This Is Us' latest image from season 4 reveals the Big Three in their nursery years, teasing fans of a new timeline in the show's upcoming outing. While the series primarily features the grown up version of the Pearson kids played by Justin Hartley, Chrissy Metz and Sterling K. Brown, the NBC family drama's non-linear storytelling format allows the public to see them at their different points in their lives. Throughout in its first three seasons, the series has featured them as infants, toddlers, preteens and teenagers, this is the first time that they're unveiling them during their pre-school period.
After three successful years, the show is locked for another three seasons after it was awarded a multi-year renewal from NBC back in May. Season 3 ended with a significant flash forward. It's uncertain what year the parting sequence was set exactly, but Pearson matriarch Rebecca (Mandy Moore) was noticeably much older, and seemingly in her deathbed. During this scene, fans only saw Randall, although there's confirmation that Kevin is also still around. No mention or sightseeing of Kate, however. It will be quite a while before This Is Us visits the future again, but season 4 promises to tackle an era that has yet to be featured in the show as evidenced by a new photo.
Courtesy of creator Dan Fogelman is an image of the Big Three - but not the one fans are used to. This version sees Kevin, Kate and Randall during their pre-school years in This Is Us. Fogelman captioned his Twitter post "I'm dead," presumably a reference to how adorable the three kids are all bundled together. Check out the snap below:
A new version of the Big Three means seeing Papa and Mama Pearson in a whole different timeline as well. Fans already know that This Is Us season 4 premiere will dive back into Jack (Milo Ventimiglia) and Rebecca's early courtship days in the '70s. After their shotgun road trip to Los Angeles, they return to Philadelphia pretty much knowing that they found their perfect match. As Fogelman teased, the remaining three seasons of the show will shift focus to the Pearson matriarch from her deceased husband, so the public can expect more narrative from Rebecca's point of view, potentially as a set-up for her eventual demise teased in the season 3 flash forward finale. On top of meeting her father, Once Upon A Time alumni Jennifer Morrison's undisclosed role may also have to do something about Rebecca's story.
It's uncertain when these adorable kids will appear in the show, but assuming that This Is Us is filming in a linear fashion, chances are that they'll debut early in the season. There's a myriad of ways to incorporate the kids at this age, but if it'll immediately jump on developing Rebecca's arc, the Big Three starting school must've been a hectic period for the mother. Past seasons of the show established how much Jack sacrificed for his family, perhaps its time that the show honors everything his wife has done for their brood.
Source: Dan Fogelman