This Is Us features the Pearson family, headed up by Jack Pearson (played by Milo Ventimiglia) and Rebecca Pearson (portrayed by Mandy Moore).
Jack and Rebecca seek to raise their “Big Three” triplets Kate (Chrissy Metz), Kevin (Justin Hartley), and Randall (Sterling K. Brown) to become strong, loving adults.
But after Jack dies in a tragic fire just as the teens teeter on the brink of adulthood, This Is Us shows us what happens to each triplet in facing that loss.
Through the past five seasons, This Is Us has given us emotional growth and happiness in the characters of two of those three triplets. Kevin has formed his own family and found career fulfillment, while Randall has come to terms with his adoption and chosen a new career path.
But Kate, oh, Kate!
Let’s look at what we assumed about Kate’s journey below… and what the actress who plays her just revealed.
Chrissy Metz Feels ‘Content’ About Closure For Kate
As long-time viewers know, Kate has struggled with her weight repeatedly. As a result, This Is Us fans have assumed and Chrissy Metz herself has hinted in interviews that Kate cannot find true joy until she achieves a healthy weight.
Now that we’re at the final season, This Is Us message boards have lit up with speculation on how writers will show that happily-ever-after weight loss for Kate.
But what if ALL the assumptions were wrong?! Chrissy just talked with Us about what lies ahead for Kate in season 6.
And according to Metz, a number on a scale doesn’t enter into a plot designed to provide closure for viewers on Kate’s story.
The actress described herself as feeling “content” when she learned Kate’s plot twists for the final season of This Is Us. “[I was content] because I think that she will be happy,” said Chrissy of Kate.
How Will Kate Pearson Fans Feel After Season 6 Finale?
Okay, so we’re happy for Metz. But does Chrissy believe that fans on Team Kate will also feel satisfaction at the way her journey ends on This Is Us? Well, yes and no.
“I think there’ll be contentment,” began Metz about her predictions for viewers’ reactions.
But she also hinted at a plot twist for how Team Kate fans will feel when they learn the ending.
“I think they’ll feel that bittersweet feeling that I think a lot of the episodes leave you with. I think there will feel like a sense of closure and some bittersweet memories,” she revealed.
Now that term “bittersweet” can get translated as everything from Kate feeling sorrow at Rebecca’s health problems to Kate worrying about her husband Toby (Chris Sullivan) following her own engagement to Phillip (Chris Geere).
What’s missing from this picture? Zero mention of the weight loss wars Kate has fought since the first episode of season 1.
And that could mean the plot has gotten rewritten. That would be a dramatic contrast with Metz’s initial comments about having a weight loss requirement written into her This Is Us contract.
So what’s left for Kate to wrap up her This Is Us arc by the last episode?