Jack remains a part of This Is Us season 5, but recent episodes make it clear that his arc is fully done, with the show risking ruining his legacy. Thanks to its non-linear storytelling, the NBC show is able to continuously feature characters who have already passed on like the Pearson patriarch. But unlike William, Randall's biological father, This Is Us is struggling to make Jack still relevant as the series moves forward with its final two years.
This Is Us has made a name for itself through relatable characters and emotionally cathartic moments. Its story follows the Pearson family — couple Jack and Rebecca as they begin their journey together from the moment they met until the former tragically died of a heart attack. Their story continues, however, via their kids, Kate, Kevin, and Randall whose individual and collective lives are tackled in the modern era. Despite Jack's death, This Is Us still found ways to incorporate his story into the show and relate it to what his children are going through in their adult years.
It appears that This Is Us may be running out of ways to use Jack in its narrative. Season 5 is currently on hiatus, but in the four episodes that it has released thus far, the Pearson patriarch wasn't much of a factor. The big takeaway from the premiere was the reveal that Randall's biological mother, Laurel, may still be alive. From there, snippets from the past had little revelance to what was happening in the current timeline except for Kevin's story. The midseason finale - titled "Honestly" - leaned in on Number One's penchant for affirmations from other people. Relating his new high-profile film to his past as a budding football star, This Is Us revealed how Jack and Rebecca had conflicting styles when it came to dealing with Kevin pursuing his athletic dreams. Jack didn't have any issues that Kevin was pushing himself too much; he was more than okay with the kid putting immense pressure on himself. He also chastised Rebecca for wanting to show Kevin that regardless of what he wanted to do, it's fine.
Jack wasn't a perfect husband or father, but This Is Us made a conscious effort to make sure that he was always on the good side of things. Every mistake was justified and wrong actions were explained in an effort to make him relatable without really harping on about his flaws. This was one of the few moments that he was objectively depicted as ruthless and unreasonable. Kevin put unhealthy pressure on himself because he didn't want to disappoint his dad, and for the Pearson child who was often overlooked, that is completely understandable. Jack chastising Rebecca for wanting to have a more empathetic approach to Kevin being stressed out was plain wrong, and not even Kevin's romanticized idea of him can change that.
It's worth noting that as it nears the end of its six-season arc, the This Is Us' focus has started to shift to Rebecca, with the show telling her story instead. In the show's first three years, Jack was propped up as the ideal father and this inadvertently magnified Rebecca's flaws as a mother. But, the switch is gradually happening, which means Jack's fault will be more highlighted as the rest of the show's story is told. This risks ruining the character's legacy, especially if This Is Us continues to highlight how his parenting style resulted in the wrong habits and principles for his kids.