*Warning: Spoilers ahead*
Since the first episode of This Is Us, we’ve collectively praised Jack Pearson (Milo Ventimiglia) as being the paragon of fatherhood. Sure, he had his faults (drinking) and was taken too soon (damn Crock-Pot), but he’s about as beloved as TV dads get. The only issue with that? It’s pushed Rebecca’s (Mandy Moore) wonderful parenting to the side. In the This Is Us season three finale, she was finally vindicated.
Although Rebecca’s story line wasn’t central to the final episodes in season three, she was right there helping her children along. She refused to leave Kate’s (Chrissy Metz) side when baby Jack was born with complications and had no problem uprooting her life to make sure she could be there for her daughter. We saw her stay strong for teenage Randall (Niles Finch) at his graduation despite her grief. We watched as she didn’t judge Kevin (Justin Hartley) for relapsing or bringing Uncle Nicky (Griffin Dunne) into their lives regardless of the difficult memories it stirred in her.
In last night’s finale, Rebecca’s kids express their gratitude to her more openly than they have in the past. Kate grows frustrated with Rebecca when she overshadows her parenting, but later thanks her for always being there. She even says she looks forward to her son being able to experience that “Rebecca Pearson–level magic.”