The one moment leading up to Jack’s death we weren’t supposed to over-analyze

This Is Us alluded that Jack’s death might have resulted from a drunk driving accident at the end of Season 1. Does creator Dan Fogelman regret dropping that hint?

By now, all This Is Us fans — and the entire world — know how Jack’s death played out in the Super Bowl episode, so we’ll spare you the spoiler warning. Due to severe smoke inhalation from the house fire that erupted from a faulty slow cooker, Jack Pearson suffered cardiac arrest and unexpectedly passed away. His heroic efforts to save precious Pearson memories cost him his life.

However, a cliffhanger scene ahead of last spring’s first season finale hinted that a huge piece of the Jack’s death mystery was about to arrive. This Is Us fans felt the tension between Jack and Rebecca rising, which caused Jack to pick up a drink and get behind the wheel. When viewers saw Jack take matters in his own hands and drive to Rebecca’s show, they were certain answers were speeding onward. But creator Dan Fogelman regrets this scene.

As the story goes, the writers of This Is Us had never intended for Jack’s death to become a gripping mystery, and they never included scenes as red herrings or misdirection. But having Kate admit she feels responsible for her father’s death, then immediately seeing Jack leave a message for teen Kate and hop in the car, gave fans a false impression of the evens to come.

Understandably, fans expected the Season 1 finale to follow up on these seemingly monumental scenes and were underwhelmed when “Moonshadow” featured nary an answer and centered on the devastating fight (and temporary split) between Jack and Rebecca. Speaking about this scene to Entertainment Weekly, Fogelman expressed his innocent intentions behind it:

"“I think that we thought — and I still continue to think —  that the big shock with the finale to people was going to be, ‘Oh my god, this marriage is suffering! America’s sweetest couple is in a state of disrepair and separation. I thought that was the big kind of twist or misdirect: This isn’t about Jack’s death; this is about something deeper and darker, which is: these two are on different pages.”"

Fogelman admits that he would take back that moment if he could, if not to appease the fandom’s expectations but to spread out the storytelling surrounding Jack’s death. The writers always meant for the truth about Jack to arise in the back half of Season 2, no matter how far viewers read into every little detail. But there’s no turning back, only moving forward without the unraveling of another accidental mystery.

Next: This Is Us fans are divided on a possible alternate timeline featuring present-day Jack

Did this scene from Season 1 make you think the reveal to Jack’s death was coming sooner than anticipated? Were you disappointed when the season finale didn’t deliver any of the coveted answers? Are you satisfied with the way This Is Us handled the big reveal in Season 2? Share your thoughts in the comments, and be sure to keep the conversation going over on Twitter at @thisisuscrying!

This Is Us returns on Tuesday, Feb. 27 at 9/8c on NBC.