This Is Us promo analysis: season 3 episode 16

This Is Us is back tonight and things are looking pretty emotional between the future of Zevin’s relationship and Baby Jack’s health problems. What clues does the promo provide for what’s to come?

Last time on This Is Us, Kate safely gave birth to the very premature Baby Jack. She and Toby are warned that Jack has a long road ahead of him before he can go home. Meanwhile, Zevin’s relationship is in peril as Kevin’s relapse threatens to undermine Zoe’s sense of security.

The promo opens with Toby looking on at the fragile Baby Jack. He says that all he can see when he looks at him is pain, so he’s obviously having a hard time with the current state of affairs and his son’s discomfort.

A nurse comes to take blood and Toby freaks out, unable to handle his own pain at watching is son’s pain. He says to the nurse, “could you not?” The more practical – and at this point perhaps more emotionally healthy – Kate tells Toby to stop it. Might this be the beginning of a storyline in which Kate and Toby might eventually have to make the decision to end Jack’s life if it comes to a point where his suffering becomes too much and he is beyond help?

In the past we see Jack and Rebecca dancing together, maybe chaperones at a dance. Jack wonders if they would have liked each other if they had been at school together. We see young Jack at a dance, looking across the dance floor, and then young Rebecca at a dance, looking across the dance floor, supposedly at each other.

We see Zoe and Kevin cuddle up on the couch together. Then Zoe tells him that she doesn’t want to have kids, but if having kids is something Kevin needs then she doesn’t want to waste their time. Kevin looks sad and thoughtful, but he doesn’t look drunk – so that’s good. Then as Kevin stands on the sidewalk in the rain, maybe standing outside Julie’s apartment, Julie comes along and meets him on the sidewalk.

She seems surprised, saying his name questioningly. Kevin turns to look at her. Julie looks at Kevin fondly, friendly. Could Kevin’s journey have led him back to Julie yet again? Would she really let that happen again? Is Zevin done for? Perhaps he’s just looking to Julie as a friend for guidance in his relationship with Zoe?

Of course, it’s the nature of promos to provide nothing but vague teasers to entice viewers to tune in and see what really happens. You can find out tonight on the newest episode of This Is Us, 9pm ET on NBC.