It also is a key and underreported part of the Pearson family history.
Until now, that is.
A little brother who must be protected at all costs.
Credit: Ron Batzdorff/NBC
ENTERTAINMENT WEEKLY: That didnt exactly read as a warm and fuzzy reunion of the brothers.
This will be the only episode for a while that solely exists between the two brothers and in Vietnam.
In terms of Nickys journey, its one fraught with a lot of different things.
A brother, his Superman, feeling a need to be out there and to save him.
Inherently, theres high stakes.
I think it really worked.
Does Jack even fully realize what Nicky has devolved into?
Theres clearly something a little bit different.
In the eyes.In his eyes.
I think thats what Jacks little flinch is at the end of the episode.
And its also a big precursor to all the stuff thats coming next.
Jack says, Ive been pretending my whole life.
I dont know any other way.
I think thats the closest Jack gets to terrified, its an admission of the fact hes completely human.
Hes a little boy formed by trauma and a degree of abuse, and he is hardened.
I think he started burying and channeling a lot of it as a really young man.
Hes been scared of what might happen to his little brother one day.
Hes been scared of a future without anything.
I think it was more about the general tough childhood that he had in that home.
Whether its transracial adoption or weight loss, you strive for authenticity in the storytelling.
Now you have Tim OBrien as a consultant, and he co-wrote the episode with you.
And it just wasnt the case.
I was just surprised at how gifted he is of navigating a different form so quickly.
In terms of what he brought to it, it wasnt just writing the script with me.
This is something that happened to a friend of mine.
This is something that happened to me.
Heres something I think might be believable.
It very much formed the basis of what became our Jack Vietnam storyline.
We knew what the moves were, because Id always had the plan for it.
We knew what happened to Jack.
People writing recollections or talking about their recollections of their fathers inability to speak about a war.
And a lot of it came just from having weeks and weeks in a room with Tim.
What apprehensions, if any, did you have approaching this storyline?It was the functional stuff.
Certainly the writers of the episode, myself included, we mainly live in the world of dramedy space.
Milos dad is a Vietnam veteran.
What was Milos first reaction when you pitched the story?It was during season 1.
Like, this doesnt feel false or weird at all.
Its not like, Oh, a TV dad is suddenly walking in army boots and this is ridiculous.
Its like, Oh, no.
He completely owns this and its very cool.
I dont know why, I just always had it.
How important are those words to where we are headed?I think theyre important.
Nicky is 120 seconds away from not being drafted.
Theres also that moment where we learn more about Jacks heart condition.
Youre like, Oh, they knew about it!
Couldnt they have done something to prevent this down the road?
Whats the moment in this episode for you that guts you?Its the minutes of the clock….
The Jack story [about his heart] is an interesting one.
Like everyone else, Im terrible with my health.
We get a peek at Jacks grandad here, and hes emotionally withholding and an alcoholic.
We can see the patterns in how Jacks dad was raised, and the sins he inherited.
Whats said in this is that Jacks father wasnt always such a hard man.
His fathers father was.
I think thats very real and its very human and its very cyclical.
It is a story of the sins of our fathers.
We know Kevin (Justin Hartley) is on this journey to get some answers about Jack.
Milo called it a journey of discovery for both Pearson men.
What can you say about what lies ahead for them?Kevins on a journey.
Kevin is going to walk the land his father walked.
His father, at the time, was trying to find a brother and save a brother.
There are parallels once they both get to that place.
Even who you were fighting and what the point of the war was, was very gray for everybody.
Our storyline is not always easy, and its not always just one thing.
For much more on Tuesdays episode, read whatMilo VentimigliaandMichael Angaranohad to say.
