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Collective Sigh of Relief: ‘This Is Us’ Has Returned!
I’ll admit, I was a latecomer to the This Is Us phenomenon. Honestly, I’m perpetually late to many things—whether it’s piano lessons, basketball practice, or the latest fashion trends (hello, LulaRoe leggings). With two kids in tow, my timing is always a bit off, and I often find myself falling behind.
When it comes to TV, my routine mainly consists of morning talk shows to help me endure the treadmill, the occasional Netflix binge, and a slew of kids’ programming. So, when my social media feeds exploded with rave reviews about this “AMAZING” show called This Is Us, claiming it gave viewers “ALL THE FEELS,” I mostly ignored the buzz—at least for a while. But by mid-December, the relentless chatter finally got the best of me, and I decided to tune in to the first episode late one evening.
Three days (and a serious case of sleep deprivation) later, I had devoured all 10 episodes. I cried more than I care to admit, saw bits of myself in nearly every character, and daydreamed about being part of their family. For days—okay, weeks—after the “Last Christmas” episode, I was in a This Is Us daze.
I couldn’t stop thinking about Toby and Lily, Randall and his parents, and Kevin with his perfect abs. I even found myself asking random people on the street if they thought Toby would be okay. Conversations became littered with references to Kate, Kevin, and Randall, as if they were my old pals from high school. I mentally held therapy sessions for each character and counted down the days until the show returned from its holiday break.
So yes, I may be slightly obsessed. And let’s be real; many of us are. If you’re not yet, you soon will be.
This family, this show, this story truly represents us. While our individual details differ, we’ve all faced the struggles and victories, the highs and lows, just like the Pearsons. This isn’t merely a show; it’s life.
For the past month, I’ve been in limbo, anxious about Toby’s fate, wondering what’s next for Randall and his mom, and speculating about Kevin’s future. Meanwhile, I’ve struggled to focus on mundane tasks like work, grocery trips, or even homework—because who has time for that when fictional characters need our emotional support? How can we respond to questions like, “What’s for lunch?” or “Where are my snow pants?” when we’re still grappling with unresolved storylines?
Sure, there are skeptics who think it’s ridiculous to get wrapped up in a TV show, questioning why we’d become so invested in a fictional family living a fabricated life. To which we’d all respond, “But have you seen it?!” Because once you watch even a single episode of This Is Us, you understand.
The Pearson family does more than entertain; they inspire us to strive for better lives while also providing a much-needed escape from our own realities (even if it means we’re sobbing on the floor). Their journey illustrates what it means to be human in today’s world—not just another cliché about an upper-middle-class family with a bumbling dad and a nagging mom, as portrayed in countless mundane sitcoms.
They tackle real issues like body image struggles and the unconscious influence of parents on their children’s self-perception. They highlight the frustrations faced by many Black men grappling with the weight of systemic racism and stereotypes. They also reveal the everyday challenges of parenting—navigating relationships and personal identities while raising kids, which is no easy feat.
Let’s face it: for many of us, 2016 felt like an endless series of unfortunate events, rife with disheartening news, a grueling election season, and personal struggles that made life feel overwhelming. The world may seem to be heading towards chaos, but for one hour each week, we immerse ourselves in the Pearsons’ rollercoaster of emotions. We allow ourselves to escape and to feel—yes, even if we’re reduced to a puddle of tears—because witnessing the love within this family reassures us that anything is achievable.
Now, if you’ll excuse me, I need to rearrange my schedule and stock up on tissues because This Is Us is back, baby!
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