As an avid Gilmore Girls fan, trailers preceding the premiere of NBC’s new drama This Is Us captured my interest immediately because Milo Ventimiglia was among the main cast (G.G. fans know him as the ever-charming Jess Mariano). Sterling K. Brown and Mandy Moore were other immensely talented actors I knew and recognized.
After having spent half of my summer watching dramas and comedies on Netflix, I was prepared for something stereotypical, a pass time and nothing more. I was proven wrong within the first 15 minutes of the pilot as the incredible story began to unfold, and I found myself lost in the complexity of the characters’ lives. Never had I imagined that this show would become one of my instant favorites, all credit due to the remarkable performances by all the cast members and the undoubtedly talented writers behind the compelling story itself.
This is real.
It’s rare to come across a tale so raw in its authenticity.
I was accustomed to shows and films that lacked any real value and were meant solely for entertainment, with repetitive plots and non-relatable storylines. This Is Us defied the norm, venturing into new territory within pilot itself, tackling issues like high-risk pregnancy and substance abuse. Not bothering to “beat around the bush,” the show dealt with these issues and more (anxiety, obesity, sexism, racism etc.) in a manner that was powerful in its transparency. Tapping into the highs and lows of humanity, this is a story where the audience can’t help but feel vulnerable when finding reflections of themselves in the characters.
This is life.
Centered around the Pearson family, the show delves into their intricate lives and relationships and interweaves them in a believable way. Through flashbacks, viewers are introduced to Jack (Milo Ventimiglia) and Rebecca (Mandy Moore), first-time parents expecting triplets and struggling to build a suitable life before their children are born. Kevin, Kate, and Randall are introduced in the present.
Kevin (Justin Hartley), a long-time actor on a popular show, is unhappy with his image in the industry and celebrity culture and struggles to find where his true potential lies. Kate (Chrissy Metz) is a woman who has struggled with obesity and self-esteem her entire life and is on a journey to find “who is she is beside the weight.” Randall (Sterling K. Brown), a successful businessman, finally comes face-to-face with his biological father, who abandoned him at the doorstep of a police station at infancy. Like life itself, their stories are unpredictable in the truest sense, filled with twists and turns.
This is love.
This Is Us holds a firm grip on reality as it weaves a tale about the importance of family, and how it doesn’t necessarily end in blood. All the dynamics of parenthood, marriage, children, sibling rivalry, loss, forgiveness, and love come into play with each episode. It never fails in emphasizing that everything affects everything, and our lives and actions have consequences on others beyond our capacity of understanding.
Grounded in a creative script and an excellent cast, This Is Us is a story about humanity in which viewers may very well find themselves. Perhaps that is why, in all its glory, it’s a story about us.
