Critic Reviews

A 21st century thirtysomething for a TV generation that likes a splash of high concept in their shows and isn’t afraid of melodrama.

This Is Us (from "Crazy, Stupid, Love" screenwriter Dan Fogelman) methodically weaves four seemingly disparate stories into a believable and emotional whole through tiny telling details, relatable moments, and conversations and confrontations that are funny, tender or painful, or all three at once.

The pilot is beautifully shaped, the themes of building your own meaning in life are smart, and the actors already seem to know their characters.

With emotionally resonant dialogue and top-notch performances, This Is Us should fill that Braverman-sized hole in your heart.

The hour accomplishes what it set out to do. It creates characters so compelling that we compulsively want to tune back in to see them again.

These characters feel real. Relatable. Sympathetic. Their stories are compelling. They interact in unexpected ways. And the Big Plot Twist in This Is Us feels right. And sets up what could be an outstanding series.

It’s a unique blend with four very distinct but compelling stories, proving there’s plenty of drama to be mined from real life. It doesn’t hurt that each of the actors is perfectly cast in his or her role, driving home the beautifully written scenes that often pose pertinent and universally relatable questions.

This Is Us is what TV people refer to (usually more in delusional wishfulness than real belief) as "relatable," meaning that you'll recognize the characters and their quandaries and triumphs from your own life.

It has a strong sense of its identity, why people are tuning in, and it delivers that without pandering or patronizing. That’s a hard thing to do, and, for all the sledgehammer emotional twists the show is known for, proves it delicately.

Anyone still missing "Parenthood," or "Brothers and Sisters" before that, should grab the tissues and settle in for tonight's This Is Us.