‘This Is Us’ Midseason Finale Recap: ‘Last Christmas’ Puts Two Fan-Favorite Characters in Danger

Christmas is a time for reunions, revelations and potentially life-threatening car accidents, suicide attempts and heart attacks.

Unfortunately, Dr. K.  is in dire straits — he’s got severe internal bleeding after a bad car accident, and his family is probably too far away to make it to the hospital in time to say goodbye before the surgery required kills him.

[...] Kevin has to pretend to be playwright Sloane’s (Milana Vayntrub) boyfriend at her family’s Hanukah dinner, ultimately leading not to romance, but to the two of them deciding to put their play on themselves after producers pulled out amidst their leading lady Olivia (Janet Montgomery) disappearing.

[...] Kate is overjoyed by the sudden appearance of Toby (Chris Sullivan), who flew all the way from L.A. in a middle seat in order to declare his love for her.

In the final moments of the episode, as everyone’s getting along and basking in the warmth of the holiday, Toby collapses, sweaty and pale, in the middle of the living room — followed by a brief hospital scene showing doctors and nurses desperately trying to revive him.