So Jack runs back into the burning house to grab one photo. One. Photo. Not the kids. Not the dog. A glossy piece of paper. He then, in a move that would make any firefighter scream into their helmet, goes back a second time to save Rebecca’s necklace. And during that heroic idiot maneuver, a beam falls on him. The man literally died for sentimental knick-knacks.
This Is Us: This Is How Jack Dies - TV Guide
Now, we love Jack. He’s perfect. But replay that scene in your head: he’s surrounded by a clean kitchen, a working sprinkler system, and exits everywhere. Instead, he chooses to inhale smoke for ten minutes to save a trinket. It’s the best example of a “lovable dummy” in TV history.
The Real Cause of Death: Paper Mache Lungs
The official cause of Jack’s death is a heart attack, triggered by smoke inhalation. But let’s be real: it was a slow-motion tragedy caused by stupid decisions. The fire was small enough that he could have just opened a window. But no, he had to be a hero for a photo of a vacation they probably didn’t even love.
In the show, the paramedics try to save him. In real life, you’d probably just yell, “Bro, put the picture down! You can get a new one at Target!” But that’s the magic of This Is Us: it makes you weep over a man who made catastrophically bad choices out of love. It’s like crying over a puppy who ran into traffic because he saw a squirrel.
This Is Us Creator Dan Fogelman Doles Out Clues About Jack’s Death
