And for weeks after that revelation, we still did not know even approximatelywhenhe died.
But it did feel like the puzzle box was nudged opened again.
And wemighthave just seen him on the last day that he was alive.
Credit: Paul Drinkwater/NBC
He hung up, dropped his keys on the ground (Drunk?
So many questions, almost as many emotions.
ENTERTAINMENT WEEKLY: Jacks relationship with Rebecca is as unstable as weve seen it, certainly since episode 2.
Theres almost that moment of connection in the kitchen, and then she has to leave.
Why is it so difficult for him to give a shot to mend fences here?
It really shows how fragile Jack is with needing his family.
His family is what holds him together.
So, there is this sense of responsibility without partnership that I know that Jack is feeling.
What was the spark that moves Jack into action to fix his marriage?
Its never been on his end, every step of the way.
And I know that was a worry for a lot of fans.
This is a couple that loves one another; they just find themselves in disrepair.
They both need to take that moment for themselves to decide, What is it we need to do?
How is it we need to communicate?
The one thing that I realized Jack isnt doing is communicating.
Hes not exactly telling her how he feels.
Theyre his first, theyre his only.
Whether hes mad at her or feels abandoned, he misses his wife.
Shes his world, you know?
I think moments like that reflect so well.
Hes listening to his kid, Dad, dont stay home sad all night.
So, it turns out theres a retirement party.
It wasnt by Jack sitting down or engaging in conversation.
But of course, we have to understand that that is a threat by Jack pursuing it.
Theres an element of poor choices and/or self-sabotage here.Exactly.
And we could even go back to: instigated by his drinking.
Yeah, that does not do him any favors.
I wonder if every kid would feel the same.
That was your read, too?Oh, yeah.
This may be the time when they find out.
Jack is always conflicted.
And its a poor decision on his part that may lead to his death.
Weve seen Jack determined to fix his marriage before and he did.
In episode 2, he turned it around.
Is this time more dire, though?
Jack doesnt know about his ticking clock.
Jack leads with his heart.
If he feels something, he says it.
If he wants something, he does it.
Nothings going to slow him down.
And then theres this thing that is ultimately possibly going to do him in.
I honestly dont dream that far in the distance of whatcouldhappen with characters I play.
Years ago, everybody asked me, Where do you think Jess went?
Im like, I have no fing clue.
[Laughs).]
I have no idea.
Theyre the inventors, Im just the tool of the instrument.
People were pretty torn up about William at the end of MemphisOh yeah.
This doesnt bode well when it comes time to find out about Jack.
This is going to be brutal, isnt it?Yeah, it is.
I mean, even me, like Williams death, Williams passing in that whole episode justcrushedme.
Crushed me, you know?
Everyones talking so much about how Jack died; its the missing puzzle piece.
I think its great.
It inspires a mind to be creative, and then it leads to discussion after people find out.
And then theyll cross-reference it: Well, it shouldve happened this way!
There were all these indications.
I think its a very clever, engaged audience, and I appreciate it.
Or is the audience is playing right into Fogelmans hands?[Laughs.]
Dan is a humble, kind, terribly intelligent, funny, fun man.
Look, coming into the end of a season, people expect big.
You want storytelling that is going to continue to engage you.
Weve got eight more episodes until somethingreallyhappens!
I have been feeling lately that audiences just need to wait for it.
But where does Jack go once that happens?
Thats just one happening in his life.
This may be the time when we see it.
Well see what happens.
What was it like to shoot your first and who knows, perhaps only scene with Ron?
The laughter was real.
I think Ron and I just kept looking at each other and smiling and just smiling.
And the fact that it was a scene about Jack and William laughing, it was real.
It was very real.
We were enjoying it.
We were absolutely enjoying it.
It went by too fast.
Like William, I was trying to hang onto the moment as long as I could.
I mean, Kate even says it in a driveway in that tear-filled speech.
Shes apologizing that he had to go through it twice; once was bad enough, Im sure.
Randalls in a tough spot, but the good news is that Randalls a very, very strong man.
He has direction, so I dont worry about Randall.
For moreThis Is Usscoop, follow@dansniersonon Twitter.
