Spoilers ahead!
This Is Us aired a special episode right after last night’s Super Bowl LII — fittingly titled “Super Bowl Sunday” — and fulfilled its promise to finally reveal how Jack died. Previous episodes, fan theories, and even this week’s preview all implied that it would be a house fire that caused Jack to die; however, that’s not exactly what happened.
There was, of course, a house fire (thanks to a faulty crock-pot) and once the entire Pearson family (minus Kevin, who was out with Sophie) was safely out of the house, Jack went back in after seeing how distraught Katie was over her dog still being inside. Right after he went in, there was a fire explosion that blocked his exit. Katie, Randall and Rebecca assumed the worst and began crying — only for Jack to come walking out the front door, dog in tow.
Wait, what?!
Yep — Jack didn’t die in the fire. But since the episode’s previews had explicitly stated that all of our questions will be answered, fans knew something was coming — they just didn’t know how.
I ugly cried cause I thought Jack died in the fire…And he didn’t. Hmmmm… #ThisIsUs
— Niki D. Lo (@SwtNLo72) February 5, 2018
MY EXACT REACTION WHEN JACK WENT BACK INTO THE BURING HOUSE AND THE WINDOW CAUGHT FIRE BUT YOU HEAR THE BARKS AND HIS SEE HIM COME OUT OF THE SMOKE #ThisIsUs pic.twitter.com/4GwkuqyhhW
— jeremiah s. jackson (@_JeremiahJacks_) February 5, 2018
Jack was taken to the hospital for his burns and because of how much smoke he inhaled, but once he and Rebecca were there, everything seemed fine. The couple reflected on being at that same hospital when Kate, Randall and Kevin were born and expressed how happy they were to have each other. But when Rebecca left the hospital room to check on her kids and arrange a hotel for the night, it became clear what was going to happen. When she’s on the phone, we see doctors rushing into Jack’s room. One eventually emerges and relays the news: Jack went into cardiac arrest because of how much smoke he inhaled, and he didn’t make it.
Cue. The. Tears.
JACK PEARSON DID NOT SURVIVE VIETNAM, ALCOHOLISM, AND A FIRE TO GO OUT LIKE THIS… #ThisIsUs pic.twitter.com/N7Jwpe6GQC
— DJ (@IamnotnotBatman) February 5, 2018
You told me to prepare. You warned me. And yet. Here I am. Still broken and in a puddle of #ThisIsUs
— Alissa Gould (@Alissalorraine) February 5, 2018
I have to literally tell myself THIS ISN’T real ?. #ThisIsUs
— Reggie Lee (@MrReggieLee) February 5, 2018
Me calling into work on Monday like:
“Hello, yes, there has been a death in the family. I’m gonna need the day off”#ThisIsUs #jackpearson— Rachael Barth (@_Rachael_ann_) February 5, 2018
The cast — Milo Ventimiglia in particular — was adorable on Twitter, making sure to check in with fans.
Hope everyone is feelin ok. Was a tough night. But I was happy to be with these 3 (@Logan_Shroyer you were missed bud). #ThisIsUs. MV pic.twitter.com/H0jWtAAx5m
— Milo Ventimiglia (@MiloVentimiglia) February 5, 2018
Just so everyone knows it….#JackPearson lives in all of our hearts. He’s you. He’s me. He’s Us. Thank you all for supporting our show. We love you all :) And this isn’t the end of Jack. Stay tuned. #ThisIsUs. MV
— Milo Ventimiglia (@MiloVentimiglia) February 5, 2018
Ooof.? I think we could all use a little support right now. Come on in. #ThisIsUs pic.twitter.com/PfG2HyVZy6
— Mandy Moore (@TheMandyMoore) February 5, 2018
So, yeah. That was rough! AND WE DON’T EVEN HAVE THAT MUCH TIME TO RECOVER.
Wow. Okay, so there’s just two days to recover before a new episode?? OKAY. #ThisIsUs
— Sterling K Brown (@SterlingKBrown) February 5, 2018
BRB, heading to the store to stock back up on Kleenex.