The writers of NBC’s This is us‘ are particularly adept at planting nuggets in episodes of the NBC series that later eventually come to fruition. in the “Any Version of You” a story based on Randall Pearson’s (Sterling K. Brown) relationship With his mother Rebecca (Mandy Moore), the series dropped an apparent breadcrumb trail that could lead Deja back to Malik in a future episode.
Deja and Malik’s first love ended in heartbreak
After a year of relationship Deja (Lyric Ross) and Malik (Asante Blackk) realize that the physical distance between them has taken a toll on their relationship.
Malik was accepted into Harvard University and had a challenging freshman year. He had to balance a long-distance relationship with Deja, tough classes, and young fatherhood.
Deja was ready to drop out of high school and move in with her boyfriend in Boston. However, Randall and Beth (Susan Kalechi Watson) gave them a chilly reception. In return, Randall asked Malik to cool his relationship with Deja. Malik later realized that he loved Deja too much to let her change her life for him.
Randall encouraged the young man to continue his education and told him that if their relationship was to be, it would be independent.
This Is Us fans believe Malik is the father of Deja’s future baby
in one Reddit Poll titled “Will Malik be the father of Deja’s baby?” Fans debated whether the couple would get back together in the future.
“I would like to see Deja grow young. And I like Malik. But I wasn’t a fan of them getting together so young and she dropping out of school and giving up chances for him. Going forward I’m OK with them being together and maybe even with her having his baby,” one viewer wrote.
“I’m leaning towards no because the writers set it up so that it gives us a flash forward showing him as a father (even if it was just future Deja mentioning him to someone) and still we have nothing got it,” wrote a second fan. “Showing it later wouldn’t be as impactful without a prelude like this. If they get back together at this point it could set everything up, but with so much else to do I don’t know if they will.”
“I personally think he’s going to be the baby daddy. Their breakup was because of timing,” shared a third Reddit user.
A fourth viewer then drew parallels between Rebecca and Jack’s (Milo Ventimiglia) love story and that of their granddaughter and Malik.
“I was thinking about the themes of the series like that. When Malik took Deja to Philly in Season 4, she said he made her feel at home. It reminds me of Jack telling Rebecca that by the end of their first date she felt right at home,” explained the viewer.
What we know about her future pregnancy
In a flash-forward scene in Season 5 Episode 9 titled “The Ride”, viewers learn that adult Deja is pregnant.
It’s the first time fans have seen adult Deja and adult Annie driving Deja to Kevin’s house, where the Pearsons meet to visit Rebecca on her deathbed. Annie also seems to be the only one who knows that Deja is pregnant.
“I know it’s early and I know you won’t tell anyone,” Annie tells her sister before giving her a baby toy.
However, the flash forward is believed to occur sometime around 2032 or 2034. A medical intern working with labor and delivery, Deja wears a lab coat as a medical intern.
This is us airs Tuesdays at 9 p.m. EST on NBC.
TIED TOGETHER: This Is Us writer reveals the moment that could define Deja and Malik’s future
https://www.cheatsheet.com/entertainment/this-is-us-viewers-suspect-malik-father-deja-future-baby.html/ This Is Us viewers suspect Malik is the father of Deja’s baby-to-be