Name: Screenwise
Author: Screenwise

Where to Watch

Loading streaming options...

Screenwise Verdict

Look, if you loved This Is Us and want another cry-fest ensemble drama, A Million Little Things will deliver the tears. It's got that same ABC formula: interconnected friend group, big emotional moments, cliffhangers that make you queue up the next episode.

But let's be clear: this is absolutely not family content. The show opens with a suicide and never really lightens up from there. Every character is dealing with something heavy—cancer, affairs, addiction, trauma. It's a lot.

The 7.9 IMDb suggests audiences connected with it, but that 51 Metacritic tells you critics found it manipulative and overwrought. They're both right. It's emotionally engaging comfort-food drama that doesn't quite earn its heavy themes. Think Grey's Anatomy levels of melodrama applied to suburban friendship dynamics.

For parents: this isn't something to screen for age-appropriateness for your teens. It's adult content with serious trigger warnings. If you want to watch it yourself while the kids are asleep? Go for it. Just know you're signing up for a sob session, not prestige TV.

Age Fit

This is adult drama, full stop. The 14+ rating from Common Sense feels optimistic—between the suicide premise, infidelity, addiction, and heavy mental health content, this is really for older teens (17+) and adults who are specifically seeking out emotional, relationship-focused drama.

WISE Breakdown

Wholesome

58

Adult drama dealing with suicide, grief, infidelity, and complex relationship dynamics. While it models friendship and support systems, the heavy emotional content and mature themes (including affairs, addiction, mental health crises) make it emotionally challenging rather than healthy viewing for younger audiences. The show does portray characters working through trauma together, which has some positive modeling, but the tone is heavy and often dark.

Imaginative

42

Standard network drama format with conventional storytelling. It's a character-driven ensemble piece that doesn't particularly invite creativity or exploration. The premise (friends dealing with aftermath of suicide) is executed in a fairly predictable melodramatic fashion typical of ABC dramas. No real innovation in format or storytelling approach.

Safe

35

Multiple serious safety concerns for younger viewers: opens with a suicide that drives the entire plot, contains depictions of infidelity, substance abuse, cancer diagnosis and treatment, sexual content, and ongoing mental health crises. Common Sense Media rates it 14+, but even that feels young given the suicide trigger. This is definitively adult content with multiple elements that would be inappropriate and potentially harmful for children to encounter unexpectedly.

Enriching

55

Does explore meaningful themes around friendship, grief, mental health, and how people support each other through crisis. Could spark important conversations about depression and suicide prevention for mature teens/adults. However, the melodramatic soap opera execution (Metacritic 51 suggests critics found it overwrought) undermines the depth. It's more emotionally manipulative than genuinely insightful. The 7.9 IMDb suggests audiences found it engaging, but this is comfort-food drama rather than truly enriching content.

Parent Info

✓

Why It Might Be Great

Tackles mental health, suicide, and grief head-on, which could open important conversations for mature audiences
Strong ensemble cast with interconnected storylines that explore how people show up for each other
7.9 IMDb rating suggests it's emotionally engaging for viewers who like relationship-heavy dramas
Models friendship and support systems, showing people working through trauma together rather than alone

⚠

What to Watch For

The entire series is triggered by a suicide in the pilot—this is not background content, it's the central premise
Ongoing heavy themes: affairs, addiction, cancer, depression, sexual content throughout
Classic ABC melodrama pacing means every episode ends on an emotional cliffhanger designed to keep you hooked
Common Sense says 14+ but honestly this is really adult content—even older teens might find it overwhelming
Critics gave it a 51 on Metacritic, suggesting the execution is more soap opera than sophisticated drama

Conversation Starters

"How do you think the characters could have better supported their friend before his death?"
"What does this show get right or wrong about how people deal with grief?"
"Do you think it's realistic how these friends stay so involved in each other's lives?"
"What would you do if you were worried about a friend's mental health?"

Ask Anything

Get a personalized guide on any topic