“It kind of broke me,” the actor tells EW of the episode’s final scene.
Tuesday night’s installment ofThis Is Uswas the mother of all episodes for Jack Pearson.
Those words were true, but not in ways that Jack expected.
Milo Ventimiglia as Jack.Ron Batzdorff/NBC
(For example, she had already planned her own funeral.)
Thirteen years later, when Jack returned for her funeral, he embarked on the aforementioned journey of discovery.
As he’d learn from cousin Debby (guest star Camryn Manheim!)
Also, she had a cat named Cat Benatar.
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MILO VENTIMIGLIA:I knew pretty early on.
It’s all Jack, it’s about his mom dying."
That was all he gave.
It [brought] up so many questions that ultimately can’t always get answered.
It was a beast to shoot.
I’ll talk to you guys when I get out."
I hadn’t seen them in about 10 days.
I remember sitting there, just watching my mom eat, and she caught me.
She looks at me, and she’s like, “What’s up, buddy?”
I’m like, “Nothing.
Nothing at all.”
But he also learned that she was happy in this life, which is all he wanted.
How did you approach those conflicting emotions in him?
Jack is always putting other people ahead of him.
He says it to Mike: He missed the whole thing.
That’s a very real statement, and it’s kind of sad.
There’s always an immediate excuse of why it’s possible for you to’t do something.
But I think it’s a glaring reminder that we have to take those moments to live.
You’re going to find yourself like Jack, missing something that probably would’ve been pretty great.
She was a four-hour car right away, which is not close.
We’re fine."
I said, “No, no, no, but you guys are my family.”
She goes, “No, we’re your parents.”
I go, “No, you’re my family.”
She goes, “No, no, no, we’re yourparents.”
I think it was also a little alcohol-induced.
Jack’s coping mechanism is to compartmentalize and wall himself off.
I mean, it’s classic Jack.
He’s always wanting to do better.
He’s always wanting to do more.
He’s always wanting to verify that everybody is good.
It could have been 100, had he been involved.
HowshouldJack feel about not being more present in her life?
And the kids were seven when she passed.
So, there was plenty of opportunity, but I think the burden can’t lie on one person.
It’s got to be both.
I’m sure heandhis mom probably could have done a better job.
But it was also Marilyn … not wanting to be a burden.
The fact that she arranged her own funeral.
That’s what it ultimately becomes.
And I think that also plays into Jack’s wanting to always be there for his kids.
I’d say pretty high.
But also completely understandable.
I’d say this one may not be a bronze medal, but it’s not quite a gold.
[Laughs]
It’s understandable.
It’s the loss of a parent, you know?
That line broke me.
I read it once.
I knew immediately I would never forget that line.
I never had to look at it again.
And I was terrified of it.
I was terrified to say it because of that break.
I knew that what I was experiencing for Jack was going to be painful.
That line terrified me.
How did you land on that delivery?
Did you try it a few different ways?
I remember Mandy saying to me, “Mi, what could I do?
What do you need?”
And I just said to her, “Hey, just let me know that you’re there.”
Jack doesn’t even want his wife to see it in him.
He’s not alone, though.
What was the biggest challenge in bringing these few days in Jack’s life to the screen?
Jack has evolved over the course of series.
We learned so much about him in the first three seasons and they were very Jack-centric storylines.
The discovery was with his wife.
The discovery was with people that he left behind when he passed away.
Or people have moved on when he passed away.
So… it was a wonderful, horrible experience.
Camryn Manheim is a great addition to the extended Pearson family.
How did that casting come about?
I mean, it was a surprise for me!
She’s wonderful!"
And she lived up to it.
Was there a shared moment that sticks out as a favorite?
God, there was so much.
The opening scene, having that conversation and Jack really has no clue about his mom.
Mandy got it [laughs], and Mandy whispered it to her.
We just couldn’t figure it out.
I think that might have beenthemoment that was probably the most fun.
What was the riddle?
What’s the missing element?
You gotta figure it out!
We sat around in the tent, just asking questions, like, “Okay.
So… was he happy about having a gun pulled on him?”
“Did he ever get the glass of water?”
“Was the water dirty?”
“Did he owe the bartender money?”
In addition to cousin Debby, you have a few nice moments with Marilyn’s cat, Cat Benatar.
By the way, do you think Cat Benatar would have been friends withClooney the cat?
Probably would’ve made a whole bunch of little cat litters and all that.
It’s not like my throat closes and my eyes swell.
It’s just, I will start sneezing.
I will get very uncomfortable.
But the cat was wonderful.
I mean, it’s a beautiful cat, very trained, and knew exactly what to do.
I’m like, “I’m about to touch the cat anyhow.
Is there one last showcase to come before the show ends?
He’s still in the picture.
He’s in the Kevin painting.
This interview has been edited and condensed for length and clarity.
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