What Makes “This Is Us” Special?

NBC’s This Is Us captured many hearts when it aired its first episode on September 20th, 2016. With its propensity for plot twists, tear-inducing moments, and simply brilliant storytelling, TIU became one of the most talked-about shows on television within a week of its initial airing. With season three set to premiere on September 25th, let’s take a look at what makes TIU so incredibly special.

The Cast

This Is Us boasts one of the most complete casts of any show in recent memory, right up there with Game of Thrones and Stranger Things. 

What makes it even more incredible is the fact that many of the cast members, like in GoT and ST, were relatively unknown before being lifted to celebrity status by their performances on the show.

They give off some of the best, most tear-inducing performances week in and week out. It doesn’t matter if it’s Sterling K. Brown (Randall), Mandy Moore (Rebecca), Milo Ventimiglia (Jack), Chrissy Metz (Kate), Justin Hartley (Kevin), or any of the supporting actors; when they’re featured in an episode, you can darn well know that they’re going to give a magnificent performance. Very, very few shows can boast as complete a cast as This Is Us is able to do; it is completely atypical for a production to have as many A+ performers as TIU does. This makes every second of every episode absolutely captivating.

The Writing and Storytelling

Creator Dan Fogelman caught lightning in a bottle with the success of season one of This Is Us, producing many memorable moments.

What is difficult for television shows to do, however, is to continue the magic of that initial run. Many wondered if TIU would be able to reach that incredible high bar in season two. Fogelman and Co. didn’t disappoint.

The unique fact that TIU deals with multiple timelines -namely when the Big Three are about 10 years old, when they are about 17, and when they are in their early thirties (which is thought to be the present day) – allows the show to explore many backstories and aspects of each character that it likely wouldn’t have been able to do otherwise. This keeps the storylines fresh and exciting, and allows for a main character to go an entire episode without being seen. Without that different timeline aspect, it is possible that TIU would have faltered in season two, but Fogelman’s ability to take the viewer into completely different stories at any time keeps everything fresh and enjoyable at all times.

The Familial Aspect

This Is Us is a show about family more than anything else. Adolescents, teenagers, young adults, parents, and grandparents can all sit down to watch it together, which cannot be said for the vast majority of entertainment out there. The familial aspect of TIU is, perhaps, what makes it as captivating as it is; the viewer becomes completely invested in the lives of the fictional Pearson family, experiencing every emotion that the characters experience right along with them.

The overwhelming theme of love warms the viewers’ hearts time and time again, and keeps them longing for more, wishing the Pearsons could be present in their homes for more than just 43 minutes a week.

Just as real families experience tragedy, the Pearsons go through heartbreak. When this happens, the viewer wants to reach into the televisions screen and comfort the characters, just as they would hug a family member going through hard times. When the viewer sees Rebecca, Jack, Kevin, Randall, Kate, or any other character react to hard times, (s)he sees herself in the character; (s)he realizes that (s)he would react in exactly the same way. This is heartbreaking, and is the biggest reason that TIU is as emotional as it is.

This Is Us has the ability to make the viewer feel as if they are part of the Pearson family, and portrays familial relationships in an incredibly authentic way that will make most every viewer emotional. Family is everything in This Is Us.

Wrap-Up

This Is Us is one of the best shows on television right now, and for good reason. With its all-star cast, unique storytelling, and overwhelming sense of familial love, it is a show that can be adored by people from all walks of life.

This Is Us returns to NBC on Tuesday, September 25th at 9:00 EST.