This Is Us Roundtable: Super Bowl Sunday

This Is Us finally revealed how Jack died on Sunday during a special Super Bowl episode that left fans feeling far from super. The hour was filled with some of the most well written and devastating moments on television as the Pearsons’ house and lives went up in flames.

Tell-Tale TV writers Ashley Bissette Sumerel, Lauren Busser, Shabnaj Chowdhury, Alicia Gilstorf and Starry Constellation Magazine writer Jamie Steinberg discuss This Is Us Season 2 Episode 14, “Super Bowl Sunday” below.

• Ashley Bissette Sumerel (@ashleybsumerel)
• Lauren Busser (@LaurenBusser)
• Shabnaj Chowdhury (@shabnajwrites)
• Alicia Gilstorf (@AliciaGilstorf)
• Jamie Steinberg (@NotYerAvgChick)

Do you think it was necessary to the story for Jack’s character to die or would another tragedy have still done the show justice?

Ashley: I think any other tragedy would have made for a completely different show. What’s so interesting about the fire is the timing — he didn’t die of old age, we didn’t see it coming, and even better, we got to see him be the hero and save his family.

Lauren: I feel like it was necessary for Jack to die. I still didn’t want to see him die, but he was the glue that held the Pearson family together and had the biggest presence. So I think that with him gone, it did leave this void that leads to great stories.

I think it’s cruel that he died on Super Bowl Sunday when he LOVES the Super Bowl!

Shabnaj: I’ve wrangled with this all of Season 1, but I’ve come to accept that Jack being omitted from the present timeline works because grief and loss are such important themes to the show. It’s bittersweet. It adds a lot of depth to The Big Three, which I love.

Alicia: As much as I hate to admit it, Jack Pearson death was necessary to the story. Like his flaws, Jack’s demise only made his character more perfect.

He was a selfless person to the point that he would sacrifice his own life if it meant he could save Kate’s dog and a couple of family keepsakes. No other character could measure up to that, unfortunately. It was his heartbreaking loyalty to his family that was ultimately his greatest downfall, but some of the realist moments on this show have revolved around how he lived and died.

That being said, Jack Pearson dying from a Widowmaker heart attack, on the night of the Super Bowl no less, was brutally emotional to watch. I don’t know whether to curse the writers or applaud them at this point.

Jamie: It was necessary to lose Jack. This show is based on how these individuals’ lives were shaped by losing someone they loved/was so important to them. Losing Jack was integral to the show.

What was your reaction when Jack burst out of the burning house with the dog?

Ashley: Man, I bawled like a baby. But, I also knew that meant he was just going to die from complications later.

Lauren: “Oh, thank goodness!”

Shabnaj: Tentative relief. No, but it was great to have some more time with Jack.

Alicia: My first reaction was “Yes!” quickly followed by an “Oh no…” when I realized he could drop dead at any moment from complications with smoke inhalation.

Jamie: That was a lot of smoke he inhaled. I was quite certain before the episode that Jack would run back into the burning house to save the dog — only he wouldn’t survive. When he emerged with the dog, all I could think about was, “WOW! Okay…so…how does he die then?”

This episode was filled with many moments of grief, loss, and hope. Was there a specific moment that stood out as your favorite?

Ashley: My favorite was actually probably Jack bursting out of the house with the dog. Even though he died later, I’m glad we had that moment, and I’m glad he didn’t die in the fire because I think that would have been so much more horrific. A close second is when he showed Rebecca the other things he was able to save from the house.

Lauren: I really like the moment when the doctor was breaking the news to Rebecca. The moment of doubt, and her taking a bite of the candy bar just read as really human to me.

Shabnaj: I think there were two that worked the most for me. First was Rebecca’s breakdown. Mandy Moore killed that scene. The second is Kevin and Rebecca talking on the phone. I thought it was just so beautiful and hopeful for the future.

Alicia: The entire scene in the hospital where Rebecca learns Jack has passed away might just be my favorite moment in all of television history. The moment was so subtle and detailed, from the nurses beginning to panic in the background as Rebecca talks to Kate on the phone to hearing Jack whisper “Bec” seconds before the doctor appears to give her the bad news.

Even the choice to show only Rebecca’s reaction and not Jack’s body was such a perfect detail. The scene was so real and human, it didn’t feel like it was happening to a fictional character.

Jamie: Definitely the candy bar scene. Rebecca is in shock because she just left her husband to make a couple phone calls and find something to eat. When the doctor tells her Jack is gone and she still takes a bite of the candy bar….you lose it. It’s real.

Did you see the time-jump coming with Randall’s daughter, Tess, turning out to be the social worker? Do you think this twist is a smart move for the show moving forward?

Ashley: Full disclosure: I didn’t get to watch this when it aired, and I happened to see a photo of Sterling K. Brown aged with make-up on Instagram, so I had a clue. But yes, I realized that social worker was Tess almost immediately.

I think the twist is an interesting idea as long as the show is careful with it. I think glimpses of the future could be really interesting, but I worry if it goes too far in that direction.

Lauren: I didn’t see it coming, but I actually kind of like it. The show is about a family through time, and it feels like a natural continuation of that. Showing Tess and Randall’s relationship in glimpses is actually kind of sweet. It also made me think of Lost where we saw the same characters in the past, present, and future over five seasons.

I just hope they don’t jump too far into the future too soon. I am not ready to say goodbye to the present day Pearsons.

Shabnaj: I was so surprised! I actually loved the twist and thought this was a great way to introduce a new element to the story just as we were closing the chapter of Jack’s mysterious death.

Alicia: I was caught completely off guard by the time-jump. I had just assumed the social worker was assisting Randall to find a foster-child and that a time-jump wouldn’t be introduced for several more seasons. When aged Randall showed up I was still busy wiping tears from my eyes. It was truly a brilliant move for the show considering Jack’s death drove the story forward for the last two season and is a strong reassurance that there is still plenty story left to tell.

As long as everyone is still alive in the future I should be okay.

Jamie: I didn’t see it coming. I knew she wasn’t a fan of the landline at the start of the episode, but there is no indication that it is because she feels ignored.

Yes, she hid in Kevin’s car before, but she stated that it was because she wanted to spend more time with him. It wasn’t a cry for attention to me. So, I didn’t see her wanting to become a social worker until they flash forward and you think, “That makes sense. Good for you, girl.” I don’t know if it is always going to be future-forward from now on, but it was great to see what future Tess is like.

What are your hopes for the rest of season 2? Is there a specific storyline you would like to see explored?

Ashley: I’m really interested to explore more of Jack’s addition and the time when he was away from his family and living with Miguel. But mostly, I’m along for the ride and am just excited to see what comes next now that we’ve gotten this big reveal.

Lauren: I have always really like Randall and Beth’s relationship, so I would like to see where that goes. I am also glad to see Daysia come back into the picture. I felt like there had to be more to that.

Shabnaj: I’m interested in seeing more of Rebecca and Miguel. I want to learn more about their backstory and see what their marriage is like today without looking at it through someone else’s eyes.

Alicia: There was a moment where Rebecca was telling Kevin about her Super Bowl traditions and he made a joke in such a Jack Pearson way that it made me go, “wow Kevin looks so much like his father right now.”

Which is ridiculous because this is a television show and none of these characters are actually related. But the moment felt so real between the two of them that I believed it. So I would love to see more of Rebecca and Kevin’s dynamic as they rekindle their relationship.

Jamie: It’s hard for me to give a hope for the rest of Season 2. The show is so perfectly written that I don’t know if I could dare put expectations on it. All I know is I love hearing William narrate. It’s calming. It’s lyrically written. It’s touching.

I guess my only other hope would be seeing Kevin’s relationship with his mom moving forward now that they’ve cleared the air. I hope this continues to bring them closer.

If you could sum up this episode with one gif, what would it be?

Ashley:

Lauren:

Shabnaj:

Alicia:

Jamie:

What did you think of this episode of This Is Us? Respond to our roundtable questions with your own answers in the comments below! You can also check out our review of This Is Us Season 2 Episode 14, “Super Bowl Sunday,” right here.

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

21 TV Dramas We Loved in 2017