This Is Us season 3: Everything we know that’s making us get the tissues ready

This Is Us made us cry…and laugh…and cry again for two seasons. Now, a new season 3 sneak peek is making us stock up on tissues

This Is Us has sparked enough tears to (a) easily earn the Outstanding Performance by an Ensemble in a Drama Series awards, and (b) deserve shares of stock in a tissue company.

We thought that when we finally learned the mystery of how and why Jack died, we’d be less motivated to tune into This Is Us.  Well, this is one time when we’re happy to be wrong. This Is Us just got better and better as it neared the oh-wow-that’s-an-aged-Jack finale of season two. And what we know about season three is making us prepare to use that excuse: “Who’s cutting onions in here?” for the inevitable tears to come.

Season 3 release date debate

The official This Is Us release date remains a question mark. However, the first two seasons debuted on September 20, 2016 and September 26, 2017. That means NBC probably will follow that same pattern with the same number of episodes (18). And we know we’re not alone in thinking that we miss This Is Us in the same way as we eagerly anticipate an annual visit from our favorite relative (Cousin Suzy, are you listening?).

Who will return for season 3 of This Is Us?

If you want to start a conversation in a group chat that contains This Is Us fans, just casually toss out the question: “Which actor is the best?” BOOM! Some heart Sterling K. Brown as Randall Pearson. Others just long for more of Ms. Mandy Moore as Rebecca Pearson. And can we talk Chrissy Metz’s incomparable Kate, Justin Hartley’s Bachelor-worthy candidate Kevin, and (swoon) the one and only Milo Ventimiglia as Jack?

Even though Jack died like the heroic family man he was and Randall’s biological father William (Ron Cephas Jones) broke our hearts with his own death, This Is Us is known for weaving different time periods into each episode.

That means that both Milo and Ron will return for season 3 (applause, please).

In addition to our beloved core characters and the teenage and kid versions of the Big Three, popular love interests are anticipated to return next season. Watch for Susan Kelechi Watson portraying Randall’s wife Beth, Chris Sullivan playing Kate’s beloved Toby Damon, Jon Huertas interacting with Rebecca as Miguel Rivas, and Alexandra Breckenridge playing Kevin’s on-again, off-again sweetheart Sophie.

Milo Ventimiglia makes a promise about Jack

Milo reassured fans that Jack will return, pointing out all the aspects of this beloved fictional dad that This Is Us has yet to reveal.

"There’s still a lot to know [about Jack]– different sides of him, what made him, what shaped him, what inspired his romance with his wife, what happened with he and his brother in war….There’s a lot of life left in him – even in death, there’s a lot of life left in Jack."

Milo also told EW that fans should prepare themselves for more shocking moments in the upcoming season. The actor admits that when series creator Dan Fogelman told the actor about new aspects of Jack, Milo was stunned.

“I kind of felt like Daryl walking out of the backroom card game with all the money, like, ‘This is going to be so good.’ There is a lot to Jack’s history that shapes who he ultimately becomes,” promised Ventimiglia.

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And it all will unfold in season 3 of This Is Us. Tissues ready?