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This Is Us saw its sixth and final season hit NBC in Spring 2022. The show revolves around triplets Kate, Kevin, and Randall, and the lives of their loved ones through different timelines. The show has an ensemble cast featuring big names like Mandy Moore, Milo Ventimiglia, and Sterling K. Brown. Since the show's release in 2016, it has been subject to critical praise and has earned dozens of awards, including two Primetime Emmys. This Is Us quickly became one of the best shows on air thanks to its unwavering stance in conquering tough topics, as well as its commitment to diverse storytelling.
Part of what made the show so phenomenal was its ability to conquer serious issues. Touching on topics like weight loss, mental health, adoption, race and more, This Is Us broke new ground in the field of representation, bringing subjects to light that no one had previously thought to bring up. On top of this, the show is classified as a tragedy for a reason as, in its six season run, it brought a number of heart-breaking moments with it. Here are the top ten most emotional moments in This Is Us, ranked.
10 Beth and Déjá Talk About Hair
In the second season of This Is Us, Beth Pearson discovers patches in Déjá's hair. This leads to an emotional conversation between them about Black hair and alopecia, hair loss that can affect the entire body. Due to their natural differences, Déjá was obviously scared to be open about her hair, but Beth's concern in their conversation reminded her that she exists to care for her as if she were her own child. This conversation is not only heartfelt, but it dealt with issues that are often neglected, moving one step closer toward greater representation.
9 Toby and Kate Fighting About Their Son
The fall of Toby and Kate's (Chrissy Metz) relationship brought with it a great deal of heartbreak. The fight that occurred on their front lawn in the sixth season was so raw and heartfelt, many audience members became uncomfortable watching it unfold. The fight occurred after the two had brought their son Jack Jr. back safely after he had run away from home. Their argument revolved around Jack's disability and how they had both failed as parents. The fight got so heated that Randall and Kevin stepped in to break it up. This heartbreaking moment showed the realities of having complex relationships and that doing your best may not always be enough.
8 William Told Randall He Was Scared to Die
In the first season of This Is Us, Randall met his birth father William Hill. Shortly after, he discovered that William was dying of cancer. Randall then took the road-trip to Memphis, his father's hometown and the place he wanted to die. When William was struggling physically, he admitted to Randall how scared he was to die. In an effort to calm his father down, Randall held his father's face and got him to take slow, deep breaths. This episode showed the depth of love William had for his son, despite never knowing him in his childhood, and vice-versa.
7 Kevin Helped Randall During A Panic Attack
This Is Us has tackled a great many issues, one of which has been a huge focus on the show: mental illness. In the first season, we see a triplet moment in which Kevin senses something is wrong with Randall. Trusting his gut, Kevin abandons the opening night of his play to help his brother through his panic attack. Watching Randall cling to Kevin in this moment of panic reminds us of the importance of having people who support us, especially in times of need. This moment also reminds us of the strong bond the three siblings have, especially when someone is in trouble.
6 Rebecca Made Kate Her Medical Executor
In the sixth season, Randall is met with the news that his mother Rebecca made Kate her medical executor rather than him, who seems more capable of making medical decisions. In a gut-wrenching scene, Rebecca explains that Randall has always taken care of her and that if he were left to make all the decisions, he would try too hard to keep her alive. The conversation brought all of Randall's responsibilities to light, and Rebecca made it clear she didn't want to add to the weight he carries.
5 Toby Meets Jack
Kate's boyfriend Toby first "meets" Jack in the first season of This Is Us. While it wasn't clear whether or not Jack was dead, the audience was met with the truth when Kate says she likes to watch football with her dad before showing Toby the urn that holds Jack's ashes. This small moment shows the depths of Kate's grief as the happy memories she shared with her father are in the past. Her casually saying that she watches football with her father implies that he is still alive and, perhaps in Kate's mind, he still is as the grief is too painful to process.
4 Saying Goodbye to Rebecca
In This Is Us Season 6, the kids said their final goodbyes to Rebecca. As she lay on her deathbed, her children sat by her side and said their goodbyes. While this scene broke hearts enough, what added to it was younger Rebecca imagining a train as a metaphor for death and reaching the last car, where she meets William and says, "This is quite sad, isn't it?" This entire scene broke the hearts of audiences everywhere as we saw not only the death of Rebecca, but the decline in her life before her death. This also alluded to the end of the series altogether, an even more devastating fact.
3 Jack and Rebecca Lose Kyle
The first season of This Is Us brought with it a number of dramatic moments. One of the most heart-breaking moments of the season is when Rebecca and Jack lose their third triplet, whom they named Kyle. This devastating moment of losing a child is an unimaginable loss to many. While they were reassured by doctors that two out of three triplets is still a good outcome, nothing could soothe Rebecca's loss. This sudden death opened up their hearts to adopting Randall as their hearts had so much love for Kyle, they wanted to share that love with another child who needed it.
2 Rebecca's Last Wishes
As Rebecca's Alzheimer's progressed throughout the series, she began making plans for what she wanted towards the end of her life. Unfortunately, this meant that her kids would have to watch their mother suffer before her death. When she sat down with Kate, Kevin, and Randall, she laid out what she wanted for her end-of-life care while getting them to promise they wouldn't stop living their lives just because she was dying. This was one of the final signs that Rebecca was truly losing her battle as she demanded that her children continue to pursue their dreams and live big lives, even when she is gone.
1 Rebecca Learns About Jack's Death
Without a doubt, the most heart-breaking moment in the entire series comes when Rebecca learns about Jack's death. The doctor met Rebecca at the vending machine to deliver the bad news and the shock on her face was transmuted to the audience. The devastation on her face when she returned to Jack's hospital room to see an empty bed brought tears to the entire audience. The realization that the man she loved, the father of her children, is now gone brought a level of grief to the family that they never fully recovered from.