Tuesday’s episode of This Is Us told people that, despite popular belief, the best years of someone’s life might not be in their 20s. Also, the obstacles people face can often cause a sort of rebirth — no matter what age people face those challenges. Basically, the hit NBC show told viewers to look in the mirror and evaluate their life.
The whole show took place in the past. The Big Three are experiencing their 20s in 2008 — a time period that Rebecca (Mandy Moore) told Jack (Milo Ventimiglia) was not the best year in her life.
Kate (Chrissy Metz) was stuck in the past. She was still in Pittsburgh and constantly visiting the place where her old house sat, wishing for her father to come back. She even slept with a married guy because she wanted to “do it and it will feel right after.” Kate was waiting tables and not satisfied in life. She was unable to move on and struggled to find herself.
Kevin (Justin Hartley) was out in Los Angeles at that point in time. But instead of working on a war film with Ron Howard, he was stuck washing hair and waiting for pilot season to start. Meanwhile, his roommate booked a gig with Christian Bale and invited Kevin to the cast party to talk people up. Instead of bragging about himself, he trash talked his roommate and ended up homeless.
Though his siblings seemingly had a lot of struggle, Randall (Sterling K. Brown) and Beth (Susan Kelechi Watson) were expecting their first child — but not everything was sunshine and roses. Randall was struggling with his anxiety and not his usual self, which stressed Beth out.
Similar to Kate, Rebecca was still having problems moving on from Jack’s death. Her method of grief was to join Facebook. But the birth of her first grandchild interrupted her social media endeavors. She said the happiest moments will also be a little bit sad because Jack wasn’t there to experience them.
But in the end, life gave them what they needed. Kevin got an attitude change. Kate moved to LA. Randall was able to put his anxiety behind him. Oh, and Rebecca reconnected with Miguel (Jon Huertas) on Facebook.
They all got new beginnings, and those fresh starts didn’t come early in their life.
“Middles can be hardest,” Rebecca said, looking down at her new grandchild, “because that’s when you can think you’re really lost.”
Everyone has a moment in their life when they feel lost, and sometimes people can feel lost multiple times in their life. Whether it comes when you’re 25, 40 or 60, there can always be a way to find yourself. That’s what This Is Us shows.
The series is a reflection of life. It shows the good. The bad. The troubles people go through. Though This Is Us can sometimes seem like a near-perfect representation of life, it’s episodes like this that really make people have hope for their own lives.
This Is Us airs Tuesdays at 9 p.m. on NBC.
