This story contains plot details from Tuesdays episode ofThis Is Us, titled Songbird Road: Part One.
So, now you know: Jack knew.
And Nicky is alive and, well, not well.
Credit: Ron Batzdorff/NBC; Brent Lewin/NBC
How far gone is Nicky?
Will Rebecca be next to meet him?
How should the family and you, dear viewer feel about Jack now?
EW rang upTIUs own Butch and Sundance (or is it Thelma and Louise?
either way theyre still alive), executive producers Isaac Aptaker and Elizabeth Berger.
ENTERTAINMENT WEEKLY: Jack lied to his family about his brother.
What were the discussions in the writers room surrounding this revelation about Jack?
This episode makes all these different versions of Jack that we met crystallize.
And the way their marriage functioned is Rebecca let him have that secret.
But she and our audience probably didnt realize how big of a secret it was.
In turning back to help Nicky, Kevin says, I cant leave him like our father did.
Rebecca says she needs to know the truth.
What does this information do to their thoughts on Jack moving forward?
Howshouldthe family be feeling at this point?ELIZABETH BERGER:It is alotto grapple with.
Its one of the things that were going to be diving more deeply into in the very next episode.
So were going to be seeing all of them doing that.
Why couldnt you have told us?
Were going to be seeing them all deal with all of that.
Nicky believed that Jack had put the war and Nicky himself behind him, and never looked back.
But that wasnt exactly true, as we saw it haunt him on occasion.
How much did Jack regret cutting off communication with Nicky?
Obviously when they were teenagers, he started drinking again.
I think the greatest tragedy here is the timing of that fire.
Jack sees the dire shape that Nicky is in after the war, yet he ultimately severs communication.
What responsibility does Jack have to Nicky as his brother then?
How much did he let Nicky down?BERGER:Its really open to interpretation.
[Laughs] And a lot of people that understand where he was coming from.
But cutting off contact with brother was the only way he could move forward.
If it were me, thats face-to-face or not at all.
[Laughs] Thats not something youhopereaches your brother.BERGER:Yeah.
And really, shes made a decision to respect his limits.
Kevin and Rebecca are both searching for something that may not ever be totally attainable.
And whether or not they can is what makes this so powerful.
We saw how awkward and charged the conversation between the Big Three and Nicky was.
How would you characterize what happens when Rebecca sits with him?APTAKER:Flirty.
]BERGER:Obviously, its incredibly loaded and its incredibly emotional for her.
What exactly is going on with Nicky in the present day?
Clearly he has not beaten his demons.
We know that addiction runs rampant in this family.
What does that life look like?
But he did not go that way.
He ended up in this trailer, all alone, and that led to a myriad of different problems.
Nicky sends the Big Three away and is considering ending his life when Kevin returns.
Nicky closes his eyes when Kevin puts his hand on his shoulder.
Calling it Songbird Road: Part One implies a second part is coming.
And Introducing a gun in the final moment implies something serious awaits.
What should we we bracing for?APTAKER:Next week is pretty intense, also.
And that involves Rebecca in a big way.
