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Don’t worry, This Is Us fans: Milo Ventimiglia (and Jack Pearson) aren’t going anywhere

By Reed Gaudens

THIS IS US -- "A Father's Advice" Episode 201 -- Pictured: Milo Ventimiglia as Jack -- (Photo by: Ron Batzdorff/NBC)
THIS IS US -- "A Father's Advice" Episode 201 -- Pictured: Milo Ventimiglia as Jack -- (Photo by: Ron Batzdorff/NBC) /
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Now that This Is Us has revealed the truth behind Jack’s death, will Milo Ventimiglia and his beloved character remain in the series?

To say that the future of Milo Ventimiglia and his This Is Us character Jack Pearson weighs heavily on the minds of fans would be an understatement. Ever since Jack’s death was introduced early on in the first season, fans have wondered if that means Ventimiglia’s run on the show would have an expiration date. Does telling the story of Jack’s tragic ending translate to never seeing Jack again?

Here’s where we offer the This Is Us fandom an enormous sigh of relief: Milo Ventimiglia and Jack Pearson aren’t going anywhere. Ventimiglia will remain a series regular for next fall’s third season and the foreseeable future, and Jack Pearson will remain an integral thread in the fabric of this expansive family story. But what will the future look like for Jack now that the biggest piece of his story has been told?

Of course, the options are much less limited than with William. Unfortunately, William wasn’t a member of the Pearson clan quite as long, therefore there’s not as much material to pull for the expertly talented Ron Cephas Jones for flashbacks. But with Jack, there’s years of stories and memories still to be discovered. Remember, we have spent the majority of our time with Jack and Rebecca when the Big Three were 10 and 17. A lot can happen between those ages.

It’s no secret that Milo Ventimiglia can’t appear as Jack in the present day (without the aid of hallucinations or daydreams, natch), but he’ll still maintain the same presence in the past timeline as ever. Ventimiglia spoke candidly about his future with This Is Us with The Hollywood Reporter following the huge Super Bowl episode:

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"I was never going to leave the show. A while back, Fogelman explained [the show] … as a box of unmarked home movies and each week we’re going to reach in and grab one and just tell that story. This was just one of those tapes, one of those moments where we are understanding a moment in this Pearson family, the loss of their father. That was just the story of the week that we were telling. There’s still a lot more to go, and that means yes, I’m still around."

You hear that? There’s still a lot more to go, and Milo Ventimiglia will be part of it as the incomparable Jack Pearson. Thankfully, we can put the tape featuring the fire and Jack’s death back in the box and reach for another This Is Us home movie, preferably one that doesn’t entirely rip our hearts out. We have an idea where the series could take Jack, and it’s much further back than you and I are even anticipating.

Don’t forget, Season 2 dropped the hint that Jack had a brother named Nicky. He fought in Vietnam with Jack but didn’t make it home from war. Much like the fire and Crock Pots are on the Pearsons’ no fly list of conversation topics, Jack doesn’t talk about his brother. Does Rebecca know about Nicky? Do the kids? That’s the story we should be expecting with Jack Pearson, and it’ll surely hit home, especially if the Big Three also learn more about their father, too.

Next: This Is Us revealed Jack’s cause of death, but you’ll be talking about Mandy Moore

Are you relived to find out that Milo Ventimiglia and Jack Pearson aren’t leaving This Is Us now that the major arc of the character’s passing has been resolved? What do you hope to see with Jack in upcoming episodes? Do you have any lingering questions about Jack? Let us know your anticipations and predictions in the comments, and keep the conversation going over on Twitter at @thisisuscrying!

This Is Us airs Tuesdays at 9/8c on NBC.

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