https://ew.com/tv/this-is-us-season-5-two-episodes-shorter/
This season was originally supposed to run 18 episodes. Instead, only 16 will air, with three remaining, including the May 25 season finale. Earlier this year, This Is Us had to delay production due to the rise in COVID-19 cases in Los Angeles.
This Is Us' Season 5 finale twist proves it has a longer, more unexpected endgame in mind (https://tv.avclub.com/a-cathartic-this-is-us-finale-teases-another-big-myster-1846961555)
"Watching this heartfelt but also scattered finale, it’s hard not to think about what this season of This Is Us might have been if the show hadn’t decided to make the pandemic part of its storytelling," says Caroline Siede. "If it had followed through on Rebecca attending the clinical trial in St. Louis and the dark turn Randall took in coercing her to sign up for it. Hell, I’m even just curious what this existing season would’ve looked like if it hadn’t been shortened by two episodes. But, like Kevin and Madison, we have to deal with the reality of what’s in front of us, not the dream of what we wish things could be. And, on the whole, I think 'The Adirondacks' does a fairly effective job putting a capper on this uneven season. Looking back, season five managed to cover an impressive amount of storytelling ground. It introduced a trio of new babies, wove Uncle Nicky firmly into the family fold, and delivered a bunch of reckonings around Randall’s identity. At the very least, season five will forever be a time capsule of this incredibly strange year and a half—with one truly great pandemic-related episode to show for it. But right now I’m more interested in looking forward to This Is Us’ future than I am on reflecting back on what we just watched."
ALSO:
This Is Us creator Dan Fogelman explains how the Season 5 finale shocker sets up the series finale (https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/tv/tv-features/this-is-us-season-5-finale-dan-fogelman-1234958463/): "All of those timelines are going to be brought to completion and explained," he says. "There will be no looming questions when we get though the end of next season. Everything will be resolved.”
Fogelman on the season finale twist: "It’s been part of our plan all along" (https://variety.com/2021/tv/features/this-is-us-season-5-finale-wedding-spoilers-interview-1234981625/)
Chrissy Metz admits being concerned about This Is Us fans following the finale twist (https://www.etonline.com/chrissy-metz-says-shes-concerned-for-fans-after-this-is-us-finale-twist-166409)
Mandy Moore says some of the series finale was already shot "like seasons ago" (https://deadline.com/2021/05/this-is-us-stars-mandy-moore-chrissy-metz-caitlin-thompson-tease-season-6-spoilers-series-finale-1234764429/)
Moore says she's "scared" and "excited" for the final season (https://ew.com/tv/mandy-moore-this-is-us-season-5-finale/)
The Season 5 finale underscored why it's time for This Is Us to say goodbye (https://www.cnn.com/2021/05/25/entertainment/this-is-us-season-finale-review/index.html)