Surely, your brain is swirling with curiosity, uncertainty, and scenarios.
Where do we pick up at the beginning of this season?
The season 2 finale wedding certainly felt like a bit of a respite and a reward from that.
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Does that lightness continue in this season to some extent?
And what themes will emerge as the season progresses?I think the season will have lighter moments.
What we dont have is the death of Americas most loved patriarch in the middle of our season.
So by the very nature of not having that, the season gets lighter.
Were still exploring really, really heavy, intricate subject matter.
The show lives best in stuff thats really complicated and not just all easy.
Theres much for us to still learn about Jack even though hes passed.
Hes a fairly mysterious guy when it came to his past.
What kind of secrets and revelations await and how might we come to view Jack differently?
I think thats whats going to happen for the audience a little bit.
Youll get a fuller picture of Jack by learning about what happened to him before we actually met him.
Justin called the Vietnam revelations about Jacksuper-heartbreaking and shocking, andMilo said that he didnt see them coming.
I think thats whats most surprising about it seeing a character in a different world.
You added Tim OBrien [Vietnam veteran and author ofThe Things They Carried] as a consultant.
Hes a writing hero of mine and all of us on the writing staff.
We wanted to do the story right by Tim and vets and other people that have experienced Vietnam.
Were trying to treat Vietnam with the same respect and research.
Michael Arangano has been cast as Nicky.
What did you like about him for the role?I liked Michael for a while.
I dont even know him.
Theres a connective tissue in terms of DNA, but sometimes were wildly different than our siblings.
I feel like hes going to bring that to the part in a really interesting way.
What can you say about how much guilt or responsibility or grief Jack feels about Nickys death?
That was always something I was really interested in exploring in the show.
That all sounds really complicated and mind-numbing, but thats the draw of going to the future.
It comes with huge complications; designing a future is not easy.
The makeup is a challenge.
Rob Morgan is joining the show as a city councilman.
Susan does it so wonderfully and its very funny.
I think in the first episode back, somethings willsurpriseabout the reaction of Beth and Randall to the relationship.
Over to Toby, whos battling depression in the near future.
We know hes struggled in the past, but weve generally seen him upbeat.
The first episode for Toby and Kate is a very intense story.
Its very moving, in a somewhat surprising way.
Its a big part of where well spend time this season.
An episode early in our season is named Toby, so were really going to dive in.
So theres a real opportunity to learn more about their pasts in this season.
Hes been very patient with his family, even when Kevin was very cold to him.
What blanks will you will be filling in this season?
Its interesting that we havent seen them a lot in the present-day Miguel-and-Rebecca storyline.
Thats another interesting component to learn a little bit more about.
How much of William will we see in season 3?
Our second episode has a big William story, and we have others coming.
Our hope is that hell really be an active part of the show.
We love it every time hes on the screen.
How will his character factor into this season?
Are there more revelations about him?We seem to be moving in two different ways.
The season premiere takes us back to the 70s to witness Jack and Rebeccas first date.
And I think thats what this feels like.
So that becomes a marching order for me personally.
This Is Usseason 3 premieres Tuesday, Sept. 25, at 9 p.m.
