Watch NBC’s This Is Us—It’s Worth Every Second
SPOILER WARNING: Any spoilers written below are things you find out within the first few episode(s) of season one. I did everything I could to provide insight into my love for this show without giving too much detail, enjoy! 🙂
This is Us is one of the most authentically human television series of all-time. It’s an artistic masterclass on storytelling and great writing. It’s an enjoyable rollercoaster of emotions. The show draws you in with a compelling plot and keeps you close with relatable moments and characters that tug on the heartstrings and make you feel like a member of the Pearson family. Here’s a summary of the reasons why I love This is Us and why I want you to watch it.
Heartfelt moment of brotherly love between Kevin and Randall
Emotion Evoking
If you’re afraid to watch this show because of its tear inducing reputation, you have no idea what you’re missing. Crying is healthy. I think we should all shed tears more often. Crying means we’re allowing ourselves to feel emotions instead of bottling them up. Even if it is induced by a television series, allowing ourselves to feel emotion is positive while keeping it all inside can be detrimental to both physical and mental health.
This is Us has a way of making viewers feel the emotion of what’s being shown on screen. Jim Valvano once said “if you laugh, you think, and you cry, that's a full day. That's a heck of a day. You do that seven days a week, you're going to have something special.” Every episode of This Is Us is an opportunity to have “a full day,” and that’s truly a beautiful and special experience.
Self-reflection Inducing
This Is Us also leads to self-reflection, something we should strive to do often. Because the story and its characters are so complex, you’re going to find something or someone you can relate to or empathize with. Seeing that on screen first-hand could spark an overdue conversation with a loved one, set off a light bulb to help you solve a personal problem, or completely change your perspective on some aspect of life.
Grounded in Reality
Life is hard, complicated, and often short. This is Us doesn’t exist in some fantasy world, where everything is perfect or bad things only happen once per season. No, it’s actually grounded in the the everyday life that we all face as human beings—and americans specifically.
These characters are average people doing the best they can to deal with life’s highs and lows. They’re you, me, and our loved ones trying to navigate the same circumstances we all live through together. They’re a big mixed family that also represent the real world by showcasing diversity in area other than race including; body size, sexual orientation, and mental health. This show is truly a great representation of the world we live in and the things we experience in it.
Top left: Teenage Kevin, Kate, and Randall. Top Middle: Rebecca and Jack. Top Right: Kevin and Sophie. Bottom Left: Toby and Kate. Bottom Middle: Annie, William, and Tess. Bottom Right: Randall and Beth.
Character Development
A sign of good character development is my reaction every time William (Ron Cephas Jones) shows up on screen. I drop anything else I’m doing and stare at the screen, clinging on to every word. I instantly feel the nostalgia of his previous screen time and I’m happy to see him but also sad knowing his history revealed in the previously aired episodes. Sometimes I tear up before the tear worthy moments or dialogue even come up.
The Reedsy Blog defines character development as “the process of creating a believable fictional character by giving them depth.” The people behind the scenes of This is Us clearly have this concept down to some sort of science. Love ‘em or hate ‘em, it’s impossible to watch this show without gaining an understanding of each recurring character and even some side characters. The writers and producers paint a complete picture of who they are and what motivates them. The delivery of their development appears natural and effortless, which is a major contributor to their relatability.
Speaking of the phenomenal characters, here are the others that keep me tuned in every week.
Jack Pearson
Despite being a fictional character, Jack Pearson (Milo Ventimiglia) is one of the men I idolize due to his possession of characteristics that I strive to maintain throughout the course of my life. He makes a conscience effort to be be a good human being every day. He’s intentionally kind, gentle, and nonthreatening in his interactions with women. He’s also the best father a child and wife could ask for despite his flaws and moments of failure. For the most part, one could justify saying that Jack the personification of nontoxic masculinity.
Tender display of fatherhood between Jack and his son Randall.
Click the gif to view BuzzFeed article: “23 Times Jack Pearson From “This Is Us” Proved To Be The Best Character On TV.”
Randall Pearson
“The apple doesn’t fall far from the tree,” that saying applies heavily to Jack’s son Randall (Sterling K. Brown), who may not be a spitting image of his adopted father but surely received every single one of his good traits and expanded on them. Randall is also an admirable man and father but it’s because I personally find him so relatable that I appreciate him as one of my favorite TV characters of all-time.
Randall’s story reflects my own in many ways from having a complicated relationship with his biological father to feeling out of place in multiple environments as a black boy and man. I also see myself in the way aspects of his young life trickled into adulthood—living a life where he’s constantly striving for perfection while placing emphasis on how he wants to show up in other people’s lives. The positive characteristics he inherited from Jack also make him someone I strive to emulate as a black man, father, and husband.
Without giving away too much more about the character, I have to admit that some of Randall’s pivotal moments showed me potential results of our shared character traits that contributed to me seeking a therapist, a decision that has been life altering for me.
Sterling K. Brown
It’s not just Randall that I admire but also the man playing the role in Sterling K. Brown. I love that he intentionally uses his platform for honesty and positivity.
I also appreciate the beautiful black love displayed by Sterling and his wife/castmate, Ryan Michelle Bathe. I specifically admire the way he shows her love publicly, posting photos with loving captions and literally thanking and praising her every opportunity he gets.
49.2k Likes, 237 Comments - Sterling Brown (@sterlingkbrown) on Instagram: "Once again, kudos to my stylist @stylebynaz for putting together another bangin' ensemble! The..."
Beth and Randall’s Marriage
It may be a fictional union but Beth and Randall’s marriage is one that I want to model my potential life partnership after. Their relationship is structured beyond the bare necessities of love, physical attraction, and affection. They provide each other with unconditional two way support as both professionals and parents. These two also make a conscious effort to work as a team in both individual and familial situations. They do all these things with the intentionality necessary to maintain a strong household.
Also, they’re one of the only representation of strong black love on television so I’d stan just off the strength of that [shrug emoji] #RepresentationMatters
Randall and Beth share a loving moment at home.
