This Is Us isn't a particularly good television show, but it's an excellent pressure release valve. And couldn't you use a pressure release valve?

The plot thickens.

When you add butter, food tastes good. This Is Us makes people cry, even me, and, as far as I'm concerned, that's serving a public purpose.

This Is Us is really about consequences, cause and effect and how one seemingly small moment can make a lifetime of an impact. The fact that it's so popular, emotional or relatable will turn some people off, but I say take the show for what it is.

This trilogy of episodes are artfully done. They overlap neatly and effectively convey the writers' overarching message that, at any given moment, each member of a family is going through his or her own mess, oblivious to the other person's mess.

The show is not afraid to explore the unique experience of plus-sized people, but with Kate, they haven't built a character made up of stereotypes and tropes, either.

Overall, the season premiere didn't leave me crying (sorry, tissues). However, the ending was jaw-dropping and dramatic that I now have so many questions as to what happened to Jack and what caused his death.

It's noble. It's sappy. It's irresistible.

Surrounded by a sea of extraordinary characters on cable, This Is Us presents us with regular - in fact, almost aggressively regular - people.

This Is Us works on different levels because of the writing, acting, and directing. Race, gender roles, and body image issues are interwoven into the storyline.

Sure, we wanted to know how Jack died... but we didn't want to find out like this.

It's happening -- the night of Jack's death. For those who thought seeing a glimpse of his funeral was bad, this was tenfold.

I highly recommend This is Us to those who like their romance stories a bit darker and less optimistic than the usual fluff.

This is Us is not quite perfectly imperfect as the show returns for its sophomore season, but it remains a compelling watch.

... the same strong, consistent and emotionally devastating format that it honed so well in Season 1.