As This is Us draws to an end, show creator Dan Fogelman pens emotional note for those who watched

The much-loved series This is Us wound up today. After six seasons of life with the Pearsons, showrunner Dan Fogelman pulled the plug on it, at a time he thought was just right to bow out in style. Shortly after the series finale aired, Dan took to social media to share a heartfelt note to those who watched the show featuring Milo Ventimiglia, Mandy Moore, Justin Hartley, Chrissy Metz, Sterling K Brown, among others, thanking them for the time they invested in being a part of this train ride. Here’s Dan’s note for those who watched.

“When I was a little boy, my mom allowed me to choose two shows every week that I was allowed to stay up and watch. Without fail, I always chose A-Team and Knight Rider. Obviously. As I got older, new shows became ‘my shows’. Family Ties. Cheers, of course. Eventually, ER. Friends, The West Wing, The Sopranos, The Wire, Breaking Bad.”

“I got older (Shit). I got married (Thank God). “My shows” became “our shows”. The ones we blocked out time to watch together. This is a complicated martial negotiation, of course. There are some shows we don’t want to wait on one another for – she blew through Peaky Blinders without me. I didn’t wait for her on Severance. I heard about it later.”

“But there are some shows that are “our shows”. The ones we always watch together. Top Chef and Alone, our reality go-to’s. For these, we pick two contestants each after the first episode, so we can have a rooting interest (yes, we’re adorable and /or pretty strange). We blew through Mare of Eastown, Chernobyl and White Lotus, The Act and Escape at Dannemora. Almost all of Handmaid’s Tale. Too many to count. And obviously, this is not unique to us. The never-fails conversation restarter at a dinner party these days is, “So, what are you guys watching right now?” A moment where you get to hear what someone else’s “shows” are. And maybe discover your next one.”

“On rare occasion, I’ve been lucky enough to hear that our show is someone’s show. This Is Us’ has been a bittersweet but lovely march for those who have worked on it. We’ve now had so many occasions to clink glasses and give gifts, and say sentimental things to other sentimental people at a sentimental moment in time.”

“It is not lost on me how many shows there are out there, how many answers there are to the ‘what are you watching’ question at the stilted dinner party,” he wrote. “It is not lost on me that people come home from long days at work, and long days with children, at a tricky time in the world – and get just a few hours to themselves. And if you’ve chosen to spend ANY of those hours with us – whether you stayed from start to finish, or lapsed somewhere in between – I just want to say thank you.”

“Watching This is Us is a contact sport. And in a way, I’ve always felt this show has been a bit of a hug between those making it and those watching. Which sounds incredibly cheesy and - logistically – would be awkward and impossible. But you know what I mean. I hope tonight satisfies you and leaves you thinking, and feeling, and even smiling. I hope it makes you feel as full as your response to this show has made us feel, all these years. And so, from the bottom of my heart, on behalf of all of ‘Us’. Thank you for taking this train ride with us. It’s been the trip of a lifetime.”

All six seasons of This is Us are available to stream on Disney+Hotstar in India.