TAGGED AS: NBC
Even by This Is Us standards, which is a three hankie minimum every week, “What Now?” was an emotional episode. Everyone knew William (Ron Cephas Jones)’s memorial would be powerful, but probably didn’t expect all the extra baggage it unleashed.
The service brought back Kate (Chrissy Metz)’s painful memories of Jack (Milo Ventimiglia)’s death, for one. The bride-to-be finally told her fiancé, Toby (Chris Sullivan), the heartbreaking reason she avoids talking about her father’s passing: She feels it’s her fault.
Earlier in the episode, young Kate (Mackenzie Hancsicsak) sensed the turmoil in Jack and Rebecca (Mandy Moore)’s marriage. In the car, she told Jack to try to work it out. But in the final scene of the episode, it appears Jack’s decision to fight for his marriage came at a bad time. He looks visibly drunk as he gets into his car, and the promo for the season finale hints at an automobile accident.
Immediately, Team Kate on Twitter jumped to her defense:
Kate needs to let that go, nothing was her fault. #ThisisUs
— This Is Us…Now (@ThisIsUs__Now) March 8, 2017
Kate… it's not your fault.😭 #ThisIsUs @NBCThisisUs
— a (@VandolahAshley) March 8, 2017
Awww kate.
Poor baby. It isn't your fault.#ThisIsUs— Stephanie (@Musicalfreakgr2) March 8, 2017
https://twitter.com/sarahmfinlay/status/839322575918481408
https://twitter.com/MeganPMcCaffrey/status/839314595848286208
Jack's death is not Kate's fault, it's nobody's fault! Jack made the decision to go see Rebecca, Kate didn't make him! #ThisIsUs
— ✨🍉 (@shipsandshows) March 8, 2017
Perhaps more importantly, Jack of all people certainly wouldn’t want Kate feeling this way:
https://twitter.com/Miss_Fabi_hola/status/839355287815368705
Some fans noticed the foreshadowing earlier in the episode:
https://twitter.com/ShippingAcademy/status/839355916239589376
So Kate saying that it was her fault Jack died is because she was the one that pushed him to made amends with Rebecca :/ #ThisIsUs
— shads (@shadiawrites) March 8, 2017
So, I have a theory as to what we see in the finale of #ThisIsUs . It's that Kate wanted them to work it out so he went to do so, but…
— 🖤💛Fíesta🎵Jazzzz🎶💙Fiêsta🤍 (@WomaN_OFSt33L) March 8, 2017
Omg!!! Kate!!! No!!! Is he going to drive?!? Is he drunk?!? He's going to see Rebecca!!! Nooooo!!!😩😩 Drunk Driving!!! #ThisIsUs
— Ժҽղíտҽ ɾҽղҽҽ (@deniserenee24) March 8, 2017
Others are awaiting confirmation about what actually happened in the season finale next week. This Is Us confirmed five episodes in that Jack was not alive in 2016 (and hinted at his fate in the series premiere). We’ve seen glimpses of his funeral, but the show still hasn’t confirmed when it happened. Each week has contained a pretty major twist reveal, but maybe the biggest twist of all would be if the show kept fans in the dark about his fate until next season.
Next week Kate is going to tell the story of how her dad Jack died. I'm not ready. 😭💔#ThisIsUs@MiloVentimiglia @NBCThisisUs @ChrissyMetz pic.twitter.com/KNk6laGa2m
— Skylar🌸 (@wwuxianlovesong) March 8, 2017
https://twitter.com/jimmyyadig/status/839355572579368964
https://twitter.com/lewdacriiis/status/839355095418458113
Then again, fans of This Is Us know there could always be another twist. Scarlett Splane, below, even noticed some behind-the-scenes photos of Jack meeting Rebecca again.
https://twitter.com/ScarlettKate/status/839310641399746560
https://twitter.com/ScarlettKate/status/839311258465763328
https://twitter.com/forkcetious/status/839310617899057152
One thing is for sure, Kate and Jack’s relationship seems pretty universal:
https://twitter.com/JessTilley/status/839355677311127556
https://twitter.com/hellbillygal/status/839325367458484224
And it wouldn’t be This Is Us without plenty of tears:
https://twitter.com/indie_gogo/status/839347360614473728
https://twitter.com/RealKateLewis/status/839329099709501440
https://twitter.com/Scorp1179/status/839327459153702912
https://twitter.com/KateTheGreat007/status/839325532445675525
https://twitter.com/LyndseyPortell/status/839312468589436928
https://twitter.com/MichelleF0918/status/839310285940932608
The season finale of This Is Us airs Tuesday, March 14 at 9/8C on NBC
