3 minute read
“This Is Us”
JUSTIN HARTLEY, CHRISSY METZ, MANDY MOORE, AND STERLING K. BROWN
MAIN CAST:Eris Baker, Parker Bates, Asante Blackk, Sterling K. Brown, Lonnie Chavis, Griffin Dunne, Niles Fitch, Mackenzie Hancsicsak, Justin Hartley, Faithe Herman, Jon Huertas, Chrissy Metz, Mandy Moore, Lyric Ross, Logan Shroyer, Chris Sullivan, Caitlin Thompson, Milo Ventimiglia, Susan Kelechi Watson, Hannah Zeile CASTING BY:Tiffany Little Canfield, Josh Einsohn, and Bernard Telsey CREATED BY: Dan Fogelman DISTRIBUTED BY: NBC
NBC’S “THIS IS US” WAS THE FIRST DRAMA
to debut new episodes after the pandemic upended the television industry in 2020. The series follows three siblings and their sprawling family across multiple generations, tackling real-world hardships head-on. For its fifth season, the ensemble masked up and navigated the challenges of both COVID-19 and the Black Lives Matter movement.
The tight-knit cast of character’s resilience comes after a series of challenges back in Season 4. Randall, played by Sterling K. Brown, continues to confront his lifelong struggle with nightmares and early experiences of racism; he finally finds solace on a trip to New Orleans on an episode dedicated to the backstory of his birth mother (Jennifer C. Holmes). The Emmy-winning Brown brings a new level of self-awareness and openness to the heady character.
Justin Hartley also finds new depth in the charming Kevin, who welcomes twins with Madison, sweetly played by Caitlin Thompson. When he steps up to support Madison and their family, it’s the result of several seasons of character growth. As Kate, Chrissy Metz delivers a standout season as she struggles through an imploding marriage with Toby (the note-perfect Chris Sullivan) and a failed adoption.
But it’s the teens who really add depth. The adolescent Kevin, Randall, and Kate—played by Logan Shroyer, Niles Fitch, and Hannah Zeile, respectively—offer winning performances as foils to their adult counterparts. Flashbacks reveal the root causes of the trio’s inner turmoil in a three-episode stretch dedicated to each character in turn. Zeile gives an exacting performance as an angsty Kate, perfectly mirroring Metz’s work. She takes on an emotionally taxing chapter of the character’s life that includes an abusive relationship and an unintended pregnancy. The show’s present-day teens shine, too, namely Eris Baker as Tess. She’s navigating her first romantic relationship, plus a rocky patch with her mom (the brilliant Susan Kelechi Watson), who struggles to say the right things about Tess’ nonbinary partner.
As always, Mandy Moore, as family matriarch Rebecca, pivots impressively between playing an effervescent 30-something and a grandmother navigating the early stages of Alzheimer’s. The award-winning star offers one of TV’s most heartbreaking portrayals of memory loss. The family’s struggle with their mother’s diagnosis (and the split decision around treatment options) causes a lasting rift between Kevin and Randall. The tension results in an extremely emotional fight: a physical brawl between the brothers in which irrevocable words are spoken, leading to a point of no return.
Whether they’re going through sibling spats or work woes, the characters buoy each other up with unconditional love. In the romance department, Milo Ventimiglia and Moore continue to serve audiences marriage goals with their undeniable chemistry as the young Pearson parents. It’s that winning relationship that shapes the love lives of the big three, for better or worse. In the season finale, Madison and Kevin call it quits mere hours before their wedding, and a five-year flash-forward (spoiler alert!) shows Kate getting ready to marry her boss Phillip (Chris Geere).
Viewers can continue to expect the unexpected on the upcoming sixth and final season. Creator Dan Fogelman—along with co-showrunners Isaac Aptaker, Elizabeth Berger, and Ken Olin—have inserted sneak
FAITHE HERMAN AND JON HUERTAS
peeks of new characters. One thing is certain: The much-lionized ensemble will collectively deal with whatever the next chapter brings, delivering even more heartwarming
performances. —ALLISON CONSIDINE
