At some point in our lives, we will experience some sort of loss or traumatic event that will change us. In NBC’S This Is Us, you will experience those losses in every way possible.
This Is Us follows the Pearson family; Rebecca Pearson (Mandy Moore), Jack Pearson(Milo Ventimiglia), Kate Pearson (Chrissy Metz), Kevin Pearson (Justin Hartley), and Randall Pearson (Sterling K. Brown), as they work their way through life and veer through its challenges.
The series begins with the unexpected news that Rebecca is expecting triplets, who arrive on Jack’s birthday. Complications arise with the delivery of the triplets; Rebecca is forced into the operating room where she is expected to deliver the triplets via c-section.
After the babies are born, Rebecca begins to feel the results of postpartum depression, pushing herself away from both Jack and her newborn children. Jack senses her sadness and begins to take charge while Rebecca finds herself again.
Once recovered, Rebecca returns to her old self and begins to enjoy the time that she spends with her new family. She discovers the challenges that come with becoming a parent, turning to multiple resources and family members for help when needed.
Transitioning back and forth between the triplets, we see various times in their lives that are relevant to the current topic of each episode. Kate, Kevin, and Randall have all built their own families, the triplets face a traumatic loss in their teens, and Kate finds herself in a situation that chills her to the bone.
Bringing real life issues into the story throughout the series is a creative idea that makes the series more relatable. Incorporating topics such as the COVID-19 pandemic, where the actors are required to wear masks both on and off screen, creates a story that shows how each individual person can reflect and adapt to this ‘new normal.’ The show also incorporates topics such as Black History Month where they dive into the cultures and history that has come with this specific event.
The show does not veer away from anything, and all topics are written in a way where they are taken seriously in a polite and respectful manner.
Despite the numerous characters that we meet, Randall is the character that resonated with me the most. Randall suffers from anxiety, but he also is very protective of his family. The way he acts and the decisions he makes, he thinks of his family first and how his decisions could affect how people see his family.
Although the show is currently in its sixth and final season, there are high hopes for a fitting ending, but there is also a feeling of sadness as the story of the Pearson family comes to a close.
The final season began on Jan. 4, 2022 and the final episode is expected to air on May, 3, 2022, on NBC.
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