Source: NBC
Ever since the passionate fans of This Is Us found out in season one that Jack Pearson is in fact dead in the present day, there have been endless theories about his death.
Early on in the series, all signs pointed to a devastating plane crash claiming the life of the Pearson patriarch, but now we know his death is related to the fire that burns down the family’s home, and all of season two has been leading up to the monumental and tragic episode which will be airing on Sunday, February 4 following Super Bowl LII. With only days to go before audiences finally see exactly how Jack died, even more theories are coming forward.
No one believes it is as simple as Jack simply dies in the fire. One theory suggests that Kate blames herself for her dad’s death because they all make it out alive but she begs him to go back and rescue their dog, Louie, claiming the life of Jack and Louie. This theory works particularly well with the last episode in which Kate struggled with adopting a dog because of the difficult memories that came with it.
Another theory is that again Jack makes it out at first, but goes back in to save Kevin because he has no idea that Kevin isn’t home. While Kevin had called his mother to apologize and say he was staying the night at Sophie’s, Jack didn’t know that and could think his son came home late, and with a cast would have limited mobility to get himself out of a fire. This Is Us star Mandy Moore confirmed in a new interview that Rebecca never told Jack that Kevin wasn’t coming home. “[Jack] had no idea because [Rebecca] got that phone call where [Kevin] was like, ‘I’m going to stay with Sophie,’ and I don’t think I relayed that to him.” Both the Kevin and Louie theories are then connected to an additional theory in which the family has simply told Kevin that Jack went back into the house to save the dog so that Kevin doesn’t feel guilty for being the reason Jack goes back into the burning home.
A third theory takes the focus off of Kevin and back on Kate and is supported by some interesting “evidence.” Reddit users shared their theory that fans should have been paying closer attention to the fact Randall went and saw Titanic instead of spending Super Bowl Sunday with his family. As mentioned, Kate somehow blames herself for her dad’s death, and it just so happens that Randall saw Titanic, a film in which JACK Dawson dies/sacrifices himself to save KATE Winslet’s character, Rose.
Last but not least, there is a theory with a lot less intricate detail that simply suggests Jack doesn’t die in the fire at all. Instead, he is rushed to the hospital and it is there he dies from injuries/smoke inhalation. This theory about Jack not actually dying in the fire is actually becoming very popular because of the scene that was in an earlier season two episode in which Rebecca is seemingly driving back from the hospital with Jack’s belonging’s in a plastic bag beside her, none of which are burned. Additionally, Randall and Kate are with Miguel at the time while Kevin is still with Sophie which could suggest Jack is in somewhat stable condition when rushed to the hospital where he suddenly dies before the kids can get there.
While no one will know for sure exactly what happens until the episode airs, we do know it will be an intense episode. “The episode that is airing after the Super Bowl is insane. We had to shoot for three nights in the middle of nowhere. They rebuilt the house in order to be able to burn it, and it was intense to say the least. I’d never done anything like that before,” Mandy Moore said.