This Is Us Finally Resolves Kate & Toby's First Flash-Forward Tease
This is Us finally addressed some of the flash-forward scenes from prior seasons with Kate and Toby’s marriage taking center stage in “The Hill.”
Warning: Major spoilers for This is Us season 6.
As This is Us season 6 builds towards the series' conclusion, long-time viewers are finally being rewarded with payoffs that have been in the works since the show's first fast-forward scene with Kate and Toby in season 2. The opening episodes of This is Us season 6 have deftly approached the crumbling of Kate and Toby's marriage, it has slowly filled in holes in the narrative that have left audiences unsure of the outcome for the two beloved characters. Still, the exact status of Kate and Toby's relationship has remained a mystery thus far. But with season 6 episode "The Hill," the shifting ground of Katoby's relationship reached a place where they became aware that their futures were diverging, and viewers were rewarded with the empowerment of the often overlooked Kate, and some implied answers to the fate of the fan-favorite marriage.
Beginning with the This is Us season 3 premiere, "Nine Bucks," audiences have known that Toby had reason to believe he wouldn't be welcome at Rebecca's side as the family gathers to say goodbye in the future. It was also shown that he wasn't wearing his wedding ring. Randall assured him that "she" would want him there, but it still remains unclear whether he was referring to Rebecca or Kate. When a future scene implied that Kate was marrying her co-worker, Phillip, five years in the future (though prior to the scenes that surround Rebecca's passing), there still remained a small, gray area to give audiences hope that Kate and Toby would still work things out.
Sadly, this development of Kate and Toby appears to be creating a rift that cannot be repaired. And because This is Us continues to dole out details about the far future in tiny scraps, the final revelations about the Damons' relationship may not be revealed until This is Us season 6 concludes. With at least a 10-year jump occurring between the present storyline and the scenes depicting the Pearson family saying goodbye to Rebecca, there is still plenty of time for the story to surprise and delight (or destroy) audiences.
As This is Us reaches its climax, the series continues to focus on the family dynamics of the Pearsons and especially on the Big Three. But through breadcrumb-style flash-forward scenes, the show has brilliantly woven a tapestry of clues, hints, mysteries, and hope, all wrapped up in the family lore of the Pearsons. And while it doesn't bode well for Kate and Toby in the near future, it seems impossible that Kate Pearson, the heart of the Big Three, won't be given the happy ending she deserves. Giving audiences the satisfaction of seeing her success and joy is a must for This is Us's final season, especially if they must first watch Katoby implode.
This is Us airs Tuesdays at 9:00 p.m. EST on NBC.