Maybe mark this post as a possible spoiler? (I did watch it....but maybe some

are saving it for later). NOMB, though.

Why are they gathering at kevins??

Presumably to say goodbye to Rebecca, who is at Kevin's house for her last days. I thought it was interesting that it was Nicky sitting at her bedside, and not Miguel, who may have already passed away.

Pretty sure they're gathering for the Big Three's birthday, especially with the Pin-the-Tail-on-the-Donkey game.

LOL Sorry, I guess this isn't a spoiler after all...you missed a couple of things.

I’m just going to say it. I can’t stand this show. There are shows I like, shows that don’t interest me and shows that totally turn me off, and this is one of them. But, to each her own.

It's a soap opera, but I watch because Sterling K Brown is very fine. :-)

Wow, say how you really feel! (I'm kind of surprised Ded)

I am a fan. Aol actually did an interview to clarify some points. Yes, it's Kevin's house and he has a son, yes Kate was left out intentionally, the fact that Nicky was at Rebecca's bedside means something happened to Miguel.

Hotrod, that's a good call about the Pin-the-tail. I don't remember if they touched on that point.

The good news is that Jack survives! Although I discussed this with my sister. We "watch" the show and text each other our remarks during the show. Would not be a good story line to have the baby die.

I do think that this show needs some comic relief. It is very serious and very real.

They made a point of showing Beth's wedding rings when she hugged Randall, but were they the same wedding rings Randall gave her when they got married? (I loved how they decided to stay together, avoiding a "Gift of the Magi" moment).

I don't recall what Nicky's relationship with Jack or Rebecca was, was it a good one?

And, I just want to gush about the casting of the young actors who play the Big Three at different ages. Somehow they got kids who look similar to their counterparts and who can act like their counterparts. I'm sure it takes plenty of coaching, but they sure do carry it off.

Yes! Especially Kate!

There was an episode that explained what happened with Nick. Nicky killed a young child while over in Vietnam. He was into drugs and drinking. Jack tried to help him with his demons but then had to make the decision to walk away. Nick kept sending Jack post cards. Eventually Jack goes to see Nick. He is living an isolated life as an alcoholic in a run down trailer.and at this point Jack makes it clear that he wants no further contact.

Kevin searches for answers about Nicky and goes to Vietnam for answers and finds he has been alive all these years.

Kate ,Randall and Kevin find Nick and try to help him. Rebecca meets them there to get to know Nick.

Wow, I missed a lot. I remember Kevin going to Viet Nam but I must have been really sleepy that night.

Toby brought sidewalk chalk too.

I have to agree somewhat with Dedtired about this show - I do watch it every week but it very annoying and then I get annoyed with myself for watching. The triplets are so self-absorbed that it can be ridiculous. At least this season they aren't in a constant state of crisis over their father's death. Yes it was a traumatic event and it is understandable how devastating it was for them when it happened. But they are adults and he's been dead now for what? 20? years and they still over-react.

I do agree with the casting of the children. They are all remarkable.

hmmm...I missed the pin the tail on the donkey...but I did wonder about the sidewalk chalk....I caught Beths wedding rings and did do a rewind to try to figure out why they zeroed in on it...

This is my favorite show. Love every one of the characters ...the three adult kids, Rebecca and Jack, the three little kids and teen kids. ALL are wonderful in their roles. My daughter and I were texting thru out. I had to rewind..I thought it was bad old man make up on Miquel but it was Nicky. Jack, the baby, is alive and hopefully "they are coming" meant Kate too. Kevin must be with a white woman because his kid looked just like him as a child. Don't know how I'll wait till the fall now. Best writing and acting on TV.

They are the same rings. I'm glad they did that because it was teasing like they got divorced earlier in the show.

always, they zeroed in to reassure all of us that Beth and Randall are still together, long after their big blowup in the present-day timeline.

And speaking of which, I'm glad the show is having them relocate to Philadelphia. The idea that Randall could be a councilman without living in the the city is patently absurd, not to mention that it's a *very* long commute from northern NJ. It was completely unrealistic to have him driving back and forth for what is, at best, a 2-hour trip, and often takes much longer.

In fact, How can he be a councilman and not even live in the same state?

Did anyone catch something about Rebecca in the NICU? When the nurse was giving instructions, they made a point of showing Rebecca getting her little notebook and pen, taking copious notes, spellings, then looking something up on her phone. And, Kate talking about the "magic" Rebecca always brought to things. But, while Rebecca was always the glue who kept track of things, was she that obsessive before? I couldn't read when they zoomed in on the notebook a bit (was it when Kate looked at it?). Of course, she's the one who didn't panic when baby Jack stopped breathing, just followed the instructions. But still, it all made me wonder:

That maybe she was experiencing an early-onset forgetfulness and was compensating? Even without being aware of it? Because at the end she looked like she had the Parkinson's or Alzheimer's "mask".

Now I'm confused. I didn't realize it was the final show. I just couldn't keep up with that mess. If someone understands what's going on please explain.

Joann - if you google "This is Us" recap you'll find several articles that detail the happenings. I often do that if a show has been on hiatus and I'm hazy on the details.

There is also an interview with the creators talking about this episode.

There may be spoilers in this interview - but there is a great cast photo which includes all the kids - however Beth is absent.

https://www.cheatsheet.com/entertainment/this-is-us-season-3-finale-reason-why-pin-the-tail-on-the-donkey-flash-forward-answers-spoilers.html/

Bpath, good catch about Rebecca taking notes in the ICU as a possible precursor to dementia.

A note-taker is good, but this just seemed like they put focus on her doing it, you know what I mean? In the same way they zoomed in on Beth's rings when she hugged Randall or someone identified Kevin's son for as with "just like Kevin" or something.

and btw, that sure was a nice hospital bed for the home. Kevin sure is successful by then. The bed Medicare provided for my mom wasn't nearly so nice.

Yes, but I think it was more to show how thorough she was being, and therefore how prepared she was when Jack stopped breathing, as opposed to Kate, who went into panic mode. In any event, the main thing is that Jack is ok. :-)

The actress who plays Rebecca has spoken out that it's not Alzheimer's.

Ah, okay you both make sense.

Sorry, I should have been clearer....I figured beth and randall stay together since they show them packing to move...and I got the sense they were still when they show them at Kevins house...so that's why I wondered why they zoomed in as if to let us know they're still married..in my mind it was clear they were still together so zooming in on the wedding rings threw me off.

I thought it was a great season-ender. The ending, in my view, paralleled the two scenes with Randall going to visit Rebecca at her bedside very nicely. The whole episode focused so much on Randall and Beth’s relationship, and to some degree Kevin’s, I think the other characters were meant to be teasers for next season.

I just watched the last 10 or so minutes again to make sure I got it right. Yes, Kevin is obviously successful and has a son, since he called Randall ‘uncle’. Since maybe another 10-20 years or so has passed, little Jack is older and maybe bringing Kate? Still have to wonder. And is Kevin married? Divorced? I’m sure more will be revealed next season in due time. Who is the sidewalk chalk for?

I seem to recall a brief scene in an earlier episode where older Randall was picking up their daughter and they were going to meet Beth (I think) somewhere. Now that I think about it, maybe this was where they were going? Anyone else recall this?

I heard about an interview with Mandy Moore a few days before the episode was aired. She stated she was a little surprised they brought up her future in the final episode of this season but was obviously fine with it.

"I seem to recall a brief scene in an earlier episode where older Randall was picking up their daughter and they were going to meet Beth (I think) somewhere. Now that I think about it, maybe this was where they were going? Anyone else recall this?" ...was that when future randall and daughter are going to visit someone...I remember it as a hospital setting though...but you don't know why they are going to see...when the first showed the scene I was wondering if it was Beth or Rebecca.

Yes, I recall that too. So, maybe they were going to Kevin's house.

Yes, it's a brief scene, unclear where it's set.

Randall: It’s time to go see her.

Tess: I’m not ready.

Randall: I’m not either.

At the time people speculated they were talking about Beth, but now we know it's Rebecca.

yes...that scene....

I remember that scene and now we know who they were visiting. Jack, the baby survives but where is Kate? Toby said they're coming meaning maybe she's alive but divorced. Kevin has a child and has made it big. Rebecca looks very old so maybe 25 years in the future. And I guess Miquel is dead.

Loved teenage Kevin flirting with the nurse after Rebecca's car accident!

The close up shot of Beth's wedding rings seemed too obvious for this show. Beth and Randall hugged and kissed so I assumed they were together. A few shows ago, they showed Beth and Randall's wedding. Now I am wondering if they were the same rings?

I honestly stopped watching when I finally saw how Jack died.

I stopped watching in real time, but catch it On Demand. It's not my favorite show, but TV worth watching nonetheless. Great writing!

Now that I see someone else brought it up again: I didn't like the finale. It was too far into the future. So jolting. I'm glad Kevin makes it big, and gets his kid(s) (didn't someone say there were more than just the one son?), Randall and Beth are together, and that Jack survives. Other than that I felt let down. I'm not sure why. I didn't like Nicki being there (it wraps it up nicely doesn't it? I rather liked how "real" it was when he wanted to be left alone and not everything can be saved), and Miguel not being there (she's lost enough. why more?). Merely my ramblings.

I watched the first season and lost interest. I thought it was a little too gimmicky, and I didn't care about half the characters....

I'd watched the first season and then never got back into it until this thread came up which reminded me again. Just finished watching and I was a little disappointed with the season finale...I wanted more of a cliff hanger rather than so much foreshadowing. But I find the show is really absorbing. Somehow, when I think of it, I do think they are all so self-absorbed...but then when it's on, I really get into it. It's one of those shows that, when I watch, I wish I had someone writing my dialog like that in real life so I'd know just what to say in difficult situations...

The characters really are self-absorbed. Kate is the worst in my opinion. I don't like her much. She is so hard on Toby and her mom especially, and really everyone in her life who are doing their best to support her.

I think the trauma of losing their dad is a little dramatic. When they were teens, sure, but approaching 40 and still having that kind of impact? Many people, myself included, lose their parents young and still need to function. 20 years is a long time.

I still really like the show! Randall is my favorite of the siblings.

I like the show, but not as much as I thought I would, with respect to how much so many others seem to love it. I enjoy the flashback scenes when the family was young. The acting is good, so I guess my complaint would be more about the writing. I find that they made the characters (as adults) all a little too needy.

I think maybe they're not shown often enough having fun, and always seem to be in a state of angst. Even hospital shows like Grey's Anatomy, which one might think would be more somber, have a better balance between drama and happiness, than This Is Us, IYKWIM. But then, if it is strictly meant to be melodramatic, then my points are invalid, lol.