‘It’s a big, sprawling, ambitious start,’ says Dan Fogelman.
Youve already waited six months for the return ofThis Is Us.
Whats a few more hours?
Credit: Ron Batzdorff/NBC (3)
Exactly its too many.
Our first two episodes in the season are two of those staked-out episodes.
Its a big, sprawling, ambitious start.
Not to mention, one that he hopes will catch you off guard.
The goal is to never fall into a pattern where the show just becomes expected, he notes.
Jack (Milo Ventimiglia), however, is going in blind to both of them.
Its a time period we just love going to, he says.
Thats a big part of our season the relationship with Rebeccas family and Jack.
Well see a lot of it this year, says Fogelman of the adjustment period.
Jack is trying to figure out what he wants to do with his life.
He needs to find himself a career.
Its a complicated period for him.
Theyre getting a fresh start, with the family.
In more ways than one.
Theyre not just little kids anymore.
The problems with the 9-year-olds and 10-year-olds are getting more complicated, their issues are getting more complicated.
Even the identity questions that a character like Randall might have are becoming more complicated.
But doesnt the move to Philly undermine the very thing that Randall was worried about?
Its a really fair question and its something were definitely going to explore, answers Fogelman.
Often Kevins story, more than all the other characters, is very existential, says Fogelman.
And its ironic because hes the ex-sitcom actor.
It would be very easy to view him as the shallowest character.
But [what] hes chasing and trying to navigate is often the most complex stuff.
This season really puts him on a path towards starting to figure that out.
Now comes more and possibly unexpected hard work.
Every family has challenges with a newborn child, says Fogelman.
Some are very relatable, some are very unique to that family.
Prepare to learn more about Nicky.
Sounds like theres more to come about Nicky, young and old, in season 4.
The world ofThis Is Usis expanding maybe even bursting at the seams.You saw the season 4 trailer.
Shes a big addition to our cast, shes got a very complicated part.
[The character] is pretty badass.
Who is this kid referring to Kevin as his father?
Whats the status of Kate and Toby?
Were in the ballpark of a much older woman at this point, he says.
Its a part of our journey, in the seasons to come… By the end of this series, shes going to need a long vacation.
Were going to work her really hard.
It could be someone we met, says Fogelman, or it could be someone we have not met.
