Warning: This story contains plot details from Vietnam, Tuesdays episode ofThis Is Us.
A year into service, though, and he had done no saving.
This gnawed at Jack so much that he felt compelled to enlist, despite his heart irregularity.
Credit: Ron Batzdorff/NBC
What was that look on Nickys face?
Why did Nicky change his mind and heed the call to battle?
What hell awaits him in future episodes?
EW askedMichael Angarano, the actor who plays Nicky, to report for interview duty.
To show that on online grid television in an authentic way is a huge challenge.
I thought, This is ambitious, but this isaccurate.
Theres nothing that felt wrong or forced.
It felt like this was all part of the show from day one, in a weird way.
This was an important part of Jacks story to tell.
Its not the same man who left for war to make something of himself.
How dire is this situation?Its dire.
Hes sending suicidal letters back to his family, and I dont think hes doing it for attention.
I think Nicky is on a course when Jack finds him.
What exactly is that look on his face?
Theres part of him thats happy.
I think theres also part of him that resents that hes there.
Theres part of him thats surprised that hes there.
I think its the whole gamut.
I dont think so.
How prophetic will that prove to be?
And hes sending these letters back.
Theres something to him that is hanging over his head.
Dan said that well have the Nicky mystery resolved by the end of the season.
But Nicky is convinced that he will be.
He also says that Jack is like Superman and he is Lois Lane, always needing to be rescued.
Theres something about fate or his destiny that is calling him to do that.
His brother has constantly taken care of him.
I dont think Nicky knows who he is as a man.
Its this feeling that this 120 seconds later, his life would have been saved.
I dont think he knows it, but he feels it.
Those 120 seconds are whats hanging over his head.
The emotional strain that Nickys been through as a child has influenced his decision.
I think it goes further and deeper than just trying to make his father proud.
But those are both heavy influences on why he goes.
In this episode, we see the patterns of Jacks grandfather that Jacks dad fell victim to.
Put it this way: Theres a lot about Nicky that he himself doesnt know about yet.
But hes at that bar, hes chain-smoking, hes downing drinks.
you might tell hes got the crumb.
Hes actually a terrible solider.
So much so that hes been Article 15d, which is shame.
Its essentially a step above being dishonorably discharged.
Youre going to be filming in Vietnam as this storyline continues.Its really exciting.
Again, when I thought, How do you do this on a connection television show?
one of the answers they had was, Well, were going to Vietnam.
Tims book is so powerful, encompassing in a way.
It helped me so much.
Theres a chapter in his book dedicated to a guy whos considering crossing over to Canada.
And then I read the script and it felt like almost an adaptation of the book.
And this episode felt exactly like that.
I dont think Nickys a fighter.
I think that definitely has taken a big toll on him.
Dan said that we return to Vietnam in episode 7.
What should we be bracing for?
Hes been there for about a year; Jack has been there only for three to six months.
Im going to take care of this.
Hes building Jack up but also seeing through him a little bit.
Nicky has this way of seeing through situations.
Jack is very earnest, very direct, simple in a lot of ways.
And Nicky is hyper-intellectual and very analytical and observant.
I think his brain and his heart are his own worst enemy.
For more on Vietnam, read whatMilo Ventimiglia had to sayabout the episode.
