Mandy Moore (Rebecca) and Milo Ventimiglia (Jack) on "This Is Us" Season 2 premiere

(Warning: This story contains spoilers for Tuesday’s Season 2 premiere of “This Is Us“)

“This Is Us” is back for Season 2, and fans are right to assume that they’ll want to stock up on Kleenex.

Tuesday’s episode closed with Jack (Milo Ventimiglia) confessing to wife Rebecca (Mandy Moore) about his ongoing battle with alcoholism. This was then followed by a flash-forward showing a mournful Rebecca driving up to their burned-out house, suggesting that a fire is the long-debated cause of Jack’s demise.

Mandy Moore, who plays matriarch Rebecca on the hit NBC drama, told TheWrap that big answers are coming soon about the nature of Jack’s death, but that fans might wish that the plot twists could be delayed.

Also Read: 'This Is Us' Creator Talks 'Very Heavy' Season 2, Show's 'Big Challenge'

“It’s pretty unbelievably tragic,” Moore said. As to when fans will learn more about the pivotal death, the actress added, “I think it will be answered sooner rather than later.”

Many “This Is Us” viewers have had a tough time accepting Miguel (Jon Huertas) as Rebecca’s new husband, given that Miguel was once Jack’s best friend. Indeed, tonight’s episode showed Jack crashing with Miguel amid a tough fight with Rebecca.

Also Read: Sterling K. Brown Shades Emmys for Cutting Off His Speech but Not 'Pretty Australian White Women' (Video)

As Moore pointed out to TheWrap, fans’ difficulty in trusting Miguel is not lost on series creator Dan Fogelman or the rest of the writing staff.

“Dan said that the biggest challenge they have is getting people to fall in love with Miguel and accept their relationship,” Moore said. “I don’t know if that will be this season, or if that will be explored next season.”

Also Read: 'This Is Us': Sylvester Stallone to Guest Star as 'Father Figure'

The “License to Wed” star said she doesn’t know exactly how — or when — Rebecca and Miguel first got together. But she likes to assume the best about her character.

“I’ve had my own theory, and I’ve obviously had to operate from a place of knowing, and it may be drastically different from what Dan has in mind, but I don’t think so,” Moore explained. “I’m playing it as there was certainly nothing nefarious going on: They didn’t get together while Jack was alive, and there was no cheating. None of that. No one stole anyone.”

Fogelman previously told TheWrap that a “big piece of the puzzle” in the mystery of Jack’s death would be revealed in the Season 2 premiere.

“This Is Us” airs Tuesdays at 9/8c on NBC.

'This Is Us': 7 Craziest Fan Theories on How Jack Dies (Photos)

How does Jack Pearson die? The internet has some theories on Milo Ventimiglia's much-discussed patriarch on NBC's popular series, "This Is Us." His end has been described by cast members as "unexpected" and "extremely heartbreaking." Now fans have put their sleuthing hats on to solve the mystery before the answer is revealed. Here is some of the zanier speculation.
NBC
Suicide
It's hard to imagine Papa Pearson willingly leaving the family he clearly adores, but eagle-eyed fans point to Randall's words when he was trying to stop a co-worker from committing suicide at the company Christmas party: You need to be there for your kids.
NBC
Plane crash
This would seem to come out of nowhere for casual viewers, but die-hard fans have picked up on several references to planes on the show. Why is Kate so scared of flying? Why did Kevin destroy his toy airplanes?
NBC
Heart attack
Jack's unhealthy habits -- in addition to the drinking -- have been picked up by some fans, who believe cardiac arrest will be the cause of death, compounded by Kate's emotional response to Toby's heart issues. But honestly, this just sounds way too normal for a show that's all about throwing curveballs.
NBC
Jack's father kills him
This is definitely a stretch, but we know Jack borrowed money from his abusive father without revealing anything about his life or his family. Could the elder Pearson show up decades later in a rage? Uh, probably not, but that's one theory.
NBC
Car accident
This is the theory the show sets up as viewers watched Jack drive off to Cleveland to Rebecca as Kate's voice-over tells us she blames herself for her dad's death. That's what makes it pretty unlikely that Jack gets taken out before he's reunited with his wife. Wouldn't you agree?
NBC
Long downfall set off by injury
Okay, he probably doesn't die in a car accident in the Season 1 finale, but he could get injured -- seriously injured. So injured that he begins a downward spiral that further strains his marriage and ultimately leads to his death. And it all began when Kate convinced him to drive to Cleveland. It's not too far-fetched, plus it would keep Ventigmilia alive and kicking in flashbacks for a good while longer.
NBC
Jack's not really dead
This is a doozy and probably the most unlikely, but what if Jack isn't actually dead? This insane theory involves a car thief who knocks him unconscious, causing amnesia, and his oblivious father, who never knew he had a family to alert to his real whereabouts. So, Kate's been holding onto some stranger's ashes this entire time? Yikes.
NBC

1 of 8

Plane crash? Suicide? Is Milo Ventimiglia’s character secretly alive?

How does Jack Pearson die? The internet has some theories on Milo Ventimiglia's much-discussed patriarch on NBC's popular series, "This Is Us." His end has been described by cast members as "unexpected" and "extremely heartbreaking." Now fans have put their sleuthing hats on to solve the mystery before the answer is revealed. Here is some of the zanier speculation.

View In Gallery