NBC has yet to order a new set of episodes of This Is Us Season 4, but news about the show's next installment now emerges. Details about Melanie Liburd's exit as a series regular surprise a lot of fans, but there is a big possibility that she will still return in future episodes.
Kevin (Justin Hartley) and Zoe (Liburd) broke up in the previous season finale, and it might be the last time fans would see the 31-year-old star as a series regular. She was first introduced as Beth's (Susan Kelechi Watson) cousin in Season 2 finale and was promoted as series regular before Season 3 premiered.
In an interview with executive producer Isaac Aptaker, he told TVLine that it would be unfair for Liburd if she would be in contractual for This Is Us Season 4 given Kevin's new storyline. "We don't want to hold on to her and then not have the real estate for her," he said. The British actress has an amazing talent, so there are a lot of opportunities that may be coming for her in the future if she is not roped in the show.
However, it might not be the last time that fans would see Zoe in the show. "Whenever there are opportunities for Zoe to come back - which [would be] pretty organic because she touches on Kevin's life as well as, of course, Beth and Randall's (Sterling K. Brown) life - we're eager to have her back," Aptaker added.
Executive producer Elizabeth Berger, on the other hand, added Zoe is a member of the Pearson family. So, it is safe to assume that she will be back in an episode or two. However, the two EPs didn't reveal if Liburd will still make an appearance on This Is Us Season 4.
The previous season finale set the stage for This Is Us Season 4, although NBC has yet to renew the series. The Pearson family will be in a new era, and it may put its focus on Kevin. According to Cinema Blend, the past few episodes featured Kevin's story.
Kevin remains to be a happy-go-lucky guy without making hard choices and not seeing his life in the bigger picture. Things come easily for him, and everything works out just fine. So when Zoe told him that he needs to decide what is important for him and what would happen in the next 20 years, they ended up breaking up.
From here, Kevin realizes he is getting old, and he has to start deciding for what he wants in life. As Season 3 gave him a lot of wakeup calls, This Is Us Season 4 might show how these things motivated him that would eventually lead to his change.
