NBC learned a lot having Parenthood for a handful of seasons and the network is back with This Is Us, ready again to deliver another heartfelt hit.

This Is Us is an ensemble drama that follows a number of characters who share the same birthday, among other things as we’ll find out over the course of the series, as their lives intersect in ways you would definitely not expect. We get to see how each person celebrates their birthday but that’s only where the story begins. Spoilers ahead.

“I had to put the lingerie on top of my clothes.” – Rebecca
“I see that.” – Jack
“It wasn’t a great moment for me.” – Rebecca

Viewers are first introduced to Rebecca (Mandy Moore) and Jack (Milo Ventimiglia), a couple pregnant with triplets. Talk about a high risk pregnancy. With a “new” doctor, Rebecca’s regular doctor not being there on the big day on top of all of this. When Rebecca’s delivery begins to have its complications, Jack, on his 36th birthday, soon learns that the two had a boy and a girl, the third child, a boy… a stillborn. With new life, such deep loss, and an unconventional gain all at the same time, there is so much to explore here and I’m anticipating watching this couple as they transition into parenthood while grieving.

At the end of the episode, we see Jack watching his newborns, as a police officer walks up beside him and tells him that he just brought an abandoned baby to the hospital…viewers then put the pieces to together that that baby is indeed who we’ve been following all this time…

“I came here today so I could look you in the eye, say that to you, and then get back in my fancy ass car and finally prove to myself and to you and to my family who loves me that I didn’t need a thing from you, even after I knew who you are.” – Randall
“You want to come in?” – William
“Okay.” – Randall

Randall (Sterling K. Brown) and Beth (Susan Kelechi Watson) are happily married and Randall, on his 36th birthday, has just informed his wife that he found his father, a father who abandoned him as a baby at a fire station after the death of Randall’s mother. Based on the email that Randall got, his father is 62 years old and if the mother was the same age, that means that they were 26 years old when they gave Randall up. Anyway…

When Randall knocks on his father, William’s (Ron Cephas Jones) door, he tells him off in every way possible that he ever could have hoped, showering his father with all of his successes each accomplished without him in the picture. But then, hope and love seep through in ways he probably wasn’t expecting – but still deeply yearned for. Acceptance. Love from the people who are supposed to love us unconditionally. William doesn’t wait for Randall to give him the chance to love him unconditionally now, he just does it. And Randall opens his heart to this. What a bold undertaking. It brought so much joy to my heart. No matter how it ends, the relationship reset on the most positive note and that was beautiful.

William reveals that he is dying, long past the stage of being sick, now just counting down until the days. So will Randall and William’s reconciliation be able to last until William’s last days? Are William’s last days legit or is this a plot to keep his son nearby?

Lastly, great What’s Happening!! reference. It’s not often a black sitcom from back in the day is referenced on TV so this was much appreciated.

“We’re 36. We’re officially late 30s. Like, we are deep in the threes.” – Kate
“Yup.” – Kevin
“How did I get here?” – Kate

Finally, there’s 36 year old twins, Kate (Chrissy Metz) and Kevin (Justin Hartley). Or, more like 2/3 of Rebecca and Jack’s triplets aka Randall’s siblings. Kate is obese and lost on her journey in life; Kevin is a popular sitcom actor on “The Man-ny,” living the life and is still very lost on his journey as well. Both are unhealthy and projecting that brokenness and unhappiness in different ways. Seeing the contrast is so striking and especially among siblings, so relatable. I loved it.

The images that may strike viewers the most, Kate, naked as she weighs herself (and her life if she can live to see another year of it) and Kevin having a meltdown at work (note: cameras and phones are typically confiscated during TV tapings so there’s no way all of those phone would be out).

I love the deliberate choice not to show Kate’s weight. That speaks volumes. Because it’s not about the number. It’s about so much more. I love that we see through what so many view as such a superficial job, Kevin’s struggle with the mediocre that’s been offered to him and that he’s accepted…until now. Until he takes a moment to re-evaluate where he is in his life, where he no longer wants to be. And then when he makes the choice to step away from what’s holding him back, the reality of “What if I’m not good enough?” seeps through. We can all relate to that fear of not living up to our high expectations of ourselves. I feel you, Kevin!

Whether you’ve been in Kate’s position, Kevin’s position, or both in some fashion, these stories will grip your heart and I’m sure that grip won’t be easy until the season’s end.

Anyone who has battled with food addiction can relate to taking action to prevent your own downfall, so the notes in the fridge as Kate’s guardrails was just as heartbreaking as it was encouraging. Anyone who has battled with addiction of any kind knows it’s warfare in your mind and people who haven’t battled addiction need to see on primetime television that steps are, more often than not, taken to win the battle of each day. That said, looking forward to seeing more of Kate’s story because there’s more to her than her weight.

Side note, Kevin mentioned Florida in the second grade in 1986 and I wonder if that’s setting up for anything. Because if every word counts and advances the story, the words that he said when he was venting to the models means something.

Also worth noting, Kate meets Toby (Chris Sullivan) at group, a guy who has no plans of losing the weight, until he meets her. I can’t wait to see where this goes. Especially considering how star struck he was when he accidentally met Kevin on their date at home. It doesn’t look like that will matter but looking forward to seeing if they play with that Hollywood dynamic more.

Speaking of Hollywood, the premiere could have done with cameos by Alan Thicke and Mario Lopez but because it works within the context of the show, okay, fine, no complaints here.

Upon a second viewing, I noticed the significance of the ’75 – ’79 Family Photos Moving Box in Rebecca and Jack’s home. How clever to have the couple moving in, so as to really hide the big reveal of the difference in the time periods. I noticed the wallpaper too. So much wallpaper. And the police officer smoking in the hospital threw me off in the first viewing, but even that didn’t register with me until talking with a friend about the show after it aired. It’s so funny because even before the show aired, I thought, “I wonder why Milo (Ventimiglia) is dressed like that.” Now I know why.

Opening a series strong like that, the writers better have more amazing twists ahead. Even if they’re only saving them for November Sweeps, the midseason hiatus, and the finale. Structurally, the show has a lot to live up to now. This is Parenthood 2.0 and if it wants to impress, they’ve got to keep up the momentum of what they’ve delivered here.

Now if you know my taste, you know that I’m a sucker for ensemble dramas. This did not disappoint. Plus, an ensemble family drama that transcends time, following the parents in their first year of parenthood and the children, 36 years later at such completely different places in their lives. Wow. This Is Us is pretty brilliant. Funny, charming, so wonderfully honest and compelling in each and every story which each has such a beautiful, distinct tone. This Is Us delivers poignant, masterful storytelling and this is easily one new drama that I will and you should make a point to tune into each and every single week.

I’m not in love with the show in the way that I was with Parenthood, that’s a tall order. But I see the potential for this show to grow into having just as much of part of my heart as that show always will. What do you think?

Watch This Is Us Tuesdays at 10/9c on NBC.