Last night's episode of "This is Us" was the NBC drama's 10th, which meant that by now, fans and viewers should know better—there will be a shocker somewhere in the episode. The winter finale titled "Last Christmas" saw another parallel between 2016 and 1989, when Kate first got appendicitis at a very young age. This should have foreshadowed another trip to the hospital come 2016, when Toby gets a heart attack right on Christmas Eve. So much for nothing bad happening on Christmas Eve.
The NBC drama continues to tear open hearts as Toby, one of "This is Us"' most lovable characters, experiences a heart attack on the eve of Christmas day. Just when the show seems to have neatly tie up loose ends by teaching Randall forgiveness and enabling Kevin to move on with Sloane, it ends by leaving Toby's life hanging in a balance.
"This is Us" episode titled "Last Christmas" gave and took away—we saw Dr. K humorously fighting for his life after an accident. The touching throwback to the doctor who was "the reason" why the Pearson family is the way they are, is basically the cherry on top of the cake. The same cake that creator Dan Fogelman quickly pushed out of our hands with Toby's heart attack. It's like they're saying, yes you can be happy, but not really.
This, coupled with the news from Entertainment Weekly that "Longmire"'s Adam Bartley was cast to be Kate's friend during a "trying time" is concerning for Toby-Late (Kaby?) shippers. As the NBC drama continues to tear open hearts, does this mean that Toby is definitely no more? We'll have to wait for January to find out, as last night's episode was the winter finale, complete with a shocking cliffhanger.
It seems that the second half of "This is Us" season 1 will center a lot on Kate and the recent events in her life. There's the arrival of Bartley, as well as "The Walking Dead"'s Alexandra Breckenridge. TV Guide reports that Breckenridge will appear in a recurring role as Kate's childhood friend with whom she reconnects with.
Now that Toby's life is hanging in a balance, do you think he will be killed off "This is Us," just like Milo Ventimiglia's Jack? Comment below your thoughts on last night's "Last Christmas" on "This is Us."