This Is Us: Could We See Jack’s Death Happen on the Next Episode?

The most recent episode of This Is Us was surprisingly light-hearted considering all the turmoil the Big Three have been through lately.

It seems this is simply the calm before the storm, because it looks like Jack could meet his untimely death before the end of This Is Us Season 2 Episode 13, “That’ll Be the Day.”

The mystery surrounding Jack’s death has been building for almost two seasons now and has played a large role in what makes This Is Us such a tear-jerking, emotional show. Especially when every heartwarming moment Jack spends with his teenage kids this season could be his last.

With six episodes left this season, surely the show wouldn’t air such a pivotal moment as soon as next week.

However, during an interview with Entertainment Weekly the producer of This Is Us, Isaac Aptaker, admitted “we are very close,” to Jack’s untimely death. In the same interview, it was also noted by the show’s creator, Dan Fogelman, that viewers will not have to wait until the season finale to see the tragedy go down.

So why would his death take place within the next episode and not a little later in the season? This Is Us has always rewarded those who pay close attention, and if you have been, then you’ve noticed that everything is already in place.

During the flashback at the beginning of the season, we are delivered a scene of Jack’s two children grieving, while Kevin is seen making out with his longtime girlfriend, unaware of what is happening to his family.

The flashback gave viewers many clues. We find out the Pearsons have adopted a dog, Kevin is wearing a cast from breaking his leg, and Randall is sitting next to a girl with red hair who he is presumably dating at the time of Jack’s death.

We also learn the Pearson’s house has burned down in a terrible fire.

On This is Us Season 2 Episode 12, “Clooney,” we see those final pieces fall into place. With Kevin already sporting a cast and a new dog welcomed into their home, viewers watch as Randall’s teenage self finally builds up the courage to ask out the cute redheaded girl working at the mall. Jack even buys Kevin a suit for a winter formal he will likely be trading in for a funeral service.

And in the final moments of the episode, we get a gut-wrenching clue to how the fire may have started as the camera pans out from Rebecca and Jack to a fire detector that is missing batteries. Earlier in the episode, Rebecca asks her husband to remind her to pick up batteries at the mall.

This suggests we could see Jack’s death play out on This Is Us by the end of episode 13, and possibly into the beginning of episode 14.

In a promo released by NBC for “That’ll be the Day,” we hear Jack say to Rebecca that it’s the last day with their kids and they should make it count.

This is not a practically ominous moment until Rebecca lays down next to him on the bed in her Steelers jersey. This is the same jersey she is wearing at the end of the premiere when she stands in front of their burning house with Jack’s personal possessions already in her car. A detail that suggests he did not make it out of the house alive.

Kate and Randall can also be seen wearing the same clothes they were wearing in the premiere flashback when they are presumably reacting to the news of their father’s passing.

That’s not even the worst part. The title, “That’ll Be The Day,” comes from the famous song by Buddy Holly. If you know the song then, of course, you know the full lyric is actually, “That’ll be the day that I die,” and you are already a sobbing mess of tears.

Now, this is all just speculation at this point.

Considering the timeline and how little we actually know about who is where when what goes down, the fire could also have nothing to do with Jack’s death or the fire could everything to do with it.

With all the details in place, however, there isn’t much more room for stalling when it comes to the flashback scenes, and by the looks of how quickly This Is Us has set the stage for Jack’s finale, they have no plans to wait.

This Is Us has always been exceptionally good at hitting us when we least expect it. This show did it when Kate walked into the living room with Jack’s urn in her hand and they will do it again with Jack’s death.

All evidence suggests Jack will stare death in the face by the end of next week’s episode and none of us will be even close to ready.

Do you think we’ll see how Jack dies in the upcoming episode? Or will it be later? Share your thoughts with us in the comments below!

This Is Us airs Tuesdays at 9/8c on NBC.

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