'This Is Us' Final Season Premiere: Get the tissue boxes ready

'This Is Us' S6, Ep. 1: 'The Challenger'

Let the final season begin, huh? Hope you all have your tissues handy, because, if this opening episode is any indication, emotions will run wild until the end.

After one episode, it already feels like everyone's story is going to spiral, and it won't be until the end before we learn which characters will go out on a happy note and which stories will end sadly. Not like theatrical dramatic sadness. More like heartbreaks, marriages ending, people dying...that kind of real sadness (I suppose we already know how some stories will end).

Unlike how my wife felt (read her thoughts below!), I already get the feeling we need to saddle up for this final ride now, because everything is going to get packed in at a fast pace. We're getting 18 episodes, and with this show's notorious release cadence and filler episodes, it's sure to have slowdowns, but I feel like they have a long way to go to get to the conclusions we already know, so time will be of the essence.

The writers didn't waste any time playing off nostalgia in this first episode, as we already saw clips from the very first episode (once again). Titled "The Challenger," Tuesday's premiere episode was the traditional birthday story when the Big Three reflect on key moments in life. We saw how far each character has come during their journeys through the first five seasons. Kevin goes from dancing with half-naked girls to helping Madison clean up and take care of the twins. Kate goes from writing "inspiring" notes (read: meanly motivational) on her unhealthy foods in the fridge to a fridge with much cleaner foods in a more organized fashion.

Old Rebecca recounts in great detail the times when she took train rides with her dad as a kid or when she read a train story to her young kids, but she couldn't remember the word caboose. Details will get fuzzier for her as the season goes, no doubt, though (and this is going to sound completely insensitive and crass) the execution of her health issues initially felt clunky and out of place. The authenticity of her outburst later at the dinner table was done much better, though. However you look at it, the beginning of the end is approaching for her, and it's going to get sadder and sadder. Interestingly enough, it was young Rebecca who handled talking about the sad story of the Challenger's explosion with the kids, but who's going to handle old Rebecca's sad story for her?

Randall had another odd, out-of-the-way, impulsive journey of his own. It feels so wrong to get annoyed at him (he can be quite exhausting) when he ends up helping the guy who broke into their house a couple of seasons ago. At least that wasn't his intention; he had some real emotions when he initially talked about confronting the burglar after his arraignment and trash talking him for hurting his family in ways he couldn't understand. But after realizing this guy has physical issues, Randall's passion for helping the people in his city is reignited. I can only hope he doesn't get too obsessed after putting such an incredible strain on his and Beth's marriage when he first took this job. As for his birthday, people are allowed to be the center of attention on their special day, but you know, in a marriage, the day is just as important for the spouse, and Randall definitely ignored Beth's signals too easily (come on, man!).

Kevin's offer to join a reboot of the show that gave him his initial claim to fame is an intriguing sign of growth because it's a step backward for his career; however, he would get to live in L.A. near Madison and be there to help with the kids instead of traveling back and forth all the time. A curveball gets thrown into that mix when Kevin comes home to find Madison getting a little too chummy with a male friend of hers. In a couple of scenes, she seemed very uninterested in Kevin, which makes me feel like she hasn't shaken the same feelings she had when she ran out on their wedding. Such a tenuous situation, and we're only one episode in! Buckle up, everyone.

WIFE'S TWO CENTS

I'm happy the show is back, and I'm interested to see how they wrap everything up. It felt like a slow start, but it might have helped to rewatch last season's finale.

There definitely is a heavy feel. With Rebecca getting sick, I'm worried it's going to get too heavy. Normally the show has ups and downs with dramas, but this season feels like it will always feel heavy; there won't be enough light-heartedness. Kate and Kevin's conversation about how difficult this season of life would be for them felt like they were saying that directly to the audience, too.

It almost feels like we know too much about how it's going to end. Toby and Kate are going to split up, and Kate is going to marry the teacher. I don't like knowing that. I'm mad that they're going to split them up, because now it just feels like we're waiting for the shoe to drop instead of enjoying the moment. Ever since Toby entered the show, Kate and Toby's relationship has been one of the best parts of the show. Toby is fun, and has a big personality and makes big, romantic gestures that brings a warmth to the show. But knowing how it ends puts a damper on their whole story.

The only thing we don't really know is who Kevin ends up with, so maybe there will be a positive ending there if he ends up with Madison.

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