This Is Our Speculation Without Spoilers Topic

[methodwriter85]

9 hours ago, qtpye said:

You forgot the best trope for milking a character's death.  What if the character HAD NEVER DIED(insert shocking music).

We will be treated to a parallel universe episode where Jack never died and we find out how the characters would be different.

Kevin would be a male stripper, because he never had the nerve to go out to L.A. and pursue his dreams.

Randall would be ruthless cold Wall Street broker with no family, because he never slowed down and smelled the roses.

Kate would have the codependent relationship with her father, that she now currently has with Kevin.

Well, if they're going to do that, of course they're going to do an episode where Kyle survived his birth. Justin can play Kevin and Kyle in a dual role.

I did have a terrible thought-  Sophie totally opens up the possibility of some teen pregnancy scare with Kevin and her. She could have gotten pregnant, they get married, and she either has a miscarriage or they decide to give the baby away. I would not put it past this show to have a secret teenager stashed away somewhere.

Edited February 10, 2017 by methodwriter85

[Tiger]

4 hours ago, qtpye said:

You forgot the best trope for milking a character's death.  What if the character HAD NEVER DIED(insert shocking music).

We will be treated to a parallel universe episode where Jack never died and we find out how the characters would be different.

Kevin would be a male stripper, because he never had the nerve to go out to L.A. and pursue his dreams.

Randall would be ruthless cold Wall Street broker with no family, because he never slowed down and smelled the roses.

Kate would have the codependent relationship with her father, that she now currently has with Kevin.

The possibilities are endless.

Checkhov's Dick will now be the title of the most intellectual porn ever made (of course it is porn, so it will still be pretty stupid).

I really like alternate reality and hope that at some point this show does one.  Even better if they do a 2hr/2part and fully explore that world.

And I definitely agree that if its a 'what if Jack was still alive' that Randall will be a family-less ruthless Wall Streeter.

2 hours ago, methodwriter85 said:

Well, if they're going to do that, of course they're going to do an episode where Kyle survived his birth. Justin can play Kevin and Kyle in a dual role.

I did have a terrible though- Sophie totally opens up the possibility of some teen pregnancy scare with Kevin and her. She could have gotten pregnant, they get married, and she either has a miscarriage or they decide to give the baby away. I would not put it past this show to have a secret teenager stashed away somewhere.

I will be truly shocked if we make it to the last second if the series finale without a long lost kid or two emerging.  

[methodwriter85]

Well, if we go with the timeline of the show, Jack and Rebecca got married in the mid-1970's when he was about 30 and she was 24 or so. He could totally have had a bad first marriage with a woman who kept a now-fortysomething kid from him. Hell, they could have the long-lost kid played by Milo to truly fuck with us.

Of course...this is mostly tongue-in-check speculation, but you never know. I joked on the One Tree Hill boards one time that a new character who had been revealed to have had a dead wife would run into a look-alike of his dead wife and crazy stuff would ensue. They actually went with that plotline!

[SlackerInc]

What did I tell you guys about Chekhov's Dick?  She could still change her mind, but no matter what, we now have proof that she wanted to go for it, at least for a minute.

[Guest]

I actually want her to go in there because his treadmill convo was very heartfelt and I agree with him that Kate's plan to reinvent herself with a 180 is probably going to fail.  He recommends she learn to love 'old Kate' and accept her.   I do think she needs to lose weight for health reasons but I don't think hitting the elliptical and gritting your teeth through frustration with a guy who violates your boundaries is the best plan, IF she thinks she doesn't deserve better than either (a grueling elliptical session or Toby). 

[ShadowFacts]

26 minutes ago, Winston9-DT3 said:

I actually want her to go in there because his treadmill convo was very heartfelt and I agree with him that Kate's plan to reinvent herself with a 180 is probably going to fail.  He recommends she learn to love 'old Kate' and accept her.   I do think she needs to lose weight for health reasons but I don't think hitting the elliptical and gritting your teeth through frustration with a guy who violates your boundaries is the best plan, IF she thinks she doesn't deserve better than either (a grueling elliptical session or Toby). 

I want her to go in there and tell him to mind his own, because besides being way out of line with most everything he says/does, he is wrong.  He knows nothing about her.  Self-love and self-acceptance is one thing, but he's telling her she will never change and is wasting her money.  That's bad advice.  Maybe he's perfectly happy with himself and his job, or maybe he's lazy and stopped trying, who knows, Kate doesn't know him, either.  He's making sweeping statements that will never apply to everybody.  And who asked him?  I'll be surprised if she succumbs to his "charms."  If Toby violates her boundaries to the point it makes her uncomfortable, it goes double for Duke. 

My speculation is that Toby and Kate continue in a relationship, maybe in a longer engagement.  It would be so very annoying to have them break up, get engaged, and break up again right away.  She may realize things have moved too fast and put the brakes on, but not another breakup. 

[Guest]

Well, in my mind the writers have him seeing into Kate's mind, which is totally unrealistic but I guess I like him better than Toby because he is at least more interesting so I hope he's right.  

And I see his/their point, to some extent.  I think a fat camp probably is a waste of money.  Removing yourself from daily life might be a temp solution but doing these things while you're working, around restaurants, etc. is the real challenge.  

Maybe his 'you'll never change' is a way of challenging her.  Some people do well with that sort of motivation.  Or maybe it's just his way of getting her to accept current Kate.  I do think that's a better stepping off point for change than the self-hate stuff.  

I don't think he has to be 100% certain his take on Kate is the correct one.  If he feels that this approach would help her, why not float it out there?  She could walk away any time.  

It wouldn't surprise me if they do reveal in one of their beloved twists that Duke the stable hand and treadmill wiper is actually a respected expert in the psychology aspect of weight loss and/or the camp owner.   Kind of stupid but it wouldn't shock me.    

But as long as Toby's in that fat suit, I'm guessing he'll be around.  Or maybe the whole fat suit thing was just to set up a quick one-off scene later where she runs into him and he's svelte and she feels like crap about it.  

Edited February 10, 2017 by Guest

[Dejana]

Based on the latest episode, my speculation is that Jack died when he was drunk driving and the shock/shame surrounding his death added to the family's devastation. It would be the last thing St. Jack's loved ones would ever expect and they'd eternally grapple with how out of character it was and such a thoughtless way to behave, especially for someone known for being so selfless. Or else, they would just be in complete denial and blot out that part of his story when remembering him.

Also, if he died that way and only had life insurance in the event of something unforeseen, his family might have been out of luck if the insurance company determined him to be at fault in some way. You would hope there would be some personal savings, and the company he worked for had a 401k plan or pension, but Jack and Rebecca haven't been shown to be great with money so far...

Still, this is Jack we're talking about, at most these writers would have him start to drive home from the bar but realize he'd had too much and pull off to the side of the road to sleep it off. Something bad could still happen (robbery, fatal accident) but Jack wouldn't be a total bad guy.

Edited February 15, 2017 by Dejana

[Spencer Hastings]

Last week I read a theory about Jack maybe commiting suicide/his family thinking he did and I thought it was a stretch.  Then Kate brought up the topic of suicide to Toby tonight and completely shut down after he told his story/asked about how Jack died.  Couple that with Randall's extended scene talking the jumper down from the building with no further reference to it...but I still can't see that for Jack.  It's an interesting theory though. 

Edited February 15, 2017 by Spencer Hastings

[ShadowFacts]

I don't see suicide for Jack, either, but Kate is holding something in that is very painful 20 years later, so I think she figures in.  Drunk driving may also be misdirection.  He may not even return to drinking, just the one at the burger restaurant.  I bet that when next we see them, Jack and Rebecca are both apologizing profusely for their fight. 

On a different track, now that Kevin has probably burned his last acting bridge, Kate is unemployed, and Randall may be ending his high-stress Wall Street life, I am wondering if the Big 3 don't start a business together.  I think they could resurrect their father's dream of a construction company (with Miguel mentoring), and we'd have plenty of sibling drama and hijinks.  Randall probably has significant savings and investments he can cash in, maybe a nice severance deal if he leaves his job. 

[ClareWalks]

Just want to say I'm looking forward to the Memphis episode next week. I was just down there for the marathon and it's a city I can totally see William loving. Already recognized a few places from just the little preview.

[Guest]

If they make it like Kate's entire weight problem is due to unresolved feelings about her father's death I will be disappointed, especially if all it takes to solve it is a light bulb moment.  

[DayGlorious]

Am I the only person who hopes that the interactions between Rebecca, Jack, and Ben are setting us up for some parallel flounce-off between Sophie and Sloane if the play still somehow lives another day?

 

[ShadowFacts]

I think we will definitely see young William and Laurel again.  Not exploring Randall's birth mother would be leaving too much fertile storytelling potential untouched.  

[methodwriter85]

After seeing how they handled William's death, I am seriously wondering how they're going to top it with montages based around Jack's death. I do think there's a strong chance there will be a flashforward to Rebecca's death, and when she does die, she and Jack will be reunited once again young and on the stairs of the Titanic where Jack first kissed her hand, to the rousing cheers of the other "ghost" passengers.

Oh, wait. Wrong Jack.

[PRgal]

9 hours ago, methodwriter85 said:

After seeing how they handled William's death, I am seriously wondering how they're going to top it with montages based around Jack's death. I do think there's a strong chance there will be a flashforward to Rebecca's death, and when she does die, she and Jack will be reunited once again young and on the stairs of the Titanic where Jack first kissed her hand, to the rousing cheers of the other "ghost" passengers.

Oh, wait. Wrong Jack.

Thanks for making me almost ruin my keyboard with coffee. 

[ShadowFacts]

28 minutes ago, Winston9-DT3 said:

Where could they go with that besides just Randall discovering more blood relatives, though?  I would prefer they set up new dilemmas.  Randall finding more of his roots isn't something I'd want to see in future seasons.  A lot of viewers like repetition, though.  

I just think they would not have shown Laurel in William's death episode only to never see her again.  William's mother's end days could have been just she and William, there was no need to show us that William was already involved with Laurel, and she was caring for the mom, too.  I do think we will see her again.  It may come in connection with Randall reading the poems.   I don't know if I will like it or not, depends how they do it (there 's one way I can think of that I would really dislike).  It makes sense to me that Randall, after having William take him to his Memphis roots, would want to now know about his mother's side, too.   I would probably rather see that than some work-related dilemmas.  I could be wrong, they may have Randall be at peace with what he knows and not want to go further, but it won't surprise me to see her again. 

[Spartan Girl]

I just really hope the writers don't do a total character assassination of Jack just to justify Rebecca/Miguel. I know some people don't like Saint Jack, but there's a fine line between making him flawed and turning him into a straight up asshole before he dies.

[PRgal]

I won't be surprised if there's going to be an episode about Randall's birth and it's then we'll see Laurel again.  Probably next season...

[methodwriter85]

8 hours ago, Spartan Girl said:

I just really hope the writers don't do a total character assassination of Jack just to justify Rebecca/Miguel. I know some people don't like Saint Jack, but there's a fine line between making him flawed and turning him into a straight up asshole before he dies.

There's stupid, and then there's "Sleepy Hollow post-season 1 writers" stupid. I don't think this show would character assassinate their fan favorite character in favor of a character the fanbase rabidly hates. Yes, there are shows that would do that (see: Season 2 Sleepy Hollow or what I'd like to call "How To Implode A Hit Show Because You Wanted To Displace The Awesome Female Lead With A Shitty Actress in A Tight Corset"), but I don't think those in charge here would. Ken Olin absolutely seems to be onboard with "Jack is the Dream Man" fanbase.

I wonder if this show would dump Miguel and have Rebecca re-enter the dating pool as a woman in her late 60's/early 70's. It'd be kind of hysterical if present-day Rebecca fell in love with a much younger man, causing her insecurities to flare up as she's a frumpy old lady. I mean, hey, if Sally Field can do it, so can she. 

[chocolatine]

9 hours ago, Spartan Girl said:

I just really hope the writers don't do a total character assassination of Jack just to justify Rebecca/Miguel.

There's no need for that. To paraphrase the great Elizabeth Taylor: Jack is dead. What is Rebecca supposed to do, sleep alone?

[sigmaforce86]

On 2/15/2017 at 0:17 AM, Dejana said:

Based on the latest episode, my speculation is that Jack died when he was drunk driving and the shock/shame surrounding his death added to the family's devastation. It would be the last thing St. Jack's loved ones would ever expect and they'd eternally grapple with how out of character it was and such a thoughtless way to behave, especially for someone known for being so selfless. Or else, they would just be in complete denial and blot out that part of his story when remembering him.

Also, if he died that way and only had life insurance in the event of something unforeseen, his family might have been out of luck if the insurance company determined him to be at fault in some way. You would hope there would be some personal savings, and the company he worked for had a 401k plan or pension, but Jack and Rebecca haven't been shown to be great with money so far...

Still, this is Jack we're talking about, at most these writers would have him start to drive home from the bar but realize he'd had too much and pull off to the side of the road to sleep it off. Something bad could still happen (robbery, fatal accident) but Jack wouldn't be a total bad guy.

It's interesting you said this because I've been wondering the opposite - if something that happened when Jack died landed the family IN money.  The argument against is easy - it's TV and there are certain things writers don't bother explaining because it bogs down the shows (like why the ladies on the Walking Dead are never in need of a tampon run.....no show is going to touch that topic!).  So they may just be brushing over the money thing as not necessary to the plot.  But looking at the characters - Randall went to college, got married, got a good job and a good house.  Even if he had scholarships and even if he socked away a ton of savings early he's still doing so well that he's not just comfortable or well off, he could tell the Doc in Memphis he has the "means" to get a plane down there and get his Dad home.  Kevin get's married young and eventually moves to LA to become an actor, he could have done the starving actor/waiter thing but he funded himself somehow.  Kate works for Kevin in expensive LA but after he leaves she stays, briefly gets a job but can afford to leave, stay on the east coast for an indefinite time and go to a weight loss spa all while unemployed.  Rebecca's the biggest unknown - she eventually marries Miguel who seems to have money but even knowing about how old the kids were when Jack died her timeline between then and the second marriage is still up in the air,  So, speculation only, the money thing is a plot device so they can have the characters do other things without boring budget conversations OR the kids came into money young possibly from Jack's death that set them up with the means to get their lives/careers started? 

[SlackerInc]

Yeah, I think the rest is just TV magic: money is not a concern unless it is central to the plot (like when Jack went to his dad, sold his car, etc.).

[methodwriter85]

Rebecca's house with Migel does look pretty nice. I wonder why they stuck with a Colonial in the suburbs instead of getting a Condo.

They could totally rip off the plot of A Very Brady Christmas where Jack tries to save people in a building collapse but have him not survive.

Edited February 25, 2017 by methodwriter85

[photo fox]

Hey, all,

A point of clarification... this topic should be completely without spoilers.  That includes set photos, cast tweets, casting news, and other media.

This is for speculation that is based ONLY on actual show content that has already aired.

If you want to speculate based on news articles, etc., please take it to the Spoiler and Speculation Topic.

[3 is enough]

I don't think the Miguel-Rebecca union is that much of a mystery. I think that Jack died suddenly and tragically.  His widow and best friend were both devastated. Miguel probably offered to help Rebecca any way he could- they spent a lot of time together, and the relationship evolved from there.  It isn't an uncommon scenario.  Also, we still don't know when they got married, though probably it was before Randall's kids were born.  But it appears that Jack has been gone for at least 20 years, so it didn't necessarily happen right away.

At least that's my theory- we shall see how close I am to the story.

[SlackerInc]

I had friends in high school whose dad died, and a family they knew from church had their mom die around the same time.  Within a year the widow and widower were married to each other.

[biakbiak]

It would be interesting if Randall and Beth chose to foster or adopt an older child.

[pennben]

I suspect that Randall will insist on an open adoption. He will bond with the birth parents and insist they interact. Then, the birth parents will decide to try to get the baby back and it will be awful for Randall and Beth.  Only then will he truly understand the fear Rebecca felt in letting William get close to him after abandoning him.  Somehow during all of this, Rebecca will do/say something 'wrong' and Randall will fix it just to remind us that even though her son can now understand her long ago fears, Rebecca is always wrong somehow:). Like (adopted) father, like son. 

Edited March 15, 2017 by pennben

[methodwriter85]

26 minutes ago, pennben said:

I suspect that Randall will insist on an open adoption. He will bond with the birth parents and insist they interact. Then, the birth parents will decide to try to get the baby back and it will be awful for Randall and Beth.  Only then will he truly understand the fear Rebecca felt in letting William get close to him after abandoning him.  Somehow during all of this, Rebecca will do/say something 'wrong' and Randall will fix it just to remind us that even though her son can now understand her long ago fears, Rebecca is always wrong somehow:). Like (adopted) father, like son. 

I kind of want them to adopt an Asian baby, just so we can mimic the transracial adoption aspect.

[Wings]

I think we will see season 2 open with Rebecca holding her necklace as she did in the final scene. It will be in a different setting and we learn that Jack has died.  It will not be clear as to how in this moment, just that he is gone. 

On 3/15/2017 at 1:09 AM, pennben said:

I suspect that Randall will insist on an open adoption. He will bond with the birth parents and insist they interact. Then, the birth parents will decide to try to get the baby back and it will be awful for Randall and Beth.  Only then will he truly understand the fear Rebecca felt in letting William get close to him after abandoning him.  Somehow during all of this, Rebecca will do/say something 'wrong' and Randall will fix it just to remind us that even though her son can now understand her long ago fears, Rebecca is always wrong somehow:). Like (adopted) father, like son. 

Sounds very plausible but I think Rebecca will come out on top in this one. 

On 2/25/2017 at 2:48 PM, methodwriter85 said:

Rebecca's house with Migel does look pretty nice. I wonder why they stuck with a Colonial in the suburbs instead of getting a Condo.

They could totally rip off the plot of A Very Brady Christmas where Jack tries to save people in a building collapse but have him not survive.

Condos were rare back then, certainly not as prevalent as they are now. 

[PRgal]

1 hour ago, wings707 said:

Sounds very plausible but I think Rebecca will come out on top in this one. 

Condos were rare back then, certainly not as prevalent as they are now. 

Condos were definitely NOT all that rare by the time Rebecca and Miguel married/started living together.  In fact, that was when the craze started (at least around here).  They certainly weren't building like they are NOW, but it wouldn't have been seen as unusual.  In fact, my parents downsized when I graduated from high school in the late 90s and went away to school.  They (okay, we, since I was going to be living with them when I came home for weekends or vacation) moved in a week before I moved into my dorm. 

[Guest]

3 hours ago, wings707 said:

Sounds very plausible but I think Rebecca will come out on top in this one. 

Condos were rare back then, certainly not as prevalent as they are now. 

Do we have any indication from the show on how long they've been married and/or living together?

[Wings]

Just now, deaja said:

Do we have any indication from the show on how long they've been married and/or living together?

Not that I recall.  I may not have picked up on that because I don't consider it relevant.  It may be though.  What are you thinking?  

[Guest]

2 minutes ago, wings707 said:

Not that I recall.  I may not have picked up on that because I don't consider it relevant.  It may be though.  What are you thinking?  

I thought I must have missed something that said since it was stated that condos weren't as prevalent "then."  

[Guest]

Why would they choose a condo?  I think most retirees don't.  Not in the retirement paradise I live in but land is plentiful here.  Plus on tv, condos just don't typically have the visual impact of a cute house with big rooms and big porches for heart to heart scenes.  

We know Miguel's been in the picture since Kevin's marriage, so what is that... 12 years ago?  

[Wings]

17 minutes ago, deaja said:

I thought I must have missed something that said since it was stated that condos weren't as prevalent "then."  

Ah.  Assuming Rebecca and Miguel got together soon after Jack's death, I am going on the fact the kids are teens which puts the time line in the late 70s early 80s.   Condos hit the scene in the 60s (in Utah!) with apartment building conversions. Their growth happened very slowly over time and didn't show up in smaller communities (complexes) until much later.  

The choice of using a house is probably a production decision anyway.  It gives them more room to host family gatherings and have scenes shot outside or any number of things.  

Edited March 15, 2017 by wings707

[Pallas]

15 hours ago, wings707 said:

Condos were rare back then, certainly not as prevalent as they are now.

But Jack died circa 1997 -- already plenty of condos by then; friends, family and I have lived in one built in 1978 and three built in the 1980's. Miguel and Rebecca likely didn't leave Pittsburgh for New Jersey until Randall and Beth bought there, and perhaps not until the first grandchild arrived in 2006-ish. 

Edited March 16, 2017 by Pallas

[ShadowFacts]

I thought I had read someone's speculation that Olivia will turn up pregnant, but I can't find it now.  I had never thought of it, and I would hate it of course.  I do wonder though if when the show resumes, they haven't time-jumped several months, and maybe Olivia does show up with a baby in tow.  Randall's got a baby, Kevin's got a baby . . . that would be almost worse than having Jack die in 9/11. 

[pennben]

We're going to get an NBC-mandated The Voice/This Is Us crossover featuring Kate and her budding singing career next season, aren't we?:(

[Guest]

23 minutes ago, ShadowFacts said:

I thought I had read someone's speculation that Olivia will turn up pregnant, but I can't find it now.  I had never thought of it, and I would hate it of course.  I do wonder though if when the show resumes, they haven't time-jumped several months, and maybe Olivia does show up with a baby in tow.  Randall's got a baby, Kevin's got a baby . . . that would be almost worse than having Jack die in 9/11. 

I would put that spec in the same pile as the Dec. spec that Toby dies of the heart attack and then Kate finds out she's pregnant and has an abortion.  I don't think so.

[OtterMommy]

59 minutes ago, ShadowFacts said:

I thought I had read someone's speculation that Olivia will turn up pregnant, but I can't find it now.  I had never thought of it, and I would hate it of course.  I do wonder though if when the show resumes, they haven't time-jumped several months, and maybe Olivia does show up with a baby in tow.  Randall's got a baby, Kevin's got a baby . . . that would be almost worse than having Jack die in 9/11. 

 

47 minutes ago, pennben said:

We're going to get an NBC-mandated The Voice/This Is Us crossover featuring Kate and her budding singing career next season, aren't we?:(

Nothing personal to either @ShadowFacts or @pennben, but I refuse to like these posts.  They both made my fingernails hurt as I read them....

[ShadowFacts]

3 hours ago, OtterMommy said:

 

Nothing personal to either @ShadowFacts or @pennben, but I refuse to like these posts.  They both made my fingernails hurt as I read them....

Yeah, I hate my own post, and I wouldn't have thought this show would take the cheesy pregnancy route, but I am changing my view of that possibility since they had Rebecca save Jack from getting his ass beaten a second time by shady underworld types.  I fear pennben is on the right track, though, because how else are they going to get a 36 year-old with no singing experience into a singing career?  Toby will probably "nudge" her to audition.

[CofCinci]

5 hours ago, pennben said:

We're going to get an NBC-mandated The Voice/This Is Us crossover featuring Kate and her budding singing career next season, aren't we?:(

I can see this happening.

[Crs97]

I am starting to get a very cynical expectation that Kate blames herself for sending Jack to Cleveland, but blames her mom more because she thinks Jack caught Rebecca and Ben together.  Maybe she sees Jack drunk and he says something about Ben and doesn't remember it when he is sober to correct her mistaken impression, which of course she never mentions.  She spends lots of alone time making sure Jack is okay, and if Rebecca and Jack work things out she never quite forgives Rebecca for "causing" the separation to begin with.  It could explain the significant weight game from teenager to today and their strained relationship that Rebecca doesn't seem to understand.  Could be an interesting group therapy session.  Depressing to think of all the wasted time, but I could see the show runners going there to get all the feels. 

[Tiger]

On 3/16/2017 at 1:56 PM, pennben said:

We're going to get an NBC-mandated The Voice/This Is Us crossover featuring Kate and her budding singing career next season, aren't we?:(

Get ready for This is The Voice: Chicago.  On her way to Voice audition, Kate, Toby, Rebecca, and Miguel witness a crime involving a fire, have to get medical attention, and then appear as witnesses when the city seeks justice.  

[PRgal]

On 2017-03-15 at 2:47 AM, methodwriter85 said:

I kind of want them to adopt an Asian baby, just so we can mimic the transracial adoption aspect.

This is going to be next to impossible if the show wants to portray international adoption realistically.  Many - MOST - Asian countries have very strict rules for things like mental illness (if you think stigmatization is bad here, it's even WORSE there.  Anyway, I've discussed this on the social thread) which may include Randall's anxiety issues. 

[OtterMommy]

4 minutes ago, PRgal said:

This is going to be next to impossible if the show wants to portray international adoption realistically.  Many - MOST - Asian countries have very strict rules for things like mental illness (if you think stigmatization is bad here, it's even WORSE there.  Anyway, I've discussed this on the social thread) which may include Randall's anxiety issues. 

I really, really hope that they don't go down the adoption route.  There is more than just Randall here--and we already know that Beth doesn't want more children.  And who knows what Tess and Annie think.  And having Randall as a stay-at-home-dad is not the issue.  Yes, Beth talked about wanting to go back to work and Randall does have free time on his hands, but they also talked about wanting to retire early and they clearly had plans for when the girls were in college.  If they throw in an adoption here, I fear they will sort of gloss over all those (realistic, understandable, and very important) things so that Randall can have his full-circle moment.

Plus, I'm very apprehensive about kids in shows.  I love children in real life, but I don't like a lot of them on TV shows.  I think they've done well with that on this show--we get the big 3 as kids just as much as they are needed, and they have some great actors there, and they've kept Tess and Annie in the show "just enough."  By that, I mean they are there enough that we don't start thinking they have the magic Nanny that takes them away and just drops them off for the one or two scenes a season when they are needed, but they also don't dominate the show.  This is one area in which I have nothing but kudos for TIU and I'd hate for that to change.

[bettername2come]

I want to post my ridiculous "How Jack Dies" speculation just in case I'm right because I bought the DVDs and just watched "The Best Washing Machine In the World." Kevin snuck out of the house to be with Sophie. Kate lied and said he was in his room. The washing machine malfunctioned, started the fire, Jack thought Kevin couldn't get out of the basement because of broken leg and proximity to the fire and went in to save him. 

This completely ignores the fact that an upper corner of the house seems to be most damaged, but I like my theory, so I'm gonna go with it. 

[watcher1006]

Having seen the first two episodes of Season 2 I wonder if this show can keep up the intensity of the drama of Season 1 with Ron Cephas Jones' William Hill character gone from the present. No, he couldn't have had a miraculous remission and stayed on for Season 2 (thinking of a FOX series) but his departure leaves a void for the other characters' present time stories to fill, especially those of Randall and Beth.