THAT’S RIGHT!!! THE DAY IS FINALLY HERE!
Grab your giant wine glass, chocolate, snot rags, and cozy blanket. This Is Us Season 2 premieres tonight on NBC. I spent every Tuesday in a glass cage of emotion last season.
And Jimmy loves it too! It’s turned into a great weekly “date night” for us. We love watching together and then talking about it afterwards.
Now…my love for this masterpiece is not new. You guys have heard me rant, rave, and blabber about this show since it was created. I love it so much I even memorialized it in my planner this week!
I remember watching the pilot, and grinnning/sobbing at the same time at the end. I knew it was going to be something special and it hasn’t let me down yet!
In honor of tonight’s episode, I thought I’d talk about why I love this show so much. And yes. If you aren’t watching it…YOU SHOULD BE! You can catch up on Hulu.
Okay, in no particular order, here are the top ten reasons I love This Is Us.
1. The depiction of parenthood- I haven’t loved a show this much since…well…Parenthood. This is the first show in a long time that just nails what it’s like to be a parent. And a child. And a sibling. The dialogue is pure perfection. Witty, flawed, self-deprecating, and emotionally convicting. I nod my head almost the entire time.
2. The depiction of adoption- I identify with Randall in so many ways. I identified with William in so many ways. And you bet I can identify with Rebecca and her fear. Such a great depiction of adoption without making it something negative.
3. The flaws- No one is perfect. They all mess up. Rebecca lied to William. She says not very nice things to Jack. She can be selfish. Jack drank too much. Kevin can be self-absorbed and needy. Kate can be a mess. Toby can be a jerk. Randall battles anxiety. I could go on and on…but it’s real. No one is perfect. And it can be maddening to watch in the most dead-on way.
4. Randall and Beth- Oh my goodness I LOVE these two together. At least once an episode Jimmy and I look at each other and say “They are so us!”. My favorite scene (and one that might have been stolen from my actual life, minus the outcome) was when Randall and Beth were on the bathroom floor taking a pregnancy test. Again. Written perfectly.
5. Kate- Chrissy Metz deserved an Emmy for her depiction of Kate. Watching her struggles with self-worth, happiness, and watching her come to terms with the fact that she deserves to be happy…it’s been a joy to watch. And it also quite often leaves me feeling raw. And like I’ve watched something so private, something I wasn’t meant to witness. One of the hardest moments for me in Season 1 was the episode where Kate watched football with her dad every week. I had a swollen face for hours.
6. Jack- Ohhhh Jack. Jack Jack Jack. Jack reminds me so much of Jimmy Howell and the way he is as a dad. He speaks to his daughter with so much conviction, love, and protection. He would do anything for his kids. He approaches parenthood with a sense of humor and yeah…he messes up too. Sometimes I see some hero worship for Jack and some painting Rebecca as the shrew. I don’t think that’s right or fair. He messed up too. And although he was by no means perfect…he was the best dad and husband he could be and I adore him.
7. The time period- I was born at the end of the 70’s and the Big 3 actually have my birthday- August 31! Although they are a few years younger than me, I identify so much with their childhood and have lots of flashbacks watching the show.
8. Randall. Randall. RANDALL.- I can say it a million times and it will never be enough to let y’all know how much I love Sterling K. Brown. I’ve been a super fan every since his days as Roland on Army Wives. The man.can.ACT. And break my heart into a million pieces. There is nothing emotionally manipulative about him. He plays every emotion in a way that is simply just right on. And I swear you can see his heart in his eyes. He is magic.
9. The casting- It goes without saying that this show is perfectly cast. The ONLY character I don’t like is Miguel, and I have to say he was growing on me by the end of season one. The supporting characters are also incredible. Gerald McRaney and Ron Cephas Jones specifically. To be perfectly honest I’m still not happy with the fact that they age Rebecca and Miguel with makeup to play them in the present day. I find it distracting every single time. BUT. I know that no one else could have played those characters.
10. The love- There are so many relationships in this show. And they are all depicted so beautifully. When Kevin left his debut to comfort Randall on the floor, the bond that Kevin and Kate share, the complicated and tenous relationship between Randall and Rebecca…the pure love Rebecca and Jack had for each other…yeah. That’s what it’s all about.
I know this season is going to wreck me. I’m not quite as fixated on how Jack died as everyone else seems to be, but I’m still dreading finding out. I’m most looking forward to watching Randall’s journey. I’m least interested in Toby and Kate. I hope she learns that she is worthy whether or not someone loves her.
What about y’all? What are you most looking forward to?? ? HAPPY THIS IS US DAY!
xoxo
S
Thank you for leading me in this direction. I miss a lot of TV until I hear from others. I saw comments from others but yours sent me over the edge. I started recording but didn’t watch until I had them al DVRdl. Then I binged while on med. leave. Def. made lemonade out of lemons on that one!
You nailed it, Stephanie! Reasons 1-10 are all the great things about This Is Us. I love how the show moves seamlessly from one time period to another. And I love how the story is not being told in exact chronological order. Rather it unfolds with pertinent details being peppered in on a “need to know” basis, as a past event impacts the current day. Just like in real life! Think for a moment what that must be like for the writers. They have truly mastered their craft! I’ll be joining you tonight in toasting to the return of what I know will be a great season! And I have my tissues ready too!
That’s for finding the words to describe this show so eloquently! I can’t remember a time that I have ever been so “in love” with a show before this one. The casting is magical. I somehow feel like a part of the family in some strange distant way. Did you see Ellen yesterday with Milo, Mandy & Sterling – oh my! I am crushing so hard on Sterling! That man is style, class and grace all rolled into one damn hot package!
I’m also a big fan of This is Us! Last year as it was advertising, I was watching the olympics with a newborn baby (he was born the day before the opening ceremony). I was all teary-eyed just watching the commercial for it. One episode and I was hooked!
Yes to all of this. Another reason I love this show is that they deal with Randall growing up as a black kid in a white family in a meaningful way and didn’t throw it in there and not address it or pretend it’s not a big deal and that them loving him solves everything. Ooh and I forgot Sterling was on Army Wives!!! Miss that show!
OMG – I love this show! Just the other night, I re-watched the ‘Memphis’ episode and cried my eyes out all over again. I think it’s one of the most beautiful episodes of TV I’ve ever seen. Thank you for this list – you summed it all up perfectly!
Yes, yes, yes, a thousand times yes to all of this. I am adopted too and the way they depict it so honestly is so beautiful to me. I have been thinking of searching for my birth parents for years and this show made me decide to go for it! at 43 I hope I am not too late. I cry every single episode but in the best way possible. It is like free therapy for me every week. I am so happy it is back!
I love this show, too! I love it for all the reasons you listed and more. The guest stars. The music. Oh, it is so good. I still listen to We Can Always Come Back to This from the Memphis episode and it gives me all the feels. Top notch show.
oh you are so very lucky!! Those of us who live in New Zealand will have to wait a bit longer as it won’t start here for a few weeks yet……but at least I know that it is coming…. best get some gardening up to date!!!
Yes!!! This is my favorite show! I love that they finally have a leading over weight character that isn’t the funny girl. She’s a ball of real emotions. I can relate to so many of her emotions and I too can relate to the era. I look at her and sob, because her feelings pour out and just punch me in the throat. That pool incident, I sobbed like a baby. Her relationship with her dad is sooooo my own and Jack seriously reminds me of my pops. This show is just so beautiful!
I also am least interested in Kate. I feel like she is kind of one note and not really the greatest at delivering lines. I guess I feel like she is just delivering lines while the rest of them are feeling them?? I don’t know if that makes any sense. I like the show, but not as much as everyone else seems to, and I don’t think it’s as good as Parenthood was. But I think Jack makes that whole show!
I love this show. I cry every single episode. It fills the hole that Parenthood left and just hits everything so well. Like you said, that moment when Kevin left his debut and simply went into Randall’s office and got down to wrap his arms around him – I sobbed so much I am sure I was doing the “ugly cry”. Randall’s journey with William in such a short time – just makes me smile and tear up all at the same time. Kevin & Kate who both seek reassurance from everyone in their own ways and depend so heavily on each other to be okay. Rebecca’s turmoil over finding her footing as a mom and as an individual with dreams while feeling she needs to keep up with Jack as the “perfect” parent who is all about the family. So many beautiful and heartbreaking moments…it is the drama we were all waiting for. Perfectly cast, so well emoted…I just adore it.
This is a great week for premieres because with all that drama from This Is Us, we have the comedy of Will & Grace coming back too!
And then my 10th wedding anniversary on Friday – could just be the best week ever!
I just watched the first episode of this season & all I can think is Nooooooo! =/ lol