‘This Is Us’ season 2 was picked up by NBC last September 2016 for a full 18 episodes. Creator Dan Fogelman teased Randall’s fate in the second installment. Meanwhile, Justin Hartley hinted that Jack’s death will be “unexpected and heartbreaking.”
The latest episode for NBC’s new drama-comedy television series, titled “Memphis,” only aired recently last February 21 but series creator Dan Fogelman already hinted at what to expect for season 2. During an interview with Entertainment Weekly, Fogelman teased Randall’s (Sterling K. Brown) fate in the new storyline following his father’s death in the latest episode.
When asked about the lessons Randall will pull out of the devastating experience, Fogelman teased, “I think you’ll see a lot of that in our next episode, and then really bleeding heavily into next season. He’s clearly a man who’s lived a very structured existence, and he’s a man who’s all things to all people.”
Fogelman continued, “And the lesson that’s clearly imparted in this episode to Randall is, “Time is limited, you are good, you’ve already won, and it’s okay to open your windows a little bit and let it down.” And maybe that’s the final gift that one father gave — that was a big part of a different father’s journey, which was to try and teach Randall to find his balance, and maybe this is something that can really help break Randall open a little bit… And he starts making a bunch of choices and decisions that will affect us going into season 2.”
He seems to hint although William (Ron Cephas Jones) may have succumbed to stage IV cancer in “Memphis,” the character may make appearances in succeeding episodes as flashbacks much like Jack (Milo Ventimiglia) did even after his mysterious death.
Meanwhile, Justin Hartley addressed the question of Jack’s death during an interview with US Weekly. Although he remained mum on details, he revealed that fans will never expect the circumstances leading to the Pearson patriarch’s demise. Hartley teased, "It's unexpected and it's extremely heartbreaking and sad and deep and moving and, ugh, it's painful. It's painful. It'll stay with you."
In a separate interview with Pop Sugar, Hartley admitted that he and some of his fellow co-stars do know how Jack ultimately meets his end but will not divulge any secrets.
‘This Is Us’ will return on NBC with a brand new episode, titled “What Now?,” on March 7, 2017.
