World News – US – This Is Us: Chrissy Metz Teases Kate’s Adoption Process, Creator Dan Fogelman Talks End Of Surprise

« We’re on this journey with them and it sure won’t be without incident, » Chrissy Metz told PEOPLE about what’s to come this season.

This Is Us is back with a first season full of new reveals, more unanswered questions and a surprise ending

On Tuesday, the fifth installment of NBC’s time-skipping show kicked off with two episodes, titled « Forty: Part One and Part Two, » in which audiences revisited the day Kevin (Justin Hartley) and Kate (Chrissy Metz) were born and Randall (Sterling K Brown) was welcomed into the Pearson family This time fans learned more about Jack (Milo Ventimiglia) and Rebecca (Mandy Moore) ‘s experiences of becoming parents for the first time, while learning about details of Randall’s birth thanks to his biological parents William (Jermel Nakia) and Laurel (Jennifer C Holmes) A ​​particularly touching scene was when William prayed for someone to take care of his son in the hospital chapel, Jack entered as William was leaving

Elsewhere, in the current Big Three’s 40th anniversary timeline, the Pearsons found themselves dealing with the coronavirus pandemic and the Black Lives Matter movement in different ways Randall, for his part, was overwhelmed by his many responsibilities as as a city councilor, as well as his creeping anxiety issues – which he has kept at bay, for now, through therapy Eventually, Randall showed up at the family cabin, but not for the birthday party It was about checking out Rebecca, who got lost in a run, the terrifying result of a mix of drugs disrupting her memory, which appeared to be in decline – and could not be reviewed in the now postponed St Louis clinical trial

The elephant in the cabin was the rift between Randall and Kevin, which did not improve despite Kevin telling Randall he was the first family member to learn of him and Madison (Caitlin Thompson ) were expecting a daughter and a son However, what Kevin didn’t reveal to Randall was that he pitched a proposal on Madison, even calling her his fiancée in front of the family

Although This Is Us takes a short hiatus and returns the week following Election Day, there were several major cliffhangers to keep viewers busy with questions and possible theories In the last minute of the premiere, audiences saw Randall’s biological mother, Laurel, presumed dead after giving birth, exhale a deep breath and shock paramedics – right after William left their apartment to drop their newborn baby off at the fire station

So, what impact will Laurel have on Randall’s life these days? Series creator Dan Fogelman spoke to reporters on Tuesday to discuss the shocking ending, as well as what’s in store for the rest of Season 5 Meanwhile, Metz spoke with PEOPLE about how the pandemic could affect Kate’s process to adopt a second child

Questions regarding Randall’s biological mother, Laurel, will be answered « well into the first half of our season, » Fogelman said, adding, « There is obviously a story to be told from this point on. it’s definitely not something we’re going to hang around in mystery over several seasons. There’s a pretty quick response I think it will be done elegantly « 

Fogelman has also said that Season 5 will explore Laurel’s background and delve into Randall « accepting some of his own questions about his identity. »

« Randall’s story, big picture, has always been about identity He’s a man who is constantly, like many people who come from different walks of life, in search of who he is and where he’s from It’s always been a part of his story, his birth mother’s that we’ve never really fulfilled and told I think for Randall, for this character, until he can get some answers and some sort of closure, this will be the last step in accepting some of his own questions about his identity, ”he said. Randall’s mother hasn’t played a big part in our story so far Who is she? Where is she from? What’s her story? So that’s a big part of Randall’s journey into the first half of this season « 

Still in Randall’s current life, therapy will be a major focus On his journey back to Philadelphia from the family cabin, he called his therapist Dr. Leigh (Pamela Adlon) to tell him he would be working longer with her and would find a black therapist instead

“He or she will be a recurring part of this season,” said Fogelman, who has confirmed that Randall’s search for his new therapist will come in the next episode. “It’s not like he suddenly hires a new therapist and everyone suddenly unblocked It’s not the way therapy works, nor the way Randall specifically works There’s a trip there Randall is trying to put on a little show « 

RELATED: Why Chrissy Metz Is ‘Excited’ About This Is That We Are Tackling The COVID-19 Pandemic In Season 5

Metz spoke with PEOPLE about the ‘really, really powerful’ way the show tackled the pandemic and the Black Lives Matter movement in the current timeline. « To see Randall and Beth and the girls, everybody’s going through this – what does that look like? How did that shape who he was, who he is going to be, and who he is? It’s absolutely necessary and very, very important, « said the singer. » I am just so proud to be a part of a show that’s brave enough to tackle these things that are so vital and so important « 

At the family cabin, Kate and Randall had a tearful conversation about the racial calculation of the country. Her intentions might have been good, but her apology – « I’m so sorry about what is going on » – prompted Randall to get rid of his sister about their education

« We grew up in the same house, things like this have happened to black people for years, but we never talked about it Not once Not once in 40 years, » Randall said. p>

Fans learned that young Randall (Lonnie Chavis) was alone when he watched protesters on TV in 1995 after Jonny Gammage was murdered by Pittsburgh cops « Growing up I had to keep so many things for me because I didn’t want you to feel bad I didn’t want you to worry about saying the wrong thing, « Randall told Kate » Normally I would try to make things go well for you , but if I did that, Kate, where does that leave me? I’m sorry I can’t do this It’s been my role model all my life and it’s been exhausting « 

If fans felt Randall was moving away from the Pearson family, maybe they were right « I find this scene between Chrissy and Sterling so complicated and so interesting [The writers] constantly remind us that it is not only a black man and a white woman having this conversation, they are family members who grew up in the same house It’s a specific dynamic There is so much love in the middle of this really intense conversation, ”he said. Said Fogelman « At the end of this episode, when Randall kind of makes his move to change therapists and comes home to his family, he walks away a bit for now – not just Kevin on the heels of the fight, but of his family in general « 

But the tension between Kate and Randall won’t turn into another fraternal breakup, according to Fogelman. « They’re in a complicated and nebulous place right now, and there’s some math needed for this family, a bit, and necessary healing, « he said

Afterwards, Kate was left to reflect and reevaluate her childhood until her husband Toby (Chris Sullivan) broke the happy news from their adoption agency In the closing minutes of the premiere, audiences saw Kate and Toby peek over the RaiseAChildprofil org of Ellie, 33, of San Pedro, Calif., Which matched hopeful expectant parents

« Of course nothing is simple And that’s the thing, I think that’s what people relate to so much is that the best-laid plans We think things are gonna be simple And sometimes it’s simple, or it’s a little easier than imagined But it’s a pandemic « , Metz teased to PEOPLE on what awaits Kate and Toby » There is a pandemic in run and they are planning to adopt It’s very big They may have bitten more than they could have chewed So we’ll see We’re on this journey with them and it certainly won’t be without incident « 

RELATED: This Is Us Star Chrissy Metz Discusses Her Traumatic And ‘Super Important’ Season 5 Storyline

After learning of the pregnancy, Kevin chose to live with Madison in her spare bedroom and it is safe to say that their relationship quickly became complicated.Also Kate and Toby, who drove across the country to ‘at the cabin with the parents-to-be, were just as surprised at the news of the baby as Kevin and were not used to the idea of ​​him having a romantic relationship with Madison

Then Madison got a scare of pregnancy after falling on her stomach.She and Kevin rushed to a local emergency care center where the doctor was initially unable to hear one of the heartbeats in the twin While waiting in the doctor’s room, fear and heightened emotions took Kevin from zero to 100 very quickly when he asked Madison to marry him

« Our babies will be fine, they will be fine And I know it sounds crazy but I can see it We’re going to have two beautiful, healthy babies and they’ll be amazing And we’re gonna be amazing parents together Hell with that I say we just got married Let’s shock the world and get married, live happily ever after and all that, ”he told Madison before lowering his mask and she nodded yes

Shortly after, the doctor returned with another ultrasound machine that revealed the second baby’s healthy heartbeat.With fear behind them, Madison gave Kevin the opportunity to resume his proposal, but he didn’t didn’t, so guess they’re engaged? Even they are not quite sure

Next episode will highlight Kevin and Madison’s rushed relationship, Fogelman said “Things are going backwards and in hyper-speed,” the showrunner explained. “It’s a show that deals with the love in a very romantic way There are a lot of wide-eyed optimists who write and star on this show People who fall in love at first sight and have those beautiful courtship displays and big romantic gestures Even Kevin has constantly on the show because we had different love interests for him, he’s the one he fell in the past « 

« Everything is mixed up and down. Combined with that, Kevin’s wiring, which probably comes from his parents and siblings, has to be a bit more traditional, so the combination of those two things creates an interesting dynamic. in the future ”, he continued « These two people who barely know each other, are going to have babies together There’s still affection and chemistry there but they still don’t know each other It’s fair to say they have a high trip down in front of them It won’t just be an easy love story, like some of our other love stories have been « 

Speaking of love stories, Rebecca and Miguel ‘hovered over’ the pandemic at the family cabin. « This is something we were really looking forward to, » Fogelman said of exploring their relationship “It becomes a bigger part of the season in the second half of this season and into the next We’re going to be going through a post-Jack courtship period and what happened between them We have big plans for them as well in the 60s that nowadays I found in this episode it was really nice to be with them and watch them be nice to each other and watch them stand up It’s a place to both as an older couple but also as a younger couple when we have been there it has always been rewarding for us « 

Additionally, Rebecca’s participation in the St Louis clinical trial was postponed and what was supposed to be a two week cabin getaway turned into months. ”Obviously, this is what has happened to many people across the country and around the world, where health plans are either postponed or irreparably changed, « Fogelman said

« What we’ve tried to do with every scenario we’ve shown is stick to our plan and roadmap for where the character arcs go while still being accommodating for those events. global « , he continued « So functionally, yes, it’s possible for Rebecca and Miguel to be in St Louis for part of our season next year. In this case, they’re still separated from family in a slightly different way. by quarantining at the chalet « 

“When it comes to its medical prognosis, there is a long way to go with this disease,” he added “And due to the current status of the disease, in terms of research and science , we can still stick to our plan for Rebecca, which is not changed forever by the pandemic, but more in the short term, in terms of her location and place of residence « 

This is us, Randall Pearson, NBC, Sterling K Brown, Dan Fogelman, Kevin, Justin Hartley