This is Us
“According to Wikipedia, the average human being shares his or her birthday with over 18 million other human beings. There is no evidence that sharing the same birthday creates any type of behavioral link between those people.”
These words introduce NBC’s new show “This Is Us,” created by Dan Fogelman. The pilot of this new series follows the stories of four people all celebrating their thirty-sixth birthday on the same day. Jack (Milo Ventimiglia) and his pregnant wife, Rebecca (Mandy Moore), who is carrying triplets, goes into labor on Jack’s birthday. The light-hearted chemistry of this couple makes their characters easily likable among viewers. Kevin (Justin Hartley), a successful actor who has grown bored of his job and lifestyle lives in Los Angeles along with his twin sister, Kate (Chrissy Metz), a good-hearted woman struggling with her weight. Finally, the audience follows the life of Randall (Sterling K. Brown), a successful black man, happily married to his wife, Beth (Susan Kelechi Watson) and their two daughters in New Jersey. Despite his “perfect” lifestyle, he is troubled with the weight of confronting his biological father who left him at a fire station the day he was born. Though these characters are spread out across the nation, their stories intertwine in a shockingly simple way.
The new drama has continually been compared to NBC’s beloved “Parenthood”—another tear-jerking series centered around the members of a family. While fans bid a tragically beautiful farewell to the Bravermans in the beginning of 2015, the talk of similarities between the two shows has led many “Parenthood” fans to set “This Is Us” on their DVR each week.
NBC released that the show has been picked up for a full, 18-episode season. There are no doubts that it will continue to gain followers and praise as the season continues—mostly due to the shocking cliffhangers that have (so far) ended each episode.
For all those who enjoy curling up on the couch and escaping from a long week, this is the show for you. The perfect balance of light-heartedness and realistic drama will have you laughing, crying, and appreciating loved ones in your own life.