This story contains plot details from the winter finale of NBCsThis Is Us, which aired Tuesday night.
Does Kate need to make room for another urn in her living room to watch Steelers games with?
(The good news: Looks like Dr. K is going to pull through his scare.)
Credit: NBC
What to make of this literal heart-stopping development?
What would be the right hashtag to start trending at this critical time?
We phoned the man of the end of the hour, Chris Sullivan, to talk Toby.
(Click hereto read Sterling K. Browns thoughts on the traumatic twist.)
CHRIS SULLIVAN:Oh, man.
What was your reaction when they pitched you that scene?
And if you had it to boil it down to three letters, is it WTF?
Yeah, I think you could boil it down to those three letters.
It is a bold and tricky storytelling move that only the writers room ofThis Is Uscould handle.
Do you remember your conversation with [series creator] Dan Fogelman when he pitched to you?
And the director was like, Uh, we cant do that joke.
And I was like, Okay wait a minute, why cant we do that joke?
And he was like, Uh, no, uh, never mind.
And Im like, No, you tell me why I cant do that joke!
And so the cat was out of the bag.
The fall looked pretty real.
Im sure there is a stunt coffee table, but what did it feel like to take that dive?
No, that was a real coffee table.
How dare you minimize my stunt work?
I was definitely sore the next day.
Did they offer you a stunt man and you said, No, Ill take this?
No, it never really came up.
I think they just assumed I was going to do it.
And I wanted to.
The camera gets to do more things.
The other actors get to do more things if its me and not somebody else.
Its just a more full experience for everybody involved, including myself.
The clues are there, but you dont put it together.
I know you cant say too much about what happens next, but… what happens next?
Well, Id say hes definitely one or the other.
You know what I mean?
How about a cryptic clue that will have people poring over what you meant by that statement?
I think I just said it.
Im going to leave it at that.
I start saying any more than that, Im going to get in trouble.
I know theyre listening to these calls.
Theyre listening to these calls right now.
I know theyre listening.
Uhhh…I can neither confirm nor deny that.
In other news, Toby and Kate are back together again!
He might be dead.
What did you think about that move?
What changed from when he hung up the phone on her last week?
And so I think things just became clear.
Is that a danger trying to make something work when these two were already at their impasse?
Yeah, I dont know.
So I guess only time will tell if the choices are healthy choices and loving choices or ill-advised.
How would you describe the emotionality of this episode?
We can never underestimate the emotionality ofThis Is Us.
Just when you think you dont have another tear to cry, we will find a way.
We will find all of your tears.
We will dig down deep, and we will yank them out, whether you like it or not.
What was your favorite moment?
I really enjoyed Tobys entrance.
That was also the first time Ive ever been in a scene with all of those other actors.
Is that something you guys lobby for?
Recently, Kate made the decision to have gastric bypass surgery.
Depending on his fate, what would/will Toby think of that a solution for Kate and her weight issues?
I am not sure where Toby is going to land on that.
There was another surprising moment in this episode, one involving William (Ron Cephas Jones).
What do you think of that reveal?
Did it catch you by surprise?
It didnt catch me by surprise, per se.
As weve learned on a logistical level, anything is possible in theThis Is Usworld.
Because youre going to be asked it a lot.
I havent, but thank you for reminding me that I should probably come up with an answer.
To read the hints that Fogelman dropped about the winter finale,click here.
