Awards Daily TV offers a For Your Consideration point of view on Drama Series nominee This Is Us‘s first season. Consider This Is Us in your Emmy® voting.
The last time a network won the Emmy for Outstanding Drama Series was in 2006 for 24. Yes, it’s been that long, and it’s a heated race between Netflix’s Stranger Things, The Crown, House of Cards, Hulu’s Handmaid’s Tale, Westworld, and Better Call Saul. Then there’s This Is Us, NBC’s smash hit drama about the Pearson family.
When the show first aired last year, it delivered an episode with a twist we didn’t see coming. Each week viewers tuned in, taking to social media expressing their emotions and grief, moved by the dynamics and issues of the Pearsons.
Here’s why you need to consider This Is Us for your Outstanding Drama Series vote.
Stellar casting
From Sterling K. Brown to Gerald McRaney, the show’s cast is outstanding. Four of its cast members received major Emmy nods this year, plus another 3 for Guest Actor in a Drama Series. Chrissy Metz. Sterling K. Brown. Ron Cephas Jones. You all saw the “Memphis” episode, right? If not, seek it out, watch it and be warned, you will ugly cry in ways you’ve never cried before. It was an episode that made you want to hug everyone you knew. Milo Ventimiglia took the last Lead Actor in a Drama Series slot, surprisingly to some. Others were not so surprised. Those in the know felt it coming. So did the Television Academy.
The show
It’s a drama about family. The Pearsons represent all of us. They have issues. Who hasn’t tried something on and struggled with their weight? We’ve all been there, right? What about that moment when one of the triplets dies at birth and Jack and Rebecca adopt? OK, we might not all be able to relate to that, but we can relate to the sibling issues.
Each week, This is Us explored the issues and dynamics that had us taking to social media and posting our feelings. We could always relate to at least one moment in the show. The Pearsons aren’t just some family on TV. They’re the family down the street. Next door. Even in our own homes.
Let’s take a look at some highlights of the best moments from the Freshman season of This Is Us.
Memphis
Everything about this episode was outstanding. William and Randall went to Memphis, and Randall got to see William’s hometown and live through some memories including seeing William’s childhood home. It was the episode where William died. In his final moments, Randall was handed “Poems For My Son.”
Ron Cephas-Jones delivered a heartbreaking farewell performance (although as This Is Us is all about flashbacks, he’s going to be back in Season 2.)
Jack Pearson’s Son
Week after week, the Pearson Brothers Randall and Kevin would brawl. Yet, as we learn through the flashbacks, it’s nothing new and neither was Kevin’s attitude towards Randall’s panic attacks. So, behold the surprise when Kevin is set to take to the stage in his Broadway debut and leaves. Instead of going on stage, he runs to be with Randall, comforting his brother after realizing how stressed he had become. “It was an emotional and unexpected” turn as our own Megan McLachlan says.
Jack and Rebecca’s fight
The Jack and Rebecca showdown was coming. It was as inevitable as Jack’s death. (Which didn’t come in the freshman season). What we did see was Jack’s drinking problem resurface after he learned that Rebecca and Ben used to be an item. It had been seven years since Jack had touched a drink, but this was the moment he was pushed to the limit. The tensions came to a head in the season finale as Jack and Rebecca ended up arguing over Jack’s drinking and Rebecca’s need to find herself again, and Jack went to stay with Miguel.
Will the family drama prevail over British royalty, the scheming Underwoods, or the dystopian Handmaid’s Tale? Cast your vote for This Is Us and then tune in to the Emmys on September 17.
