How Jan Broberg Plays an Integral Part of 'A Friend of the Family' Finale

Peacock's true crime drama A Friend of the Family retells the kidnapping and abuse that Jan Broberg faced as a child at the hands of paedophile Robert "B" Berchtold.

Between 1972 and 1976, Broberg's abuser manipulated and groomed her as a child before abducting her twice, once at the age of 12 and again at 14.

Since this experience, Broberg has aimed to help other survivors and has also set up the Jan Broberg Foundation to help empower them and their families to speak out against their abusers. But, she also plays an important role in the finale of the drama, which premiered on November 10.

How Jan Broberg Plays an Integral Part of 'A Friend of the Family' Finale

Viewers may or may not notice that Broberg takes on a guest role in the A Friend of the Family finale, one that proves to be integral to understanding her own journey since being abused by Berchtold as a child.

Broberg plays a therapist to her onscreen counterpart, portrayed by Mckenna Grace, and she appears in two scenes in the finale, one with Grace's Jan and another with her onscreen father, Bob, played by Colin Hanks.

In the first scene, Broberg watches as Grace's Jan draws a picture of her sister alone at the beach, and she tries to reassure her onscreen counterpart that Berchtold (Jake Lacy) is "an adult" so she shouldn't think that they have the "same responsibilities."

Then, later, when she meets with Hanks' Bob, she tells him how as Jan's father he will need to give her "freedom to grow up" but to also know that it is "important to keep engaging her so when she's ready to talk she knows you'll be there for her."

Broberg's character then adds that she believes there will come a time when Jan will be willing to speak about what she went through with B, adding that "she'll carry them with her throughout her life," but reassures Bob that there is a "path to healing" for the Broberg family.

These scenes seem to reflect the reality that Broberg went through with her own family and having her say them appears to be a way in which she expresses the exact things she felt and needed at the time from her parents, Mary Ann and Bob.

Broberg's reassurance that the family will have a "path of healing" reflects how she and her real-life family were able to do the same.

A Friend of the Family is available to watch in full on Peacock.