when you moved us here, and now, I’m finally figuring it out. And, what? You want me to struggle like you? Why is it so hard for you to watch me make something of myself in this place that you brought us to?” His father responds, “I don’t know, but it’s a good question. Ask me again later.”
Miguel leaves his parents’ house and goes to a bar to meet up with Jack and his new girlfriend, Rebecca, who has not warmed up to Miguel. She asks him what his story is, and he repeats his father’s words — “I don’t know, but it’s a good question. Ask me again later.”
Miguel later meets his first wife, Shelly, in This Is Us Season 6 Episode 15. They have two children, but they constantly fight. During one heartbreaking argument, Shelly compares Miguel to Jack. He yells, “I am not Jack!” And Shelly responds, “You certainly are not.”
Miguel and Rebecca reconnect in 2008
Miguel moves to Houston around 2000 after Jack’s death for a new job and to be closer to his kids, Andy and Amber. However, Andy doesn’t answer when Miguel repeatedly calls to invite him to a baseball game in This Is Us Season 6 Episode 15.
Eight years later, Beatriz calls Miguel to inform him that his father has died. At his funeral, Miguel watches as his mother still takes care of Gabi, even in her old age. He tells his mother that he admires her “thankless work.” But Beatriz says, “There is no thankless. Love is giving your heart without expectation.” She then comforts Miguel when he tells her that he is lost. Beatriz tells him, “I know you’ll find someone to love like that again.”
Later, Miguel messages Rebecca on Facebook, and they pick up right where they left off eight years ago. She tells him that she only dated Matt for a few months after Miguel left. So she’s now single.
Miguel and Rebecca meet up for dinner when he comes to Pennsylvania for business. And he lays it all out on the table. Miguel says, “I never felt like I belonged … Puerto Rican or American. Spanish or English. I’ve never felt at home anywhere. And if I’m being honest, the first time that I ever felt homesick in my life was when I left you on that porch.” Rebecca smoothly gets up, sits down next to him, and kisses him.
They begin a long-distance relationship, and after a few months, Miguel decides to retire and move back to Pennslyvania to be with Rebecca. Before he can do so, though, they discuss what Jack would think of their relationship. They agree that he would want what was best for them.
Kevin, Kate, and Randall find out that Miguel and Rebecca are dating at Thanksgiving. Kate and Randall agree that as long as their mother is happy, they’re OK with it. But Kevin reacts very negatively to their relationship in This Is Us Season 6 Episode 15.
Miguel takes care of Rebecca as long as he can in ‘This Is Us’ Season 6 Episode 15
This Is Us Season 6 Episode 15 also picks up after Kate and Phillip’s wedding. Miguel and Rebecca live in the house Kevin built for his mother, and Miguel works hard as his wife’s primary caretaker. He wakes up an hour before Rebecca each day to sort her meds, and then Miguel helps her get ready and performs her exercises with her. A nurse, Layla, comes every day, but Miguel declines most of her help.
Miguel has medical problems that he heartbreakingly chooses to neglect because of his devotion to his wife. The doctor talks to him about his high blood pressure, a new hip, and feeling shortness of breath during exercise. The doctor wants Miguel to take a stress test, but he refuses.
One night, Miguel wakes up without Rebecca by his side in the middle of the night. He finds her outside dancing in the snow. Miguel slips and lands hard on his hip when he tries to get her back inside. He gets up and takes care of Rebecca, but he develops a huge bruise.
The Big Three come to Miguel and Rebecca’s house for Thanksgiving, and Layla tells them about Miguel’s fall. Kevin, Kate, and Randall express their worry for Miguel and desire to get full-time help for Rebecca. However, Miguel wants to honor his vows to his wife. Randall convinces him that the three of them love him and want to take care of him. Layla then takes over Miguel’s duties, and Kevin, who is married now, also helps Miguel with Rebecca.
Miguel continues to get sicker, and Kevin visits his son, Andy, to tell him that his father doesn’t have much time left due to heart failure. Andy and his family then decide to spend Christmas with the Pearsons.
A short time later, Miguel dies. Kate, Randall, and Miguel’s daughter Amber spread half of his ashes under an apple tree at the house he shared with Rebecca. And Kevin and Andy travel to Puerto Rico to disperse the other half of Miguel’s ashes on the baseball field where he played as a kid.
Per IMDb, This Is Us Season 6 Episode 16, “Family Meeting,” premieres on Tuesday, May 10, at 9 p.m. ET on NBC.
