7 Things The TV Show ‘This Is Us’ Taught Me About Love, Life And Death

If you love drama the way that I do, then you’ve seen or heard of This Is Us. Not only has the show won an Emmy for Outstanding Drama Series in 2017, it has won the popularity vote hands down. When I first started watching the show, I expected it to be a sappy proclamation of family love. Though I can’t deny a part of it is about that, there is still so much more to This Is Us than what meets the eye. With fabulous actors like Sterling K. Brown, Milo Ventimiglia, Chrissy Metz, Mandy Moore and Justin Hartley and an even better soundtrack, the show has become my go-to every Friday night. Here are a couple of quick life lessons I’ve learned from This Is Us, because that’s exactly what a great TV show should do!

1. Sibling bonds can get complicated

With a brother that lives a thousand miles away and talks once in six months, I could connect to the way the siblings felt about each other the most. How they failed to connect while growing up, yet couldn’t help but have a sense of loyalty towards each other is brilliantly depicted in the show. It’s not all love and respect – it’s also regret, allegations and jealousy. That’s the real truth of sibling life.

2. Life is better with the right soundtrack

Sufjan Stevens has my heart after This Is Us! Here’s why this point fits here – in this life where we are the sole superstars of our stories, the right soundtrack could make or break your story. Ask Jack & Rebecca, they’ll know what I am talking about. Whether it’s heartbreak or a moment of epiphany in life, just like in This Is Us, it’s got to have the right beats.

3. Teenagers are always a pain

Every time I see teenage Kate, I want to hold my head in my hand. But then I think about it and realise, that’s pretty much me between ththe age of 13 to 20 years – cranky, disrespectful and highly narcissistic. So I guess, that’s one thing that stays the same through generations.

4. Wait for your Jack Pearson

No, he is not just a fictional character. Jack Pearson(s) exist and I can vouch for it. So, don’t run around in circles for that f*ckboy, because you deserve nothing less than a Jack. 

5. Never ever go back into a house which is on fire!

Jack Pearson has given me a lot of lessons on being romantic, understanding and a downright amazing human being. However, that’s not the most important lesson he has left me with. The most important one is that if a house is on fire and you know it’s on fire, DO NOT go back into it. You might not get burnt alive but you will die of excessive smoke inhalation. 

6. Death will come on a random day

Ever since I found out, in the beginning of season one, that Jack Pearson will die; I’ve been anticipating his death. Maybe it’s that time he is drunk driving, maybe it’s when he and Rebecca have a fight, maybe it’s when he has to go looking for Kate, and so on. His death, however, comes to the Pearson family inconspicuosly and I wouldn’t have had it any other way. With death, most of the times, there are no signs. It’ll come and go and before you know it, you’re left to pick up random pieces and glue them back together.

7. Your parents are winging it, too

Seeing Jack and Rebecca struggling with parenthood has filled me with new found respect for my parents. Instead of seeing them as figures who must have their lives sorted out, I’ve come to see that on most days, they are just winging it, too – trying to figure it out one day at a time.

GIFs: Giphy