‘This Is Us’ Finale Makes One Thing Clear, It’s One of Television’s Best Shows

Monet Clayton

If you watched the season one finale of the hit show “This Is Us“ wanting to find out what how Jack (Milo Ventimiglia) died, you might have come away with more questions than answers. In the episode that aired on March 7, viewers were led to believe that he would likely die, given that he was in his vehicle after drinking several beers with empty cans in the passenger seat. The Twitter account for the show even teased fans after the episode, saying “This is it” – hinting that his death would indeed be related to a drinking accident in the finale.

In the previous episode, Jack got drunk after deciding to see his wife Rebecca (Mandy Moore) sing, because he speculated an affair between her and a fellow band member. After Jack finally came to the realization that it was all in his head, Rebecca figures out that Jack has been drinking again. This led to the biggest, most heart-wrenching argument the (seemingly) perfect couple has had throughout the entire show thus far. The argument prompted the couple to agree that they should separate.

Still, the fight between Jack and Rebecca left viewers with some questions: Is this is how Rebecca ends up – with Jack’s best friend, Miguel? How does Jack really die? Is it alcohol-related? Will we find out next season? Where do their storylines go from here?

Although the finale didn’t provide closure for Jack and Rebecca’s relationship, it gave an honest depiction of relationships – and even how life works sometimes. It’s apparent why this show is such a huge hit: It’s a show about life, and realistically portrays how so many things seem to happen all at once. It captures the twists and turns, the highs and lows; the beautiful-yet-heartbreaking intricacies of everyday life in a way that feels honest and real. It’s not a mystery. It doesn’t placate you with cheesy cliffhangers to keep your attention, and that’s partly why this is simply one of this year’s best series. It sucks you into the lives of fully-realized, multi-dimensional characters in a way that’s heartbreakingly vulnerable. It makes you invested in, and care about, what happens next for them. All this, along with an all-star cast (Milo Ventimiglia, Mandy Moore, Justin Hartley, Chrissy Metz, and Sterling Brown), hints that the best is still yet to come.

“This Is Us“ season two returns to NBC this fall.