This is so bittersweet, I loved this ending and I loved they managed to end on their own terms with a proper goodbye, but it’s still sad to see these characters go and I will miss them dearly. I knew this was going to bring on the waterworks but I’m not sure I could’ve truly been prepared for what these individual goodbyes would do to my heart. William being the one to guide Rebecca, her waiting for Kate, Randall telling her they’re good now because of her, and then, to top it all off, that “hey” to Jack at the end of The Train was just perfect.

And we also got some of that special This-Is-Us storytelling one last time as we saw how the story of Marcus Brooks, who was a pioneer in drugs targeting Alzheimer’s disease, intertwined with the Pearsons, and how they got to live with the famous lemonade philosophy as well, though it was particularly hard knowing that advice was given on Jack’s last day, and the parallel of him dying when everything seemed fine, while Marcus miraculously lived.

And speaking of Jack, that big energy that still felt very much present to the very end despite his physical absence, it is absolutely fitting that the last episode would focus on Jack and Rebecca together, and what these two people were able to accomplish, coming from less than comforting homes and creating a huge family filled with love. And it might be just me, but this is the first time I fully saw that bigger picture, and the realization couldn’t have come at a more perfect time.

Those moments of joy in the middle of one of the worst moments in the Pearsons’ lives are exactly what makes everything worth it, and so very realistic. I loved every little scene, from Deja being Randall’s Yoda, to the Big Three promising not to drift apart, and especially Kate and Toby’s talk. I was all for loving Phillip as soon as I knew there was no choice in the matter, but these last few scenes between them, the way he asks for permission to overstep, the way he knows her so well and has so much faith in her, I just can’t avoid thinking I wish they had figured it out, but I guess missing your window is realistic too.

What else can I say other than I just loved This Is Us, I love these characters and their stories, how complex and well-written every dynamic was, and how much they were able to break our hearts open, or simply break out hearts. And though some shows tend to end with a bang, I think this was the perfect way to end this wonderful experience, highlighting exactly what made it all so amazing and giving us closure while making sure we know they’ll continue to live on. It has been a pleasure to witness their journey and share it with all of you.