[1] It stars an ensemble cast featuring Milo Ventimiglia, Mandy Moore, Sterling K. Brown, Chrissy Metz, Justin Hartley, Susan Kelechi Watson, Chris Sullivan, Ron Cephas Jones, Jon Huertas, Alexandra Breckenridge, Niles Fitch, Logan Shroyer, Hannah Zeile, Mackenzie Hancsicsak, Parker Bates, Eris Baker, Faithe Herman, Lonnie Chavis, Melanie Liburd, Lyric Ross, Asante Blackk, Griffin Dunne, Caitlin Thompson and Chris Geere.

Siblings Kevin, Kate and Randall (known as "the big three") are followed in the present day, while non-linear flashbacks show their childhood and young adult lives with their parents, Jack and Rebecca.

Kevin and Kate are the two surviving members of triplets, born six weeks premature on Jack's 36th birthday in 1980; their brother Kyle was stillborn.

Believing they were meant to have three children, Jack and Rebecca decide to adopt Randall, an African American boy born earlier that day and brought to the same hospital after his biological father William Hill abandoned him at a fire station.

Randall becomes a successful finance professional and marries college classmate Beth; they raise two daughters (Tess and Annie) and later adopt an older girl, Deja.

After lacking direction much of her life and struggling with obesity, Kate meets and marries Toby, pursues a career in music, gets a degree, and becomes a mother.

[29] In addition to filming in Los Angeles, the series shot a few scenes on location in New York City, Philadelphia, San Francisco and one in Memphis.

Fogelman intentionally recruited behind-the-scenes talent that would reflect the diversity of his cast, with the goal of bringing greater authenticity to the dialog and storylines.

The website's critical consensus reads, "Featuring full-tilt heartstring-tugging family drama, This Is Us will provide a suitable surrogate for those who have felt a void in their lives since Parenthood went off the air.

The site's consensus reads: "This is Us continues to tug at heartstrings with an emotional exploration of family that ensures viewers will want to keep the tissues close – and their loved ones closer".

The site's consensus reads: "This Is Us reaffirms that it is more than just a mystery box in its fourth season, pressing on with some of its most central questions answered – but its emotional power intact.

"[47] Entertainment Weekly gave the show a grade B, calling it "a refreshing respite from the relational violence and pessimism that marks the other buzz soaps that have bubbled forth from a culture of divisiveness".