Agree that it was a strange episode. Reliving the Dec. 1, 1969 draft was eerie, though.
Boring except for the draft draw.
I thought it was the July 1, 1970 lottery.
The lottery was held Dec. 1, 1969 for induction in 1970. Jackās brother Nickās birthday was October 18, 1948. Number 005 in the lottery. The July 1, 1970 lottery was for men born in 1951. The Dec ā69 lottery was for men born 1944-50. My brother was in the 1969 lottery. I remember vividly watching it, even though he had an educational deferment.
I donāt think we needed an entire episode to convey that Jack felt responsible for taking care of Nick. The only new revelation was Jackās tachycardia - wonder if that contributed to his death.
Sometimes this show is overly self important. They devoted the entire epiosode because- shocker - WAR is BAD. They needed a āvery special episodeā to make sure we really understand the principle that WAR is BAD.
I donāt know. I thought the episode filled in a lot of the back story and was just as happy to not be in the present day for a while. Or maybe it was because I was sucked in by the song book-ending the episode, āDarkness, Darknessā by Jesse Collin Young, whom I interviewed for an article earlier this year, and he was such a nice guy. I enjoyed the rest of the music as well.
I vaguely remember the draft drawings. I was in elementary school. What a horrible process for boys our kidsā age to have to endure.
I liked the episode. The backstory fleshed out Jackās character.
I was just reading more about the episode and see it was co-written by Tim OāBrien, who wrote The Things They Carried, linked short stories about the Vietnam War (he fought in it) that was a finalist for the Pulitzer. Perhaps his skills as a novelist donāt translate as well to script writing.
I liked the episode. I think this part of the story-telling makes This Is Us the different kind of series that it is. Itās not a linear storyline with a few flashbacks. Itās stories within stories within stories.
I think the backstory about the tachycardia definitely ties to his heart being vulnerable and leading to his death. Jack and Nickās dad was sober at the time of Nickās birth, though his father (the grandfather) was drinking at the hospital awaiting Nickās birth. Wonder when he began to drink (or relapsed)?
I havenāt seen the episode but did read the recap in USA Today. The reviewer thought it was the best of the season and loved it.
I for one, will be glad not to have to listen to the whining and self absorption of Kate. I think a break will be nice.
And I loved mad men when they had an episode that was totally different and didnāt really follow the story arc but made perfect sense later in the season
I liked the episode. It did feel like a different show though, without any of the other characters. Interesting that Tim OāBrien co-wrote the episode. The Things They Carried is a really good book. I wonder which touches were his.
Tim OāBrien wrote that? Now I feel bad. His brother was a very good friend of ours when we lived in MN.
I agree with @jym626 in that I thought it was an interesting detail that Jackās dad said he doesnāt drink in the hospital when Nicky was born. Wonder if we will find out what triggered the dad to start drinking as his drinking is a large part of Jackās back-story.
Not to mention Jackās own drinking, and Kevinās.
Exactly
I liked the episode, but agree that it seemed almost like a different show. Very interesting that the Dad wasnāt drinking and was so nice! What happened? We got a few answers, but also a few more questions.
My husband commented that it was too much time focused on the relationship between Nick and Jack. The going back and back and back was almost overdone. I thought they needed to give Jack some air time because they probably had a contract that gives him so much time so they had to devote an episode to him. Overall, I didnāt enjoy it as much as I usually do. I do like seeing all the caste. I do remember the draft lottery.
Does anyone know was that true to life in terms of Oct 18 being 005. My sisters and I used to watch it and as kids we didnāt really understand and hoped our birthdays would come up. How frightening for those who had to learn their fate by watching TV. As a child I used to watch the footage on Nam every night on the CBS news with my family and I just thought War was always going to be onāas a child I just incorporated the idea that it was normal and something that would always exist. Didnāt know anything about peace time.
Yes that is the correct lottery number. The lottery number table is easily googled. I did after they happened to call out my new granddaughterās birthday as lottery #1! I texted DS to tell him and he replied with some silly bogus diagnosis (she doesnāt have) that would get her a 4F rating. 
Good thing she didnāt live back then (and that she wasnāt a male, as women were not in the draft).