‘This Is Us’ Couple Jack and Rebecca’s Undying Love Story: A Complete Relationship Timeline

Credit: Joe Pugliese/NBC

'This Is Us' Couple Jack and Rebecca's Undying Love Story: A Complete Relationship Timeline

This is true love. This Is Us fans have been obsessed with Jack and Rebecca’s relationship since the show first premiered in September 2016, and it’s easy to see why. The iconic TV couple, played by Milo Ventimiglia and Mandy Moore, had their ups and downs through the six seasons of the critically acclaimed NBC drama, and fans are still rooting for them heading into the May 2022 series finale. This Is Us follows the epic relationship between Rebecca and Jack Pearson as well as their three children (also known as The Big Three): Kevin (Justin Hartley), Kate (Chrissy Metz) and Randall (Sterling K. Brown). The show moves along while jumping around the past, present and future — revealing new parts of their history all the time. Chronologically, Rebecca and Jack’s love story begins in the 1970s, and their romance spans several decades and faces many losses and challenges. As the series started, viewers saw the emotional effects and trauma the couple suffered from after losing one of their triplets during childbirth. Jack’s struggle with alcohol abuse also played a big role in their relationship. One of the most challenging struggles the Pearson family faced –– and the biggest storyline of the show –– was Jack’s untimely death. In season 1, Jack’s death is briefly mentioned but is never fully explained. It wasn’t until season 2 that the audience learned what exactly happened to Jack. Many fans theorized what could have been the cause of Jack’s demise. But before the show revealed the reason, Moore spoke to Us Weekly exclusively about it and offered fans some moral support. “Everything will be answered. We’re leaving nothing on the table. Everyone will know everything,” she shared. “I’m excited about that, because I feel like it’ll sort of relieve a little bit of pressure. People will know, and then we’ll be able to get back to telling the story of this family, and I think it’ll make things that much more bittersweet moving forward too.” So what brought Jack and Rebecca’s romantic love story to a tragic end? Jack suffers a heart attack after saving the Pearson family from their home catching on fire caused by a malfunctioning slow cooker. While many thought This Is Us wouldn’t have much more to share about Jack and Rebecca’s relationship after his death, the Emmy-winning drama continued to highlight more about what made those two such a dynamic pair. In flashbacks, the audience sees Rebecca and Jack have a relationship full of love and affection. “The fact that we’ve managed to keep Jack involved in the storylines going through the six seasons — after we learned everything we needed to know about him in season 3 — is wonderful,” Ventimiglia shared to TV Insider in April 2022. Even though Jack and Rebecca’s love story came to an end, fans were hopeful to see more of their relationship. In February 2022, Ventimiglia exclusively told Us, “there may be a bit of a bit of magic at the end” of the series, and the penultimate episode ended with Jack and Rebecca’s reunion in the afterlife. Scroll below to see a complete relationship timeline of Jack and Rebecca from This Is Us. [podcast_block]

Credit: Joe Pugliese/NBC

'This Is Us' Couple Jack and Rebecca's Undying Love Story: A Complete Relationship Timeline

This is true love. This Is Us fans have been obsessed with Jack and Rebecca’s relationship since the show first premiered in September 2016, and it’s easy to see why. The iconic TV couple, played by Milo Ventimiglia and Mandy Moore, had their ups and downs through the six seasons of the critically acclaimed NBC drama, and fans are still rooting for them heading into the May 2022 series finale. This Is Us follows the epic relationship between Rebecca and Jack Pearson as well as their three children (also known as The Big Three): Kevin (Justin Hartley), Kate (Chrissy Metz) and Randall (Sterling K. Brown). The show moves along while jumping around the past, present and future — revealing new parts of their history all the time. Chronologically, Rebecca and Jack’s love story begins in the 1970s, and their romance spans several decades and faces many losses and challenges. As the series started, viewers saw the emotional effects and trauma the couple suffered from after losing one of their triplets during childbirth. Jack’s struggle with alcohol abuse also played a big role in their relationship. One of the most challenging struggles the Pearson family faced –– and the biggest storyline of the show –– was Jack’s untimely death. In season 1, Jack’s death is briefly mentioned but is never fully explained. It wasn’t until season 2 that the audience learned what exactly happened to Jack. Many fans theorized what could have been the cause of Jack’s demise. But before the show revealed the reason, Moore spoke to Us Weekly exclusively about it and offered fans some moral support. “Everything will be answered. We’re leaving nothing on the table. Everyone will know everything,” she shared. “I’m excited about that, because I feel like it’ll sort of relieve a little bit of pressure. People will know, and then we’ll be able to get back to telling the story of this family, and I think it’ll make things that much more bittersweet moving forward too.” So what brought Jack and Rebecca’s romantic love story to a tragic end? Jack suffers a heart attack after saving the Pearson family from their home catching on fire caused by a malfunctioning slow cooker. While many thought This Is Us wouldn’t have much more to share about Jack and Rebecca’s relationship after his death, the Emmy-winning drama continued to highlight more about what made those two such a dynamic pair. In flashbacks, the audience sees Rebecca and Jack have a relationship full of love and affection. “The fact that we’ve managed to keep Jack involved in the storylines going through the six seasons — after we learned everything we needed to know about him in season 3 — is wonderful,” Ventimiglia shared to TV Insider in April 2022. Even though Jack and Rebecca’s love story came to an end, fans were hopeful to see more of their relationship. In February 2022, Ventimiglia exclusively told Us, “there may be a bit of a bit of magic at the end” of the series, and the penultimate episode ended with Jack and Rebecca’s reunion in the afterlife. Scroll below to see a complete relationship timeline of Jack and Rebecca from This Is Us. [podcast_block]

Credit: Ron Batzdorff/NBC

Love At First Sight

Jack and Rebecca first meet at a dive bar on December 23, 1972. Rebecca ends up there after leaving a boring blind date and decides she wants to sing. Jack is at the same bar and falls in love at first sight after hearing her sing.

Credit: Ron Batzdorff/NBC

Disastrous First Date

Shortly after meeting, Rebecca and Jack go on their first date — and it doesn’t go well. Jack only had $9 to spend on their carnival date. Then it started raining, and he couldn’t afford to buy her an umbrella. However, Jack saves the night by telling Rebecca that she feels like home to him, and they have their first kiss.

Credit: Ron Batzdorff/NBC

Road Trip to LA

After knowing each other for only a week, Rebecca and Jack decide to take a road trip to Los Angeles together for their third date. Though Rebecca’s singing dreams are shot down, she and Jack grow closer and start to see a future with one another.

Credit: Ron Batzdorff/NBC

Meeting the Parents

After the road trip, Rebecca introduces Jack to her parents. While her blue-collar boyfriend doesn’t impress Rebecca’s uppity father, The Singer falls even more in love with Jack.

Credit: Ron Batzdorff/NBC

The Breakup

After Mr. Malone gets into Jack’s head, he calls things off with Rebecca because he’s worried he won’t be able to give her the life she deserves.

Credit: Ron Batzdorff/NBC

Back Together

Rebecca refuses to give up on Jack. After having a heart-to-heart with her mother, Rebecca goes to see her love at the auto shop and gives a heartfelt speech to win him back.

Credit: Ron Batzdorff/NBC

The Wedding

Jack and Rebecca tie the knot and have a small ceremony at City Hall on May 16, 1976.

Credit: Ron Batzdorff/NBC

Rebecca Gets Pregnant

On January 20, 1980, Rebecca and Jack end up conceiving the triplets while celebrating the Steelers’ Super Bowl victory. Though Rebecca is shocked because she planned to be further along in her career and life goals before having kids, she is ultimately happy to start a family.

Credit: Ron Batzdorff/NBC

First Home

After learning Rebecca is pregnant with triplets, both Jack and Rebecca panic. Jack goes to see his estranged father and borrows money so he can afford a home for his family. He and his pregnant wife share their first meal in the home and Jack fights a pigeon. Their neighbors also give them an old slow cooker.

Credit: Maarten de Boer/NBC

Expanded Family

While celebrating Jack’s birthday, on August 31, 1980, Rebecca goes into labor. Kevin and Kate are born, however, their triplet Kyle did not survive. Also on this day, William leaves Randall at a fire station, and a firefighter brings the newborn to the hospital. Jack finds baby Randall in the nursery and decides to take him in after learning he was abandoned.

Credit: Ron Batzdorff/NBC

They Officially Adopt Randall

Jack fell in love with Randall right away, but Rebecca needed some convincing as she was grieving the loss of Kyle. They took him home with their twins from the hospital and the Pearsons officially adopted Randall one year later.

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The Ultimatum

Jack struggles with alcoholism and Rebecca tells him that he needs to stop the drinking — or else. Jack decides to get his act together and gives Rebecca the moon necklace, a gift she wears for decades after his death.

Credit: Ron Batzdorff/NBC

Rebecca’s Cancer Scare

Rebecca has a cancer scare and while waiting for her results Jack brings her to his favorite tree. He makes up a story about why the tree is meaningful to him in an attempt to distract her. Dubbed as the Lucky Tree, the tree ultimately becomes an important memento to the Pearson Family. Rebecca also decides here that she wants to join her old band again.

Credit: Ron Batzdorff/NBC

The Big Fight and Separation

When Rebecca decides to go on tour with her band (which includes an ex-boyfriend), Jack relapses. After Jack drives drunk to Cleveland to see Rebecca at the Valentine's Day gig, they get into a huge fight and decide to separate.

Credit: Ron Batzdorff/NBC

Back Together Again

Not too long after Jack and Rebecca separate, Rebecca goes after her husband to work things out. Jack admits he’s an alcoholic and needs help. Jack goes to AA shortly after.

Credit: Ron Batzdorff/NBC

Jack Dies

Jack died on January 26, 1998, when the Pearson family home burned down caused by the crockpot. Jack saves his family, their dog and some family mementos. He appears fine but after getting checked out at the hospital, with the doctor only concerned about smoke inhalation. However, while Rebecca goes to the vending machine, Jack dies of a heart attack.

Credit: NBC

Jack’s Doctor

The night of his death, Jack’s doctor rushed off from checking out the Vietnam veteran to save a little boy’s life. That young boy, Marcus, later developed Alzheimer’s medications that helped Rebecca, who suffered from Alzheimer’s and dementia in her later years.

Credit: Ron Batzdorff/NBC

Reunited Forever

In the penultimate episode of the series, Rebecca passes after her long battle with Alzheimer’s. Her journey to the afterlife is a train ride, and while traveling through several cars, she sees some familiar faces, like her second late husband, Miguel. After all of her children have said their goodbyes, she reaches the final car. She lays down on the bed and turns to see she is reunited with her first and forever love — Jack.

Credit: Ron Batzdorff/NBC

The Afterlife

The series finale of This Is Us showed Jack and Rebecca on the bed in the train. “I’m scared,” Rebecca told him.

Jack told her she didn't need to be fearful, but Rebecca explained that there was more she wanted to do with the kids.