Jack was supposed to remind her.
I am dreading this next episode.
I will go on record now: I don’t think Jack dies in the fire.
This is a show that loves misdirection. Remember how we were convinced that Jack died in a drunk driving accident in Season 1? Even in this last episode they did a little bait and switch with the old couple… we were led to believe they were the owners of the house that Jack and Rebecca were going to buy to start up Big Three homes, but it turns out it was a flashback to years ago, and the old couple were apparently neighbors of them when they first bought the house they live in at the time of this episode.
I predict that the house fire (which presumably destroys everything and is very traumatic for the family) is the thing that drives Jack back to drinking, with tragic results one way or another. But not killed directly by the fire.
Just a guess.
I second this.
I third it. Jack definitely does not die in the fire. But I don’t think that he returns to drinking leading to his demise either. Jack has been too idolized for that. The fire leads indirectly to another tragic accident.
If this is true, then how do you explain the scene with Rebecca in tears, pulling up to their burned down house, in the same Steelers jersey, with a bunch of Jack’s stuff in a bag?
My guess is he gets everyone out, but Kate demands that he go back in to save the dog - he rescues the dog, gets out of the house but later dies at the hospital from burns / smoke inhalation.
This would explain why Kate said it was her fault, why she had such trouble with the idea of ever owning another dog, and why she insisted on watching football (it was Superbowl Sunday) with her father’s ashes every Sunday.
And as I typed that, I now understand why NBC wanted to air this episode AFTER THE SUPERBOWL…
I don’t put too much stock in the idea that Jack’s demise is Kate’s fault.
All we know is that she BELIEVES it is her fault, but her feelings may not necessarily reflect reality.
Simple… she is indeed returning from the hospital/funeral home with his personal effects (happens to wearing the same shirt, no one wears clothes just once), but it is actually days/weeks/even months after the fire (does anyone remember specifics of that scene…were there leaves on the trees or other clues to what time of year it was?).
Either by chance or on purpose she drives by the old house and is overcome with the emotion of that loss on top of Jacks death.
Also, i don’t recall if Kevin was shown in a cast in the scenes of Jacks funeral. If not, that would also seem to indicate that some more time has passed between the fire and Jacks death.
Although, we are assuming the scenes are from Jacks funeral, it could be for someone else (another red herring).
True, no one wears clothes just once, but most adults don’t tend to randomly wear sports jerseys “days/weeks/even months” after the end of the sports season, unless they are unusually obsessed, and Rebecca has not been depicted on the show as being that kind of sports fan.
That, and I seem to recall a flashback indicating that Kevin still had a broken leg at the time of Jack’s death, suggesting that, at a minimum, it had not been ‘months’ after the fire.
I feel like this show has been fairly predictable. They stretch things out but big reveals seem to have a LOT of obviously leading up.
In the scene, there is still crime scene tape across the yard, there are still Firemen on the scene, Kevin still has a broken leg with a freshly signed cast, Kate and Randall are at Miguel’s house and he brings them what appears to be fresh blankets, indicating they will be staying with him temporarily. This would not have all happened MONTHS later.
Nope, nu-uh - check it out:
Yeah, I checked that out after I posted… it seems clear that Jack’s death, if not caused by the fire, happens very soon after.
I freely admit I could be wrong about Jack not dying in the fire… in any case I am very much looking forward to the next episode and how they reveal it and even more how the story evolves from this point.
Yes, but why would the kids be at Miguel’s house? Wouldn’t they have gone with their dad to the hospital? I can’t imagine them wanting to be away from their parents at a time like this.
Perhaps this is after he dies at the hospital? Miguel takes the kids home - they obviously need a place to stay since their home has just burned to the ground - and Rebecca stays behind to claim his things and sign some paperwork? Or maybe Rebecca is out looking for Kevin?
Could be. All I know is I’m making sure I have a box of tissue handy and maybe a stiff drink before I watch this, which will be on Monday (10:15p on Sunday is too late for me on a school night.)
Well…there ya have it - smoke inhalation after he went back in to get the dog for his Katie-girl.
Mandy Moore was stunning; Emmy worthy performance IMHO. And I loved the way the scene was shot, with only the reflection in the glass door - just wow. Wife and I were blown away.
And hey look, it’s future Randall!
Good call! (Thumbs up)
Yeah that confused me at first but I figured it out pretty quick. I thought it was odd earlier in the show when the woman told the little boy that she found the perfect family for him. I know we were supposed to think he was going to live with Randall and Beth, but I was wondering why it wasn’t Debra Jo Rupp? More misdirection that this show is so good at.
Scrolling past all the responses to say I will watch it tonight. I’ve avoided social media because I am in a Spoiler Free Zone. I’ll check in after I’ve stopped sobbing.
Heart ripped to shreds, ugly crying. I thought the scene with Kevin by the tree was kind of meh, though, but Kate with the VCR tape was great.
Did anyone catch “Bec” by the vending machine? I thought the show did a fantastic job of showing her shock and denial, “We’re just here for a burn, get out of my way, Jack, get a load of this guy” before she collapsed. And she was so strong for the kids.
I loved future Tess. I wonder what happened that Deja had to come back?
I read somewhere that they edited actual Super Bowl 52 footage into the show. That’s a quick turnaround!