End of season 3.
And… the beginning of a torrent of questions: What happened to Rebecca?
Where was her second husband, Miguel (Jon Huertas)?
NBC
When did Nicky re-enter the fold?
I knew that I had gone through this extra-special fitting, and we had done a screen test.
And we had done a makeup test.
Ron Batzdorff/NBC
So I knew this was coming at some point in the season, I just didnt know when exactly.
So I kind of guessed that it was all leading up to the last episode.
But there wasnt final confirmation.
All of us were like, Who is in the last scene and what is happening?
And we didnt get those pages until the day before.
In that sense, I guess I was surprised but also not.
But… clearly, theres something going on.
And in that sense, shes just not the vibrant woman that Ive known for the last three seasons.
So to see her in that place is pretty…heartbreaking, you know?
Now, in the flash-forward, looks like this engine is failing.
We saw Randall say his name twice to Rebecca, as if to remind her of who he is.
I think that will be revealed in the next season or two, for sure.
Could go either way.
But you know what it is, right?Yes, I do.
We all have known.
You knowDan [Fogelman, the shows creator].
This has all been in the cards and in the plans for a while.
How lucid is Rebecca?
Are you allowed to hint at anything in that direction?I dont think I am allowed.
Does it feel like youre playing a third character?
Weve seen Rebecca later in life Yeah.
It feels like acompletelydifferent version.
Which is an exciting challenge.It is.
I mean, this show is nothing but a challenge.
It always keeps all of us on our toes.
Were like, What?
Oh, Im playing 17 now?
Oh, what are we doing now?
All right, got it, awesome.
Its tricky, but in the best possible way.
Its always a surprise.
Rebecca had a brain scan when there was a cancer scare years ago.
It came up negative.
But is that now significant maybe in terms of where she ended up?Ohhhhhhhh!
I hadnt really thought about that.
Are they trying to jog her memory?
[Laughs]
Miguel isnt in this flash-forward.
Will we learn more about his future fate soon?
Is it a surprising story?We will definitely learn more about that.
But hes been through so much, Mandy.
You cant kill him!I know!
Hes sort of the unsung hero.
I love him so much, and I love Jon Huertas so much.
I just cant wait to do more stuff together, whatever decade it may be in.
Is Rebecca wearing a ring, by the way?I was wearing a ring.
While Miguel isnt there, Nicky is.
No one seems that surprised that hes there.
Time has treated him well.
What was this process like becoming the old,oldRebecca?Oof.
Brutal?I was like, How often are we doing this, Dan?
[Laughs] Its much more restrictive than what Im used to with present-day Rebecca.
But its also new.
I dont even think about it.
Im so used to the process at this point.
So perhaps well get to that point with the future makeup.
I know that this will factor into the series long term.
There will definitely be more scenes in the future with Rebecca, but I dont know to what degree…. What did you think when you looked in the mirror?Oh, wow.
So this is how her story ends, you know?
Its crazy, reconciling with your own mortality.
[Laughs] Even though its a fictional character, it felt truly bizarre.
When I walked on the set that last day, people were shocked, people didnt recognize me.
It was very weird.
Milos been the center of the shows mysteries before, and it was intense.
How are you feeling about being at the heart of this mystery?
Im such an open book about things, and Im terrible at concealing.
I feel like were in the Marvel universe talking about superheroes or something to a much lesser degree.
[Laughs] But I love that I finally feel the world coming around to this woman this season.
I appreciate that because I have so much compassion and empathy for her.
In many ways, she was the one that they actually couldnt live without.Absolutely.
She is the glue!
She is also the unsung hero.
Are Toby and Kate still together?
Who is the mother of Kevins son?
What were people on the set buzzing the most about after Rebecca?Toby and Kate.
But also Kevin having a kid, and who is he with?
He and Zoe [Melanie Liburd] are together, or are they, or what?
And definitely the Toby and Kate of it all, for sure.
What struck you about this finale overall?
We answered some significant questions, but then posed a few more.
But not just to be provocative.
Its going to take some time.
Whos next in line?
At least Beth and Randall are back together.
If that foundation wasnt there, this whole Pearson thing might just fall apart.It would not make sense.
To read whatThis Is Uscreator Dan Fogelman revealed about the finales flash-forward surprises,click here.
