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This Is Us season 2, episode 15 recap: Riding in cars with Jack Pearson

By Reed Gaudens

THIS IS US -- "The Car" Episode 215 -- Pictured: Mandy Moore as Rebecca Pearson -- (Photo by: Ron Batzdorff/NBC)
THIS IS US -- "The Car" Episode 215 -- Pictured: Mandy Moore as Rebecca Pearson -- (Photo by: Ron Batzdorff/NBC) /
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This Is Us honors Jack Pearson’s life with a tense funeral, a Bruce Springsteen concert, and a drive down memory lane.

If you thought that “Super Bowl Sunday” would be the epitome of sad for This Is Us, then you were remarkably unprepared for its follow-up episode. Jack’s death isn’t the end of the road for our tears. In fact, we hopped in the car with the Pearsons for a bittersweet drive through many of the memories that wound up shaping Jack’s final moments. From now on, there will be nothing be tear-stained cheeks when you hear the word “Wagoneer.”

Despite believing the Pearson family car would be the same one from when the Big Three were born (that’s on us), Jack personally talks the car salesman down to a decent price for a brand-spanking new car. The Big Three preferred the Wagoneer to a used clunker, and Jack employed his usual charms and unbeatable emotional appeal to give his family the best. For some of his obvious faults, you can never say he didn’t go above and beyond for his loved ones.

“The Car” travels back to the car’s purchase but centers itself on the day of Jack’s funeral, with pointed flashbacks to seminal moments leading up to his death. First, there’s the trip over the bridge to the Weird Al show when the kids are young, and Rebecca’s gephyrophobia (fear of bridges — thanks, Randall!) kicks in big time.

Then there’s Jack teaching Randall to drive with Kevin criticizing his brother from the backseat. Kevin’s yakking nearly causes Randall to crash the car into another vehicle. What does Jack do? He makes them walk home. And one of the standout scenes in the car finds Jack discovering Kate skipped school to see Alanis Morissette. Rather than reprimand her and drive her home, he takes her to the event and relates to Kate about music, specifically Bruce Springsteen.

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During Jack’s funeral, Rebecca understandably borders between anxiety and stoicism while the kids endure their individual means of grief. Kate beats herself up over what she deems was her role in Jack dying, and Kevin causes a scene over Randall wearing Jack’s watch. When it becomes all too much for Rebecca, she gets some air and bumps into none other than Dr. K.

Rebecca learns that Jack often turned to Dr. K for advice, and in turn she gets some of the wisdom that has inspired Jack (and made us cry a million tears). Of course, Rebecca expresses her feelings of inadequacy to which Dr. K circles back to the quote that started it all, except with an amendment: “You made one of the sweetest damn pitchers of lemonade I ever saw.” And who wouldn’t agree? In the face of grief, Jack and Rebecca build a beautiful home and life. She can do it all again with this new batch of sour lemons.

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

The moment This Is Us fans might never recover from (apart from all of “Memphis” and most of “Super Bowl Sunday”) happens after Rebecca abruptly pulls the Big Three from Jack’s funeral. She grabs Jack’s ashes and takes them to his tree, which became his tree when he chose it on the night Rebecca thought she might be sick. While they waited for the doctor to call, they allowed this special tree to comfort them. But it was really just closest to the payphone.

Rebecca spreads Jack’s ashes under the tree and tells him they’re going to be okay. In time, they will be. After leaving the tree, Kevin holds Randall’s hand, Kate keeps her father’s remains, and Rebecca overcomes her fear of bridges as they drive to the Bruce Springsteen concert. It wouldn’t be Jack Pearson’s funeral if he didn’t leave behind one last surprise for his family. Rest in peace, Jack. We’ll see you again in war flashbacks that will definitely destroy our hearts.

What did you think of the latest episode? Let us know in the comments, and keep the conversation going over on Twitter at @thisisuscrying!

This Is Us returns with new episodes on Tuesday, Feb. 27 on NBC.

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