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Some This Is Us fans were recently devastated by the NBC show’s latest season 5 episode. The episode focused on Nicky Pearson’s (Michael Angarano and Griffin Dunne) life before and after the death of Jack Pearson (Milo Ventimiglia). 

In March 2021, Ventimiglia shared that there’s more to Jack and Nicky’s story that viewers have yet to see. 

Milo Ventimiglia as Jack Pearson and Michael Angarano as Nicky Pearson on This Is Us
Michael Angarano as Nicky, Milo Ventimiglia as Jack Pearson on ‘This Is Us’| Ron Batzdorff/NBCU Photo Bank/NBCUniversal via Getty Images

‘This Is Us’ star Milo Ventimiglia expressed his thoughts on Jack and Nicky 

When This Is Us premiered in Sept. 2016, TV watchers met the Pearson family for the first time. In the pilot episode, we learned that Jack’s wife, Rebecca (Mandy Moore), was pregnant with triplets. During one scene, the couple finds out that one of their triplets died in the womb. Coincidentally, a baby in the hospital needs a home as well, who they later adopt. By the end of the episode, viewers learn that their adult children- Kate (Chrissy Metz), Kevin (Justin Hartley), and Randall (Sterling K Brown) grew up to have trials and tribulations of their own.

This Is Us also revealed in season 1 that Jack died when Kate, Kevin, and Randall were 17. In season 2, viewers find out that he died from smoke inhalation during the family’s house fire. However, Ventimiglia’s character remains a central character on the show. In season 3, the Big Three learn that the uncle they thought was dead is very much alive. He remained in Pennsylvania but lost contact with Jack after the Vietnam war. Nicky didn’t know his older brother died until the siblings told him at his trailer. 

In an interview with StyleCaster, Ventimiglia said he disagreed with the way Jack treated Nicky. After seeing in the season 5 episode how Jack’s death affected Nicky, the actor shared that he wished they could’ve connected when Jack was alive. 

Milo Ventimiglia teases more scenes with Jack and Nicky in their ‘younger years’ on ‘This Is Us’ 

Since Nicky’s season 3 reveal, the character sporadically appeared in future seasons of This Is Us. In season 5, Kevin and his fiancee Madison (Caitlin Thompson) named one of their twins after Nicky. Jack’s little brother also visited his great-niece and nephew his “moon” and vowed to protect them. 

Although Nicky now speaks to the Pearsons, he still harbors guilt about how he and Jack ended their relationship. Ventimiglia also said in his interview with StyleCaster that Jack’s relationship with his abusive father could’ve been why he kept Nicky away as an adult. However, he said there’s room to discuss when it comes to the Pearson brothers. 

“Nicky is the reminder of where he comes from,” Ventimiglia said. “Getting to play that age of Jack, there’s a lot of weight to it because of how they were brought up. Things have been tough with his father, everything that transpired in Vietnam amongst the brothers and the both of them looking out for their mother.” 


“There’s a lot of weight and a lot of history to that age for Jack and Nicky,” the actor continued. “It’s always so great to share that time with Michael Angarano and Peter [Onorati] and Laura [Niemi], who play our parents. There’s still always going to be something to unpack from their younger years.”

Is ‘This Is Us’ season 5 coming on tonight? 

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This Is Us returned for season 5 in Oct. 2020. The season lasted for several episodes before going on hiatus in Dec. In Jan. 2021, the NBC drama debuted its winter season. However, the newest episode of This Is Us won’t premiere until April 6, 2021. 

According to the Decider, the series will air a rerun of Season 5, Episode 3, “Changes” tonight at 9 p.m. EST.

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