WARNING: The following contains spoilers for the first three episodes of This Is Us, which airs Tuesdays on NBC.
NBC's This is Us has always grounded its stories in reality. And given reality has now been overtaken by daily consideration of the COVID-19 pandemic, it was no surprise when, prior to the Season 5 premiere, showrunner Dan Fogelman said the show would tackle the pandemic head on. In the first three episodes of the season, the pandemic has certainly become part of the fabric of the show. In the latest episode, "Changes," Kate Pearson choosing a mask to wear to meet a potential birth mother for a baby she hopes to adopt is just one example of the way the series is depicting the pandemic's impact on the Pearson family's daily lives. However, masks are only part of how the show is touching on the global crisis. By introducing storylines focusing on the way mental health issues are impacted by the pandemic, the show is exploring this new reality on a deeper level.
Randall's search for a therapist started last season and has continued in the first three episodes of Season 5. Meanwhile, in the new season's third episode, Kevin opened up to Madison about his addictions and issues with his father after she confided in him about her eating disorder. Although these issues are not pandemic-specific, they address challenges many people face every day that are made even harder by quarantines and social distancing.
When Fogelman said the show would confront the pandemic head on, he also confirmed it would address the recent protests surrounding the deaths of unarmed Black people and their impact on the Pearson family. The show powerfully followed through on that promise in the episode "Forty: Part Two" when Randall confronted Kate about never being able to talk to his family about his experiences as an African American while they were growing up. This led Randall to the realization he would like to work with a Black therapist, someone who can better understand the issues he is struggling with that weren't shared by the White family that raised him. But Randall's search for a new therapist has been made far more difficult by the pandemic.
After long days working as a city councilman attempting to handle the pandemic, the requirement to social distance forces Randall to meet with potential new therapists online through video chat in the evening. Thanks to the pandemic, many people have been forced to see their therapists via video chat and many more have started seeking out therapy as a result of the unique pressures brought about by the crisis. Randall's struggle speaks to the new normal of connecting with a therapist, often for the first time, via video chat instead of in-person.
Madison's struggle with an eating disorder is also impacted of the pandemic. When Madison first appeared on This is Us at a support group Kate attended, Kate and fans alike thought she was vapid and annoying. However, the more Kate got to know Madison, the more she realized there was a lot more to her. Madison battles bulimia and her current pregnancy is taking a mental toll on her as a result of that eating disorder. Because of the pandemic, she and Kevin, her babies' father, moved in together very quickly. Sure, the pregnancy fast-tracked their relationship, but the pandemic made it accelerate even faster.
Moving in together so quickly caused Madison and Kevin to skip important conversations about their personal issues. Madison was initially unable to confide in Kevin about her bulimia and how his body building and dieting impacts her mental health. Meanwhile, Kevin was not able to confide in Madison about his issues with his father or his addictions to both alcohol and working out. Again, the pandemic is not the focus of this storyline per se, however the global crisis is the catalyst for it happening the way it has. Yet, by not being inextricably linked to the pandemic, the storyline becomes more universal, making it relatable both during and after the pandemic.
This is Us has always been ambitious in its storytelling. With the COVID-19 pandemic, this remains as true as ever. However, the smart thing the series is doing is making the pandemic part of the characters' everyday lives, just like it's become for so many people. By incorporating the pandemic into storylines about mental health, the show both speaks to our specific moment while addressing issues that will remain relatable long after the crisis.