This Is Us is genuinely good television—well-written, well-acted, and emotionally intelligent in ways that network dramas rarely achieve. The critical acclaim (94% on Rotten Tomatoes, 8.7 on IMDb) is earned.
But let's be real: this is not light viewing. This show will emotionally wreck you, repeatedly, and it knows exactly what it's doing. The slow cooker episode became a cultural moment because it traumatized an entire nation. If you or your teen are in a good emotional place and ready for heavy themes about family, loss, and identity, this is enriching and worthwhile.
For families with teens 14+, it's actually an excellent co-viewing experience—the kind of show that sparks real conversations about relationships, identity, and how we show up for each other. Just go in with tissues and emotional preparation.
The show hasn't aged poorly (it's only from 2016), and it remains engaging and relevant. The WISE score reflects that it's excellent at what it does, but what it does is emotionally demanding, which limits its universal appeal and requires the right audience at the right time.





