This is Us

Three days ago I finally broke down and watched This Is Us. I think I was afraid it was going to be corny and maudlin...which it absolutely is, sometimes. But I wanted to watch a show that was wholesome and decent...and it absolutely is. There's no violence or profanity. No embarrassing sex scenes. And yet it is entertaining. So yes. I am now bingeing on This Is Us on Netflix.

I don't really have a favorite character (if I did it would be Kevin). But I do have a favorite actor: Sterling Brown. Come on! He plays Randall and he can play him straight, goofy, or intellectual, and he can turn each emotion on at the drop of a dime. He's a super talented actor in a cast of very talented actors. Right now, I'm at the end of season 3 and poor Beth (Randall's wife) did not get to have her secret 24-hour alone-time break from Randall and the fam. I was so disappointed for Beth, because she really needed that break.

Anyway, I have cried more times than I care to count watching this show. It's really good. 😂 However, if family strife and family togetherness are not your things, you might skip it. It took me all these years to discover this beautiful little gem of a show.

So, this will be my first official review on IMBD. I believe it's warranted because I have absolutely fallen in love with this show. The writing, the characters, the emotion..everything just feels on par and real. I'm really not much of a TV watcher. This show though, and specifically the relationship between Jack and Kate, reminds me so much of my own relationship and it's just a reminder of how much I love and appreciate the amazing man that I have. This show will make you feel things. I really can't say it any better than that. Leave all of your politics and judgement at the door, and give this a chance.

Think the World Will be a better place if most People would watch this show.

This is a very inventive story line so I won't refer to it, except to say that both the first and second episodes have real surprises. Avoid reading any reviews with spoilers. It will dampen your joy as you figure things out.

The acting is excellent and the script is well written. This looks like a comedy but in fact it has some profoundly dramatic moments. I want to single out some of the actors who were terrific – Milo Ventimiglia (played Rocky Jr), Mandy Moore ("Tangled"), Ron Cephas Jones, Sterling K. Brown (Chris Darden in "OJ") and Susan Kelechi Watson ("Louie"). Gerald McRaney does a cameo in Episode 1 which may be some of his best work ever.

The disadvantage of a TV series like this is that it requires the audience to participate and fill in the gaps. Many people will not understand what's happening, so this is the type of series that is best viewed twice, or however long it takes you to get it.

I think we can all admit that it's hard to create a show that stands out, As we are at a time where television is at it's pinnacle point. So when I started this show I was expecting a mildly entertaining series. What I got, is, a show that is real. So much so, that it brought tears to my eyes. That should tell you all you need to know about this beautiful tale about life. The story revolves around a few characters that seem to be unrelated. Just like the facts that were stated in the beginning of the show. However they have more in common than you realize. What sets this show apart from most, isn't the ending, But the journey you take in-between. As someone who's seen many new shows this year, both comedy and drama, I can say with absolute certainty, this is the most memorable. Not only because of it's outstanding story telling but because of it's cast, who bring life to the story.