In the season 5 finale ofThis Is Us, a Pearson wedding was called off.
But in even bigger news, a Pearsonmarriagewas called off.
When he finally came clean to her, the couple once again ratcheted up their relationship tension.
Caitlin Thompson and Chrissy Metz on ‘This Is Us’.Ron Batzdorff/NBC
A hug, a kiss, a problem solved!
On to the next one?
But apparently, things are about to go from warming up to heating up.
How did Kate’s change of heart happen?Whenwill her change of heart happen?
What did Metz think of this stunning, disorienting plot turn for one of the show’s core couples?
ENTERTAINMENT WEEKLY: First things first: Wow?Wow.
We can see the sort of unraveling this season.
And what was your very first reaction?
Well, initially I was like, “Does that have to happen?
Like, are you guys sold?
Are you sold on that?
I don’t know.
Are you sure?”
You get so connected to somebody.
And selfishly I’m like, “No!
This can’t happen!”
And then I cried.
Especially from everything that they’ve come through and gone through and how they’ve grown each other.
So it’s not for naught, but it still was emotional.
I’m like, “Wait!
Who is going to be the new person?
Is there a new person?”
I mean, it’s wonderful storytelling, and I think what’s most important is the co-parenting.
It’s very, very important to do it well, for the children and for the greater good.
Not everybody is your forever person even if you thought they would and you wanted them to be.
So I love that aspect of it too.
Had you been hoping that Kate and Toby would go the distance?
When we get into relationships, we have high, high hopes.
We want to make it work and we have the best intentions.
If you love them, let them go.
It didn’t mean that they were supposed to be together.
And sometimes people are just ushering other people to those places.
People grow together or they grow apart; it’s not a bad thing.
[Exhales] Yeah.
How did Chris Sullivan process the news when you two first started talking about it?
I haven’t been.
Because I can’t be.
It’s just never going to happen.
I feel like I’m cheating on him.
I was told that that’s not the case.
But yeah, it’s a very weird feeling.
So I haven’t quite figured it out.
[Laughs]
It’s okay, there’s time.
How surprised was Chris Geere by this twist?
It seems like he’ll become a key part of the final season.
And he looked like, “What?”
I don’t think he knew that going into it.
He literally told him on the spot during the test, during the chemistry read.
And I was like, “No, you’re too charming.
It’s not going to happen.
They’re going to hate Kate.”
So yeah, I think it was a surprise to Chris Geere, for sure.
And Chris Geere obviously is very special.
But my heart was broken, because it’s like another chapter, right?
The chapter of that book was closing.
But I’m dealing with this duality, present and future.
So yeah, it was very jarring and shocking and emotional for me.
That’s her M.O."
But I don’t know where the turn comes.
I don’t know if it’s that she finds some solace in Philip because they work together.
Maybe he shows up for her in a different way while her and Toby are going through it.
I don’t know the particulars yet.
From what you understand, is this fracture related to alienation from long distance?
Or is it something else?
And so many people can relate to that, especially after COVID.
I can get past this."
Sometimes you’re free to and sometimes you’re free to’t.
So once that trust is broken, you’re able to’t unring the bell.
I think it opens up this whole thought of, “Hmmm.
What else is going on?
What else don’t I know?”
It’s a myriad of things that ends up happening in a relationship.
But unfortunately when you have children, your family should be the priority.
So he’s really in a tough spot because he needs a job.
It’s just challenging for parents.
And Kate never feeling like he was a hundred percent in it.
Whether that’s projection or not, we don’t know.
That all makes sense.
Just tell me it’s notLady Kryptonite.
Because we haven’t even seen her!
I don’t even know what she looks like!
Yeah, I asked the same question.
[Laughs]
Fans often comment on all the bad things that happen to Kate.
Now it’ll be: “Here’s another one!
She’s divorced.”
And as Rebecca reminds, “Everything’s going to be all right.”
Maybe this is the happy ending for Kate.
That was such a huge part of her and what she was holding on to.
Which is such a mind-F, right?
You’re like, “What?”
When you dated someone, you’re like, “I made them better!
And they went off and they’re happier?”
That’s what relationships are really about.
I feel like you leave something better than you found it.
And I think that’s what Toby did for Kate.
As hard as it is of a pill to swallow, it’s like, “Oh!
She is [happy].
But Toby did have a hand in it.”
The co-parenting thing is going to happen.
I’m not saying it’s going to be perfect, because it’sThis Is Us!
[Laughs] There’s no way that it’s going to be a walk in the park!
Anyway, that’s just my side note.
But yeah, co-parenting definitely going to happen.
As we said, fans have been speculating about Kate not even being alive in that deep flash-forward.
I mean, anything’s possible!
And also, things change.
Do you have a cryptic clue about Kate’s journey in season 6?
She’s really making herself a priority.
We’ve got an extra-long offseason now.
Fans are going to be asking you a ton of questions.
What are you bracing for?Are you going underground?
I think I might need to go into witness protection.
And I thought, “Oh my heavens!”
What does she do now?
How could she leave this perfect man?
Why does she mess this up?"
And I sure hope that they can see deeper than that.
And are they working at it and working for it?
And if it’s still not the right thing, then it’s not meant to be.
Some things just aren’t meant to be forever.
I don’t know.
I hope it’s positive.
I have a dream of co-writing one episode.
It’s just who they are, who he is."
And that’s really cool.
You don’t always see that on TV, you know?
