This Is Us Review

Photo |Jaiden Kubena

Alyssa Jones, Staff Writer

This NBC series that began on September 20 illustrates the life of two hardworking families who devote their time and love to their three children.  In this family orientated show, the big three, Kate, Kevin and Randall, all turn 36 and are in different places in their lives. Kate is overweight and has set her goal to try and lose weight. Kevin is the star on a hit series called Manny. Randall is a successful businessman with a wife and two daughters. Kate and Kevin reside in California, while Randall lives in New York.

Rebecca and Jack are a young married couple who in hopes of having their first child, have three-Kate, Kevin, and Randall. Each episode reflects on the kids growing up and the Jack and Rebecca’s parenting struggles to the present day lives of the three children.When Rebecca was in labor, she lost a child. As Jack was grieving  the loss of his third child, standing in front of the hospital nursery window looking at his two children, there happened to be an African-American baby who had been  dropped off at a local  fire station laying in the bed next to them. Rebecca and Jack adopt the third child. This leads to several struggles of parenting an adopted child and always trying to make him feel involved and equal to the other children.
Because the show flashes back and forth between the past and present, I am left with questions trying to piece together events of the present day and how the past may have affected them, but it keeps it interesting. The show is great at character development and creating relationships between each character. I am easily able to connect with each character. This series portrays the reality of family and how it is not easy to raise children. It is not a picture-perfect image. There are moments of heartbreak, and vulnerable moments where there may seem to be no hope, but it shows how love and family bring people together and allow them to move past the worst points in life.