From the very first episode, the show threw curveballs that left viewers stunned. Let’s take a look back at some of the most jaw-dropping moments.
They’re All Related and Have the Same Birthday — and There Are Different Timelines
SEASON 1, EPISODE 1
It all began on Sept. 20, 2016. The pilot left us believing we were watching separate storylines about people celebrating their 36th birthdays: Jack and his pregnant wife Rebecca, Randall who just found his birth father, and twins Kate and Kevin. The big twist? Jack and Rebecca’s story was set decades earlier. Rebecca gives birth to triplets, losing one, and adopts a baby left at a fire station—Randall. One family, two timelines, a massive twist!
Rebecca Is Married to… Miguel?
SEASON 1, EPISODE 2
Just as we were wrapping our heads around the timelines, another curveball hit us. In the present day, Rebecca is shown arriving for dinner at Randall’s with… Miguel, Jack’s old friend. Are Rebecca and Jack no longer together? Is Jack dead? So many questions!
William and Rebecca Have Known Each Other for Years
SEASON 1, EPISODE 3
Randall finds his birth father, William, and introduces him to Rebecca. Surprise! William greets Rebecca like an old friend. Flashbacks reveal Rebecca met William after Randall’s birth and promised William to keep his identity a secret. William’s connection to Randall runs deeper than we thought.
William Has a Boyfriend
SEASON 1, EPISODE 10
During a Christmas episode, we meet Jessie, a man William bickers with at a Narcotics Anonymous meeting. It soon becomes clear that they’re in love. William, battling cancer, reconnected with Jessie just in time for a heartwarming holiday.
Kevin Always Loved Sophie
SEASON 1, EPISODE 13
It’s birthday time for the Big Three, and we see a young Kevin declaring his love for Kate’s friend, Sophie, at a family birthday party. In present day, Kevin reconnects with adult Sophie, his ex-wife, revealing their deep-rooted love story.
Jack Makes It Through the Fire
SEASON 2, EPISODE 14
We knew Jack’s death was pivotal, and the mystery of it unfolds with an intense house fire. Jack heroically saves his family—and the dog! Just as we think he’s fine, he goes into cardiac arrest at the hospital. The emotional rollercoaster rides on as Rebecca loses him, breaking our hearts in the process.
That’s Grown-Up Tess!
SEASON 2, EPISODE 14
Randall and Beth decide to foster a child, Déjà. As Déjà’s story unfolds, we’re introduced to a boy in foster care and assume he’s moving in with the Pearsons. Instead, he’s going home with another family, and the social worker is revealed to be a grown-up Tess!
Nicky Is Alive
SEASON 3, EPISODE 9
We learn about Jack’s brother, Nicky, who supposedly died in the Vietnam War. Fast forward, Kevin’s search in Vietnam reveals Nicky didn’t die in the war. A quick switch shows Nicky, alive and living in a trailer. Who knew Jack’s biggest secret was this huge?
New Characters, New Questions
SEASON 4, EPISODE 1
Season 4 introduced new characters, like Marine Cassidy Sharp and Malik, who becomes Déjà’s love interest. We also meet an unidentified blind musician, who turns out to be grown-up baby Jack, fulfilling the musical aspirations of his mother and grandmother.
Randall Confronts Rebecca
SEASON 4, EPISODE 9
We couldn’t ignore Rebecca’s memory lapses. Finally, Randall steps in, and she agrees to a medical evaluation. The verdict? Mild cognitive impairment possibly due to Alzheimer’s, casting a shadow over the Pearson clan’s future.
That’s Kate and Toby’s Daughter
SEASON 4, EPISODE 18
A young woman named Hailey seems random until it’s revealed she’s Jack and Lucy’s daughter—and Kate and Toby’s future child. Talk about a time-hopping shocker!
Kevin and Madison Are Having Twins
SEASON 4, EPISODE 18
Kevin and Madison’s one-night stand leads to her pregnancy—with twins! Amid the pandemic, they decide to pod together, eventually becoming a family and planning to marry.
Laurel Didn’t Die That Day
Randall’s birth mom, Laurel, didn’t die from an overdose as we thought. She survived, returning to her native New Orleans and living a full life. After her death from cancer, Randall discovers he inherited her lake house through a connection with her lover, Hai.
Kate Had an Abortion
SEASON 5, EPISODE 5
We learn about young Kate’s traumatic relationship with her boss, Marc. After realizing Marc is abusive, 18-year-old Kate ends up pregnant and decides on an abortion, a secret she keeps for years.
Madison Dumps Kevin at the Altar
SEASON 5, EPISODE 16
As their wedding day approaches, Madison realizes Kevin doesn’t truly love her. She decides she won’t settle for anything less, calling off the wedding while standing in her white dress.
Kate and Toby Split Up — and Kate Marries Her ‘Mean Jerk’ Boss?
SEASON 5, EPISODE 16
KaToby’s relationship crumbles as Toby’s job in San Francisco takes a toll. Meanwhile, Kate’s new job brings tension with her boss, Phillip. Flash forward, and Kate’s about to marry him!
Nicky Finds Love
SEASON 6, EPISODE 2
On a flight back to the cabin, Nicky meets Edie, an outspoken flight attendant. They hit it off, and in the future, it’s revealed that Edie becomes an important part of his life.
An Accident Damaged Kate and Toby’s Marriage
SEASON 6, EPISODE 3
As the show nears its end, adult Jack Damon’s scar hints at the exact moment that Kate and Toby’s marriage was irreparably damaged—a disastrous barbecue involving a Big Green Egg.
Miguel Moved to Houston Because of Rebecca
SEASON 6, EPISODE 7
Finally, the origin of Rebecca and Miguel’s relationship is unveiled. Miguel moved to Houston to escape his unrequited love for Rebecca. Thanks to social media, they reconnected and filled the gap years later.
