‘This Is Us’: You Win Some, You Lose Jack (RECAP)
Spoiler Alert
[Spoiler Alert: This recap contains spoilers from “Super Bowl Sunday,” Episode 14 of This Is Us Season 2.]
It would be a lie to say that the keyboard from which these words are being written isn’t covered in tears, because they’re absolutely drenched. Super Bowl Sunday may have been a win for the Philadelphia Eagles but it was a loss for the Pearson family as we finally know how Jack (Milo Ventimiglia) died. In the most crucial episode of the second season, This Is Us tore our hearts out but held our hands while it did so.
Last week, after it was revealed that the fire was started by a faulty Crock-Pot, speculation about how Jack would perish took the internet by storm. The key moments leading up to the fire were that Jack took time to pet Kate’s dog, he put her audition tape in the entertainment center, and left a note on Kevin’s door. All three actions were contenders for reasons why Jack would go back in the house.
Justin Hartley as Kevin
The writers didn’t leave us hanging for long, though, as the fire exit was quick, with Jack collecting Kate and Randall from their rooms after Rebecca (Mandy Moore) reminded him that Kevin wasn’t home. The family made a harrowing escape from the roof, but when Kate’s dog Louie started to bark, he dashed back in as more flames engulfed the home. It seemed there was no way that he could make it out, but in true Jack Pearson form, he surprised us by exiting the front door, dog and bag of personal items in hand. Among the personal items are photo albums and Kate’s audition tape, as well as Rebecca’s moon necklace.
Before Jack and Rebecca headed to the hospital, they dropped Kate and Randall at Miguel (Jon Huertas)’s house, and Jack seemed to get the all-clear at the hospital. But when Rebecca stepped out of the hospital room to book a hotel and call her kids, Jack went into cardiac arrest caused by smoke inhalation. And to say the results were devastating would be an understatement.
Faithe Herman as Annie, Sterling K. Brown as Randall
The doctor came to tell Rebecca the news that Jack didn’t make it just as she retrieved a treat from the vending machine. She was in disbelief but the harsh truth became clear the moment she reentered his hospital room to find Jack lifeless on the bed. Memories of their life together mingled with Rebecca signing for Jack’s personal belongings in a hospital office, and the reality of her situation became more and more apparent.
However, it wasn’t watching Jack’s demise that was the hardest part—it was having to watch Rebecca tell her kids what happened, something she knew would “ruin the rest of their life.” The beloved patriarch’s death wasn’t exactly what we expected, but learning the full truth does help us to understand Randall (Sterling K. Brown), Kate (Chrissy Metz), and Kevin (Justin Hartley) in their present timelines.
Chrissy Metz as Kate, Chris Sullivan as Toby
We learn that “The Big 3” have their own traditions for Super Bowl Sunday: Kate wallows by watching her old audition tape made by Jack, Kevin stays firmly in denial, and Randall celebrates his father by throwing a party. Meanwhile, Rebecca makes her late husband’s lasagna and watches the game in his honor.
The present wasn’t the focus of the episode but there were some interesting moments, particularly when Randall’s party went awry after his daughter’s lizard is accidentally stepped on. The resulting memorial for the pet wound up reminding him of his father. Kate’s audition tape got stuck in the VCR, but Toby got it fixed—phew! And, finally, Kevin promised his dad—well, his favorite tree—that he’d make him proud.
The episode took big turns towards the end, see the highlights below for the big moments outside of Jack:
- Kate told Toby that she fell for him because he reminded her of Jack—his unwillingness to give up on her is reminiscent of the first man in her life.
- Kevin admitted he needs to talk about his father more out loud. He also later joined his mom for lasagna and the Super Bowl.
- In a turn of events, This Is Us took us even further into the future, revealing that Randall and Beth’s eldest daughter Tess goes into social work as an adult. And in real time, Déjà returned home to the Pearsons.
With everything that happened in “Super Bowl Sunday,” Tuesday’s episode should be very interesting—and you thankfully only have to wait a couple days!
This Is Us, Tuesdays, 9/8c, NBC
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C
Thank you for clearing up the fact that Tess is the adult social worker placing the young boy at the end - because I didn\'t get it at all and was totally confused by what was going on. Especially after Deja showed up at the house. Also - stretching out Jack\'s death was a bit of a cheat. We were about 100% that this was the episode where he died - so - not in the actual fire - not going back in for the dog (I get the heartstrings of that - but one of the dumbest moves ever) and once he made it to the hospital - no one was confused by the early all clear. Clearly - the smoke inhalation was going to have tragic aftereffects. And when the doctor gave the bad news to Rebecca - shock I get - but not the way it played out. Casually munching on the candy bar like it was some grotesque product placement just didn\'t work. Not for me anyway. As for the kids - present day - Kevin talking to a tree? Lame. Randall going sideways with a bunch of kids after the lizard\'s death and talking about lightning like pain in his tooth? Maybe HE should go commune with a tree. The guy just loves the sound of his own voice. And Kate\'s \"wallowing\" is on my last nerve. Poor Toby is like a human punching bag for her and enough already. I get that she feels responsible for her father\'s death - I guess he didn\'t have to go back for the dog - and jump down off the low roof - but he listened to his daughter and not his wife - and it got him killed. But enough already. As for Rebecca\'s task of talking to her kids - I do agree that that was more emotional than Jack\'s off camera demise - but telling Miguel that she had to tell them news that would \"ruin the rest of their life\"? is a bit overdramatic, overkill and not realistic. Since we\'ve seen their lives 20 years later - they have problems - but none of them are \"ruined\". I lost my father at age 12 - my mother gave me the news when I got home from school. I guess she was a lot stronger than Rebecca in how she did it - because neither my life nor my brothers were ruined. Affected? Of course - you can\'t lose a parent at that age and not be. But that line is a writer\'s line - and not a good one.
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The bit with the candy bar only enhanced that she was in a serious state of disbelief and truly believed the Doctor was confused. I agree with you about Kate. It is becoming harder to want to root for her.
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C
She\'d have to be in the Twilight Zone. She\'s already been in and out of \"shock\" during the fire, right after the fire (watching the house destroyed, not knowing where Kevin is, watching Jack get bandaged up with his burns and hearing him wheeze. I did like the way they had her on the phone while the nurses are all scrambling around in the background - but once the doctor shows up - she not only totally misreads/ignores the look on HIS face, but then ignores/disbelieves his words. It would have to be some cosmic sick joke at that point. She\'s a smart woman. I just didn\'t buy her reaction.
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boo hoo
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