The title of the television (TV) series This Is Us may seem opaque but is, in fact, crystal-clear in explaining its main topic: family. The seemingly lazy title is entirely understandable in that it attempts to encapsulate the sheer complexity of the meaning of family. By following the lives of members within a family, This Is Us deeply explores the ways in which domestic influences impact us. Whether or not you relate to the specific incidents in the series, it brings to light the one universal constant when discussing the matter of family, which is that one’s family — or even the lack thereof — influences you, whether you like it or not.

Currently airing its fifth season, the first season of This Is Us premiered on the American network National Broadcasting Company (NBC) in 2016. The show illustrates the lives of the Pearson family: Jack and Rebecca, the parents, and Kevin, Kate, and Randall, the children. While episodes primarily focus on the present where the three children are adults, flashbacks often occur in relation to storylines. Scenes in the 1980s with the younger Pearsons in their childhood are relatively common. Nonetheless, the show does not hesitate to transition to other time periods or perspectives to make its point.

Myriad themes appear throughout the seasons; addiction, weight issues, adoption, racial issues, and death are just a few. One may worry that such diverging topics could lead to a lack of focus and depth. Despite this valid concern, heavy issues are woven into the relationship dynamics within the family in This Is Us, which creates a single focal point while discussing various themes. Critics seem to agree that the show does this successfully, judging by its numerous accolades. As a series, it was selected as Outstanding New Program at the 2017 Television Critics Association Awards, and has won Outstanding Performance by an Ensemble in a Drama Series at the 2018 and 2019 Screen Actors Guild Awards.

No Unremarkable Encounters

To call This Is Us a character-driven show may be an understatement. Major events shape the plot of the show, but the focus seems to be on how and why those events affect individual characters’ psychology and action. Moreover, this inclination extends not only to the main characters but even to characters that seem comparatively irrelevant.

At the show’s beginning, Randall, an abandoned newborn, is discovered and dropped off at a hospital by a fireman, ultimately to be adopted by the Pearsons. Interestingly, This Is Us focused on the sequence of events that preceded and followed the fireman’s life after his discovery of Randall. By giving even seemingly irrelevant characters a backstory, This Is Us demonstrates everyone’s lives are interlinked. The idea that there is no coincidence in who we meet every day — even as a passing stranger — is reflected in the message that This Is Us delivers.

Distributing focus on separate characters also circles back to the primary topic of This Is Us. If encounters with passers-by have meaning, just how powerful is a family’s influence on an individual? Family is often one’s earliest and most constant teacher, whether it be good or bad education one receives. This Is Us consistently projects with a stance that family influences an individual, sometimes even beyond the realm of consciousness.

Same Topic, Different Genre

One of the reasons This Is Us is praised is its balanced treatment of family life. The truth is that currently there are few TV programs which deal with the topic of family in a serious manner. So-called exciting lifestyles such as those of lawyers, police, and even criminals are reserved for heavy drama, and family and everyday matters are cast aside into lighter genres when there are both different facets and depth to family life.

A standout storyline in the show is that of Randall and his wife, Beth. This Is Us unfolds the story of how Beth and Randall’s desires to pursue individual ambitions clash with their united goal of raising their children with care. While Randall’s life becomes frantic with his duties as a newly appointed city councilman, Beth’s long-awaited dream to teach dance is put on the back burner. Ultimately, the two attempt to realize their ideal careers as well as family life but fail, and an explosive and painstakingly raw fight occurs.

Such a conflict is undoubtedly realistic; the story of married couples struggling to balance career and family can be found practically everywhere. The issue just presented is only one of many prevalent family issues. Nonetheless, these issues are often discussed in simplistic ways during a few minutes of a lighthearted family-focused program. This Is Us introduces a novel perspective as it dives into family life and shines a light on an area of life that is perhaps extremely near to many yet is often neglected.

Nevertheless, room for improvement exists. While This Is Us successfully introduces many issues, its explanation of resolutions to those very issues are less convincing. The goal of art is not to perfectly imitate life; however, inconsistencies lie in This Is Us as the characters’ conflicts are believable, but the ways in which they are absolved sometimes seem too good to be true. In reality, estrangement between family members, refusal to diffuse situations, and stagnant personalities are sadly common. In This Is Us, however, characters appear to resolve situations or change for the better comparatively faster. This flaw may perhaps be attributed to This Is Us’s existential property as a TV series. If circumstances do not shift or characters do not develop, it would not make for very good TV. Nevertheless, even with this slight flaw, the presence of a novel family drama such as This Is Us seems welcome and meaningful.

“There’s no me or you or them. There’s just us.” Quoted from Kevin Pearson, this line comes as close as possible to the essence of This Is Us. Yes, everyone is original; yet, we are all undeniably the sum of the influences in our life, family being a significant one. Therefore, sometimes the best way to understand yourself is through those influences. The Pearson family does just that, and for that reason alone, This Is Us might be a narrative to take note of continuously.

Television Series Information

Genre: Drama, Comedy, Romance

Creator: Dan Fogelman

Starring: Mandy Moore, Milo Ventimiglia, Sterling K. Brown, Chrissy Metz, Justin Hartley

Running Time: 45 minutes

Streaming Platform: Amazon Prime Video