Warning: this post contains spoilers about this week’s episode of This is Us

On Tuesday’s episode of NBC’s hit drama, entitled “Three Sentences,” we get a teeny breadcrumb of a hint as to when Jack passed away. The episode flashes briefly back to his funeral, where we get a glimpse of teenaged Kate, Kevin and Randall holding hands. That quick scene really got to some of the shows fans, who took to Twitter to shed some virtual tears about the imminent demise of TV’s new favorite Dad.

Show creator Dan Fogelman teased the reveal during last week’s Television Critic’s Association winter press tour. He and the cast took center stage at the event moments after learning that NBC renewed the show for a second and third season. At the panel discussion, Fogelman emphasized that the show had always planned to take its time to reveal the cause of Jack’s death, telling the audience that while this episode was “a big episode,” the show has “a while to go in the big picture.” He went on to say:

“Slowly but surely you’ll learn when, then much later how, and then you’ll see it, but that will take, hopefully, many many episodes,” Fogelman continued.

He explained that Jack and the family’s loss of Jack is the “hinge” of the series.

“The needle we have to continue to thread is sparsing out information so it never becomes too frustrating for people,” he told reporters. “There’s a before and after for this family. Even in the pilot, even before you knew there was anything off with Jack, there’s a hinge in this family, and it’s kind of a before with Jack and an after. That will be really interesting in future seasons and as we go forward, to show where that hinge was, how it happened and what happened to these people before and after it.”

[From E! News]

Even though Fogelman is keeping tight-lipped about the subject, fans of the show have their own theories, and they aren’t completely off the wall.

As far as the rest of the episode, things were (mercifully for us) a bit lighter-hearted than in weeks past. We flashback to the Pearson kids’ 10 birthday celebrations. The Big Three had enjoyed a group party in previous years, but Kate and Kevin spearheaded a family meeting, requesting separate fetes with unique themes. Kevin wished for a Princess Bride-themed party, delivering a room full of pint-sized Inigo Montoyas – which was adorable.

Kate wanted her party to pay tribute to Madonna, complete with bedazzled gloves, courtesy of Papa Jack. Randall requested a magician, only because he felt he had to ask for something. Kevin’s party, out of the three, was the most successful, taking all of Kate’s friends, including her BFF, Sophie, away from planned Vogue lessons. Randall, whose three friends were the only ones in attendance, was perfectly content. I love Randall and young Kate gives me all of the feels. Whoever did the casting for this show deserves an Emmy.

Present-day Randall is dealing with his biological Dad William’s “chemo rush,” a newfound energy he’s discovered since being taken off treatment – and the two share a sweet bonding afternoon together, capped off by son teaching father how to drive.

Kate, now slightly skittish about gastric bypass surgery after Toby, her now-fiancé, suffered a heart attack, heads off for a month in an “immersive” weight loss facility where she is (really creepily) hit on by the camp’s stable keeper, Duke, who attempts to neg his way into her heart. I hope his methods don’t work. I am still #TeamToby. And that camp – wow. Lots of bird watching and drum therapy. I didn’t think it would be like The Biggest Loser, but, really?

As for the last of the Pearson kids, Kevin, who messed things up with both Sloane and awful Olivia, has a tête-à-tête with Toby about what he should do to get the love of his life back. Toby, the self-proclaimed “King of Grand Romantic Gestures” suggests Kevin just go and get his dream girl, but, surprise! The woman he wants to be with is his ex-wife, Sophie…Kate’s childhood best friend! What a tangled web you weave, This is Us!

The architect of this web, Fogelman, promises even more surprises to come, telling Entertainment Tonight, “We have a lot [of twists]. Our theme is, life will surprise you a little bit. What’s surprising for the audience is the order in which we choose to tell this story. We know where this series is going and how we’re going to keep people on their toes.”

I don’t know about you, but I’ve been on my toes all season, and I can’t wait to see what happens next.