Need More ‘This Is Us’? These Similar Shows Are Almost As Good

Since 2016, NBC seriesĀ This Is Us has introduced viewers to the Pearson family, following the lives of parents Jack and Rebecca as well as their triplets – Kate, Kevin, and Randall.

Each character has their own struggle and, throughout the seasons, fans have found comfort seeing the ups and downs of their personal lives as well as how they each connect with one another as a family.

If you cannot get enough of This Is Us, why not indulge in some similar family-oriented shows? Here are five of our favorites:

‘The Fosters’

The Fosters premiered in 2013 and is about a uniquely blended family of biological and adopted children. Their parents are an interracial lesbian couple and the kids come from different backgrounds. Because of this, the show is able to explore all kinds of issues that are relevant to today’s society, such as homophobia, racism, and abortion. It also challenges society’s notion of what it means to be a family.

If you end up enjoying The Fosters, you might be glad to know that there is a spinoff series called Good Trouble that follows the lives of two Foster sisters as they transition into adulthood.

‘Parenthood’

From 2010 to 2015, Parenthood followed the lives of members of the multi-generational Braverman family. There are Zeek and Camille, who are the heads of the family, as well as their four adult children who have kids of their own.

It’s an emotional, gut-wrenching show that explores many different themes related to parenting, marriage, growing up, and much more.

The Bravermans are made up of a variety of personalities that often conflict and complement each other, but every viewer will find someone in the family that they can relate to.

‘Queen Sugar’

Produced by Oprah Winfrey and Ava DuVernay, the director of hit movie SelmaQueen Sugar follows the Bordelons, a group of three estranged siblings who have come together in Louisiana to help save their late father’s sugarcane farm.

One sibling is an accomplished journalist, another is a successful sports manager from Los Angeles, and another is a formerly-incarcerated single parent. The series explores the siblings’ relationship with each other as well as how they fit into their larger community being African-Americans in the South.

Queen Sugar also has earned praises for having only female directors running the show throughout its three seasons thus far, a feat that may be the first of its kind.

‘Blue Bloods’

If you would like a family-oriented show with a bit more action and adventure, Blue Bloods is the perfect combination. Since 2010, it has been following the lives of the multi-generational Reagan family whose members work in the police department of New York City. Every episode features thrilling police work as well as some familial conflicts meant to explore the dynamics between the different characters.

Blue Bloods has won four awards and been nominated for more than a dozen others. Additionally, the fact that it has been on the air for almost 10 years is a real testament to how many fans have been hooked on it – a good reason for anyone to start watching.

‘A Million Little Things’

Although it is not exactly a show that focuses on a family, A Million Little Things centers around another group of people that are just as important: friends.

Like This Is Us and the series mentioned above, the characters in A Million Little Things lead complicated lives filled with love, heartbreak, triumphs, and struggles.

However, the circle of friends on this show (which was started after four of them met while being stuck in an elevator together) remain close and lean on each other for support, though they also have conflicts here and there – very much like a real family.