This is Us review

The first time I watched the pilot episode of this show, I lost it. I sobbed like I have never done for any movie or TV show ever. I’m not a crier, but this show makes me cry. And you know what? I’m okay with that. The lives of Jack and Rebecca and their triplets are filled with emotional trials, heartbreak, extraordinary love, and the simple ups and downs of parenting.

The first episode opens with R ebecca having her three little babies on Jack’s 36th birthday. It also goes through the 36th birthdays of three adults, Kevin, Kate, and Randall. Kevin is a ripped actor unsatisfied with his career, Kate is a woman struggling with her weight and determined to take control of her life, and Randall is a loving husband and father who tracks down his birth father.

We know that Kevin and Kate are siblings but it isn’t until the end of the episode that we discover they, along with their adopted brother Randall, are Jack and Rebecca’s triplets.

It’s both cute and heart wrenching to watch the triplets as kids, their life lessons and growing pains and all. Jack parents with gusto, making it up as he goes and nailing it. Rebecca is there every minute of every day, tirelessly making sure each child is taken care of and just hoping they make it.

Jack and Rebecca take care of each other, laugh together, cry together, and try to be good parents.

While Randall consistently wonders about his birth parents, he is the closest with his mom. Rebecca is so protective of him, especially around her mother. Randall obsesses over perfection, which gives him anxiety. It’s amazing to see how his family reacts to his anxiety and helps him with it.

I love seeing adult Randall with his family. They are so perfect and wonderful and funny. Tess and Annie are adorable and I love their soccer games in the very first episode. Randall is such a great dad. He cracks all the dad jokes and is such a nerd, but Beth is the coolest person on this show so they balance each other out in the best way possible.

Kevin battles for attention as a child, then becomes a famous actor who leaves his cushy and shallow Hollywood show to become a serious actor on Broadway. As his career becomes more serious, he tracks down his childhood sweetheart and takes his personal life to the next level as well. As he and Kate both get into serious relationships, they rely less on each other for everything.

Kate is such a determined person. She is tough, like all the other women in this show. She may psych herself out sometimes, but ultimately she won’t back down. She gains confidence in herself and her strength. She even learns to chase her dreams and let someone else into her life… which takes us to Toby.

Toby is so precious…also the leader of all romantic gestures.

He is just everything Kate needs. He teaches her to laugh at life and more importantly, laugh at herself. His goofy charm wins over the whole family. He takes care of Kate, and occasionally Kevin. Toby just makes this show, he’s the best. He deals with all the family craziness with humor and optimism, and gets Kate to relax.

Toby and Kate have so many fun moments. It’s interesting to see the different levels and dynamics of relationships. They’re kind of halfway to Jack and Rebecca/Randall and Beth status, leaving Kevin to catch up. Kevin does have some adorable moments with Toby though, they’ve got a nice bromance going.

This show has amazing family moments, the characters are so genuine. And while there is some crazy drama, it’s not stressful. They don’t milk it to get attention or overdo it, which is really nice. It’s just about taking care of the people you love and letting them take care of you too when life gets in the way. You witness miracles and tragedies, beginnings and endings, and just the right amount of humor.