This Is Us news: Dan Fogelman expects more flash-forwards in Seasons 5 and 6

By Noah Mussay | Mar 30, 2020

THIS IS US -- (Photo by: Ron Batzdorff/NBC) /

Dan Fogelman recently revealed that This Is Us fans can expect to see more flash-forwards as the show begins wrapping up over the next two seasons.

The Hollywood Reporter reports that showrunner Dan Fogelman recently revealed that This Is Us would dive into The Big Three’s futures as the series draws to a close. NBC announced the show’s renewal for Seasons 4, 5, and 6 in May 2019, with co-showrunner Isaac Aptaker revealing that the sixth season would likely be the show’s last. This Is Us began dabbling with future timelines at the end of Season 2, first giving us a glimpse of Tess Pearson, who we learn in Season 2, Episode 14, becomes a social worker.

Next, we followed the Pearson brothers, Beth, Toby, Uncle Nicky, and Kevin’s pre-teen children as they gathered at Rebecca’s deathbed. Then, we dove even further into the future to follow Kate and Toby’s kids, Jack, a successful musician and father, and Hailey, an art curator.

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Fogelman says that in planning for the series’ end, the show’s numerous timelines will help bring the Pearson’s story full-circle. Fogelman says that this means we’re likely to see more of Jack (Blake Stadnik) and Hailey Damon (Adelaide Kaine) in particular:

"“We really love the actress we found to play the daughter, Adelaide, and obviously we’ve really [fallen in love] with Blake, who plays Jack Jr. So our hope is to continue to make people feel invested in these future storylines by getting into the characters slowly, as we’ve done, so that by the time you’re really landing in full stories with them, if we do, you feel that great investment.”"

However, he assures fans that the show isn’t shying away from showing the Pearson’s past:

"“We’ve parsed out the shape enough that we will never run out of the past flashbacks that inform the present. Milo will always be on the show, Young Rebecca and younger versions of the kids will always be in the show.”"

It should be no surprise that I’m more than excited to get glimpses of the Pearson’s/Damon’s futures. Jack is one of my favorite new characters on the show, and I’m eager to see his journey growing up with a disability. Of course, I’m also excited to learn more about where The Big Three are in their lives 14 to 30 years in the future. Does Kevin end up with Sophie? Do Randall and Kevin ever make-up? Where’s Kate, who’s the only one of The Big Three yet to be seen in the future?

This Is Us is deeply rooted in the idea that the past affects the present. The Big Three have all been shaped for better or for worse by their past, and that’s evident in how they carry themselves in the present. Their present choices, as a result, will have a direct impact on their futures.

Occasionally, watching This Is Us is like skipping to the middle of a really good book. However, I never feel spoiled or particularly thrown for a loop when the show flashes forward. Getting a glimpse compels me, even more, to keep watching because, as they say, it’s not about the destination, but the journey, and this has been one heck of a journey.

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This Is Us is tentatively set to return for Season 5 this fall on NBC. If you haven’t already, be sure to catch up on Season 4 via Hulu or the NBC app.

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