# Opinions on "This Is Us" Series **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Created:** [February 14, 2020, 10:03pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/opinions-on-this-is-us-series/847955 "2020-02-14T22:03:27Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 19\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Jinx](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/c6cbf5/32.png) [@Jinx](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jinx)\ **Post date:** [February 14, 2020, 10:03pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/opinions-on-this-is-us-series/847955/1 "2020-02-14T22:03:27Z")
My wife loves this show. I find it “just ok” as I do not like that every scene tries to be so dramatic, including the background music. I mean, even if I character got a splinter or went to the bathroom, they’d turn it into such a pivotal moment. All in all, it seems highly overdone to me. Your thoughts? Also, a bonus question: Does anyone know if this series is written by the same writers and/or creators of “Thirty Something” from the mid-1980s? I seem to recall that series was done in the same overly dramatic style to the point I could not stomach the show. ---
**Author:** ![PastTense](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/pasttense/32/14550_2.png) [@PastTense](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/PastTense)\ **Post date:** [February 14, 2020, 10:22pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/opinions-on-this-is-us-series/847955/2 "2020-02-14T22:22:30Z")
There are threads for each season: Season 1. [https://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showthread.php?t=805463](https://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showthread.php?t=805463) Season 2. [https://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showthread.php?t=837461](https://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showthread.php?t=837461) Season 3. [https://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showthread.php?t=863351](https://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showthread.php?t=863351) Season 4. [https://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showthread.php?t=882791](https://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showthread.php?t=882791) ---
**Author:** ![pool](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/pool/32/4152_2.png) [@pool](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/pool)\ **Post date:** [February 14, 2020, 10:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/opinions-on-this-is-us-series/847955/3 "2020-02-14T22:25:30Z")
It’s about as good as burnt shit. I was forced to watch a handful of episodes by a woman. ---
**Author:** ![VinylTurnip](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/v/b2d939/32.png) [@VinylTurnip](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/VinylTurnip)\ **Post date:** [February 14, 2020, 11:10pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/opinions-on-this-is-us-series/847955/4 "2020-02-14T23:10:20Z")
I haven’t seen it, but I do enjoy a nice _crème de merde brûlée_, so maybe I’ll check it out. ---
**Author:** ![Dewey\_Finn](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/dewey_finn/32/4222_2.png) [@Dewey\_Finn](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dewey_Finn)\ **Post date:** [February 14, 2020, 11:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/opinions-on-this-is-us-series/847955/5 "2020-02-14T23:24:39Z")
> [@Jinx](#): > > Also, a bonus question: Does anyone know if this series is written by the same writers and/or creators of “Thirty Something” from the mid-1980s? I seem to recall that series was done in the same overly dramatic style to the point I could not stomach the show. It’s not. The creator and showrunner of This Is Us is Dan Fogelman, who wasn’t in the business when thirtysomething was on the air. ---
**Author:** ![Larry\_Borgia](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/larry_borgia/32/156_2.png) [@Larry\_Borgia](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Larry_Borgia)\ **Post date:** [February 14, 2020, 11:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/opinions-on-this-is-us-series/847955/6 "2020-02-14T23:46:11Z")
> [@pool](#): > > It’s about as good as burnt shit. I was forced to watch a handful of episodes by a woman. They’re the\* worst!\* ---
**Author:** ![Scribble](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/scribble/32/3317_2.png) [@Scribble](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Scribble)\ **Post date:** [February 15, 2020, 1:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/opinions-on-this-is-us-series/847955/7 "2020-02-15T13:56:32Z")
I think it’s manipulative and soppily sentimental. I made it through a few episodes, hoping it would get better. That hope was never realized. ---
**Author:** ![Eyebrows\_0f\_Doom](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/eyebrows_0f_doom/32/3119_2.png) [@Eyebrows\_0f\_Doom](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Eyebrows_0f_Doom)\ **Post date:** [February 15, 2020, 3:10pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/opinions-on-this-is-us-series/847955/8 "2020-02-15T15:10:55Z")
I saw the first episode, realized it was just soapy sentimental melodrama, and never watched another minute. ---
**Author:** ![RickJay](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/bb73d2/32.png) [@RickJay](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/RickJay)\ **Post date:** [February 15, 2020, 3:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/opinions-on-this-is-us-series/847955/9 "2020-02-15T15:11:09Z")
It’s very, very melodramatic. I suppose if you’re in the mood for that sort of thing, what the hell; it’s like horror movies. Most of them suck but sometimes you want a cheap scare. “This is Us” gives cheap tears. ---
**Author:** ![raventhief](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/raventhief/32/4_2.png) [@raventhief](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/raventhief)\ **Post date:** [February 15, 2020, 9:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/opinions-on-this-is-us-series/847955/10 "2020-02-15T21:53:26Z")
> [@pool](#): > > It’s about as good as burnt shit. I was forced to watch a handful of episodes by a woman. Oh no! Forced?! What kind of weapon did she have? ---
**Author:** ![What\_Exit](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/what_exit/32/10652_2.png) [@What\_Exit](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/What_Exit)\ **Post date:** [February 15, 2020, 10:04pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/opinions-on-this-is-us-series/847955/11 "2020-02-15T22:04:02Z")
I think it is a crappy show that tries way too hard and I can’t stand it. But plenty do like it so they should enjoy. ---
**Author:** ![IvoryTowerDenizen](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ivorytowerdenizen/32/17937_2.png) [@IvoryTowerDenizen](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/IvoryTowerDenizen)\ **Post date:** [February 15, 2020, 10:04pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/opinions-on-this-is-us-series/847955/12 "2020-02-15T22:04:54Z")
My husband and I enjoy it very much. But then, I’m a woman who forced him to watch, sooo ---
**Author:** ![Hilarity\_N.Suze](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/hilarity_n.suze/32/6223_2.png) [@Hilarity\_N.Suze](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Hilarity_N.Suze)\ **Post date:** [February 15, 2020, 10:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/opinions-on-this-is-us-series/847955/13 "2020-02-15T22:31:39Z")
> [@Scribble](#): > > I think it’s manipulative and soppily sentimental. I made it through a few episodes, hoping it would get better. That hope was never realized. This. ---
**Author:** ![Mean\_Mr.Mustard](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mean_mr.mustard/32/3865_2.png) [@Mean\_Mr.Mustard](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mean_Mr.Mustard)\ **Post date:** [February 15, 2020, 11:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/opinions-on-this-is-us-series/847955/14 "2020-02-15T23:42:23Z")
Given the choice I’d rather watch a show called This Is Pus. mmm ---
**Author:** ![Die\_Capacitrix](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/die_capacitrix/32/9_2.png) [@Die\_Capacitrix](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Die_Capacitrix)\ **Post date:** [February 16, 2020, 9:11am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/opinions-on-this-is-us-series/847955/15 "2020-02-16T09:11:20Z")
When it first came on, we watched a few episodes. But the DRAMA. There were all these questions about how somebody died and hints about a mystery. And it had Jon Huertas and I wasn’t ready to see him as somebody other than Javier Esposito from Castle. Still not. ---
**Author:** ![Alessan](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/alessan/32/465_2.png) [@Alessan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Alessan)\ **Post date:** [February 16, 2020, 9:24am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/opinions-on-this-is-us-series/847955/16 "2020-02-16T09:24:19Z")
My wife and I managed to get through the first seven minutes of the first episode before giving up. I like sentimental stuff, but I \*despise \*unearned sentiment. You want me to cry? Fine, I’ll cry - but you’re going to have to work for it. ---
**Author:** ![Green\_Bean](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/green_bean/32/1760_2.png) [@Green\_Bean](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Green_Bean)\ **Post date:** [February 16, 2020, 10:21am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/opinions-on-this-is-us-series/847955/17 "2020-02-16T10:21:50Z")
I watched part of the first season because the premise was kind of interesting. Then I got bored. ---
**Author:** ![Hampshire](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/hampshire/32/4887_2.png) [@Hampshire](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Hampshire)\ **Post date:** [February 16, 2020, 3:10pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/opinions-on-this-is-us-series/847955/18 "2020-02-16T15:10:11Z")
It’s like someone forcing you to watch an icy intersection. “Why are we watching this?” “Just wait.” “Why?” “Something terrible is going to happen.” ---
**Author:** ![Hilarity\_N.Suze](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/hilarity_n.suze/32/6223_2.png) [@Hilarity\_N.Suze](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Hilarity_N.Suze)\ **Post date:** [February 17, 2020, 9:15am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/opinions-on-this-is-us-series/847955/19 "2020-02-17T09:15:12Z")
> [@Mean\_Mr.Mustard](#): > > Given the choice I’d rather watch a show called This Is Pus. > mmm Airing right after Dr. Pimple Popper!