Culture Crash: The Final Chapter of “This Is Us”

Since 2016, This Is Us has been a juggernaut for NBC. The emotional family drama won over audiences and, increasingly rare for network TV, it also won over many critics with its diverse storytelling that tackled issues of race, alcoholism, obesity, divorce, death, and a whole host of other family drama-y issues. Actor Sterling K. Brown shot into superstardom during his time on the show, and stars Mandy Moore and Milo Ventimiglia served as the anchors for the time-hopping TV program, which explored the Pearson family’s inner workings from the 70s into the future.

After six – I can’t state this enough, emotional, emotional, emotional – seasons, This is Us has aired its series finale. While it was mostly famous for its tear-jerking monologues and flowery language about the beauty of being a part of a family unit, one thing I will always remember about it is that it was a show that really was willing to explore messy topics and that truly, truly valued diversity. In an era when “diversity” is a buzzword, This Is Us put in the work. The show included a Black adoptee and his family, LGBTQ storylines, as well as discussions of disability, cognitive decline, and more. This Is Us was never afraid of making its audiences consider the world from different perspectives, and it really was a refreshing thing to watch. The show brought in diverse actors, writers and directors to really make strides toward authenticity.

Like I said before, network TV shows typically do not become cultural phenomena anymore, that kind of thing is reserved for cable stations and the streamers. But This Is Us defied the odds. Sometimes it frustrated me, sometimes it felt a bit over the top and I couldn’t help but roll my eyes as everyone perfectly articulated all of their emotional baggage, but at the same time, that’s what made the show unique and worth watching. It helped me learn about the world and it sparked conversations with my family, and that is pretty beautiful.

Thanks for the ride, This Is Us.