Disclaimer: You should probably only start this series if you have at least two boxes of tissue stocked at home. Don’t say I didn’t warn you. No, but really, brace yourself for INTENSE water-works if you decide to begin this ‘sometimes heart-warming, sometimes soul-crushing’ show.
The last three months have compelled a huge lot of us to be imprisoned at home with our families. The ones who can get on your every nerve and drive you crazy, but they’re also the ones whom you couldn’t possibly survive without. Family, right?
(Can I just say, this review was so hard to write because I had to try my best not to accidentally give away any spoilers)
Overview
The hit American TV series, This Is Us premiered on NBC back in September 2016, and can now be streamed on Hotstar and Amazon Prime. (However, Prime does not have all of its seasons yet) The family-drama series created by Dan Fogelman has four seasons so far and is slated to have two more that are yet to release.
This tearjerker of a show is built around the life of four adults who share the same birthday – Kate (Chrissy Metz), Kevin (Justin Hartley), Randall (Sterling K Brown) and, Jack (Milo Ventimiglia – yup, the chocolate boy from Gilmore Girls). We follow their journey as they each go through their own set of unique experiences and attempt to come to terms with their own personal struggles. It’s basically one hour of a whirlwind of emotions. This Is Us goes back and forth across a periodic timeline to narrate the course of the characters’ lives. The repeated shifts between the present, the flashbacks, and glimpses of the future can feel like strenuous exercise for your mind, but that’s what makes the show so compelling.
While Kate is shown to be in a soul-wearying struggle with her weight, Kevin is a famous sitcom actor who finds himself amidst a midlife crisis – despondent with the emptiness and unfulfilling nature of his life. While Randall appears to be doing well at work, he wrestles with the origins of his birth father – who left him at a fire station as a new-born. We also see Jack, who is about to welcome the birth of his triplets. As the story unfolds, we learn how the life of these four individuals is intertwined. In all honesty, the first few episodes may seem a tad bit slow, but if you persist in the beginning, you’ll be thankful you did. The trajectory that each of their lives takes, beautifully unfolds before the viewer with every episode.
What I love most is how it delves into not just one life-defining problem, but numerous curveballs that life throws at us right from the age of five. Parenting, love, addiction, sexuality, adoption, the endless struggle for a successful work-life balance – it leaves no stone unturned. That’s life, isn’t it? A mélange of bittersweet; a juxtaposition of the ups and downs. This is also why the show manages to be gripping to teens, young adults, parents and, even grandparents alike. (This is tried and tested, by the way. I got my mum hooked on to the show by the middle of Season 1)
Cast/Characters
What can I say except that this show has arguably THE most stellar cast with such outstanding dynamics between them – I was amazed. Also, the racial diversity of the ensemble! We love to see it. Several scenes have been shot in one continuous take; a few episodes are directed by cast members themselves, and the talent is undeniable. The supporting cast, who actually plays a pivotal part in the show, is also beyond exceptional. Some of them include Toby (Chris Sullivan), the hilarious, charming, compassionate guy whom Kate meets at her weight-loss support group; Beth (Susan Watson) – confident, independent, witty and also Randall’s wife; and William (Ron Cephas Jones), whom you WILL fall in love with, who appears as Randall’s birth father. Might I also add – THE SOUNDTRACKS! The show’s music composer Siddhartha Khosla (Yes, he’s Indian) has nailed the tasteful music that complements every scene quite perfectly.
Final Words
Personally, Watching This Is Us provided me with a comforting familiarity and a poignant reminder that every family faces not just tough internal dynamics, but also overbearing issues at an individual level- no matter how perfect they may seem on the outside.
There’s so much more I’d love to discuss, but as I said, I wouldn’t want to ruin it for you. Very few shows or movies have hit me as hard as this one has. And now I’m pining for Season 5!
