Given the show’s title, was there really any doubt we would love This Is Us? The captivating new NBC drama draws viewers in with multiple story lines that ultimately connect by the end, and after watching the premiere on Tuesday, September 20, it’s safe to say we want more! Here are the eight moments that had Us reaching for the tissues:
1. Randall met his biological father for the first time.
Randall (Sterling K. Brown) — a successful businessman — forked over $1,500 to find his father for the first time in 36 years after being abandoned. His father explained, “I’d like to say I remember leaving you at a fire station, but I don’t.” Randall responded, “Screw you,” before soon asking, “Want to meet your grandchildren?” *Cue the tears.*
2. Randall’s biological father, William, is potentially terminally ill (or just old?).
William (Ron Cephas Jones) announced soon after he met his grandchildren that he was currently dying. What do you mean you are currently dying?! We need an #explanation.
3. Kate met love interest Toby at a fat-support group.
What better way to become friends than ask to become fat friends? Which is exactly what Toby (Chris Sullivan) did, and it’s easy to assume he captured viewers’ hearts. Kate (Chrissy Metz) told him, “I can’t fall for a fat person right now.” His response? “I guess I’ll lose the weight then.” Sigh, young love.
4. Kate confided in her twin brother about her weight issue.
Kate had Post-it notes all over her food in the fridge with the number of calories, plus sayings like, “Throw this s–t out.” (Girl, no: Two boys, one love … say it with Us: Ben & Jerry’s.) Kate then told her twin brother, Kevin (Justin Hartley), “But look at me, Kev: It looks like I ate my dream life away.”
5. Kevin had a blowup on the set of his show The Manny.
Kevin was sick and tired of playing the meathead man-nanny on the show The Manny. After comparing himself to Ryan Gosling several times, he finally exploded on the producer and yelled, “God forbid we have real emotion on the show.”
6. Rebecca lost one of the babies during childbirth.
Planning on having triplets, Rebecca (Mandy Moore) successfully delivered only two of the three babies, leaving husband Jack (Milo Ventimiglia) heartbroken. In the waiting room, Jack met a firefighter, who had just rescued a baby from a fire station, and Jack offered to adopt the abandoned newborn.
7. Randall, Kate and Kevin all turned 36.
At first this could be seen as a simple coincidence, but at the end of the episode …
8. A PICTURE IS SHOWN OF RANDALL, KATE AND KEVIN TOGETHER.
Rebecca and Jack have two twins, then adopt a third, suggesting only one thing: Could they all be related?
There are so many questions left to be answered after this first episode! Are Rebecca and Jack the parents of Kate, Kevin and Randall? What is going to happen to Randall’s biological dad? What will happen to Kevin’s acting career? Are Kate and Toby going to stay together?
Tell Us: What did you think of the shocking twist?
This Is Us airs on NBC Tuesdays at 10 p.m. ET.
