It’s the story of “the big three, ” a determine of triplets( a biological brother and sister, and their adopted brother ), and the two mothers, Jack and Rebecca, who shaped their adult lives.
“This Is Us” is the shamefully, unapologetically tear-jerking NBC hit that has millions tuning in every week to ugly-cry together, and it simply wrap its first season.
The show isn’t always perfect, but is thoughtful in its portraying of characters we’re not used to seeing perhaps none more so than Jack Pearson, the dutiful and selfless dad of the family .
“This Is Us” though good at sprinkling in humor here and there is not a slapstick. Jack is not obligated to be funny, which likely is part of the reason he’s been spared from becoming the buffoonish dad we’re used to seeing in TV and movies.
It’s not just that( and the fact his mustache/ beard are #goals) that makes Jack such a compelling character. There are( at the least) five things that construct Jack a fairly damn good framework of masculinity in an age where being a blustering, blathering “alpha male” can get you fairly far .
By the route , no spoilers for the season finale here.( But if you don’t already are well aware that Jack does not live to grow old with Rebecca, where have you even been for the last three months ?)
1. He doesn’t apologize for showing a full range of human emotions.
GIF from “This Is Us”/ YouTube.
When we first meet Jack in the series’ pilot episode, he is a man in total control. When he and a pregnant Rebecca arrive at the hospital, the babes on their route, medical doctors warns them the risks during delivery will be high.
“We’re walking out of this hospital with three healthy babes and a healthy spouse, ” Jack reassures medical doctors while also supporting Rebecca during contractions.
Unfortunately, the third child, a little boy, is stillborn. When Jack gets the news, he breaks down in tears in the waiting area, before ultimately was determined to bring home Randall, an abandoned child being treated at the same hospital.
It’s not the last hour we recognize Jack’s emotional vulnerability. Because, you know what? It’s OK for dudes to weep .
2. He’s ferociously loyal to his family.
Yes, Jack is the main breadwinner for the family, but it’s not what makes him a man. It’s dedication that goes far beyond simply operating long hours.
For example, theres a secretary at work constantly batting her eyes at him, and in one episode, she ultimately makes a move. He turns her down with ease, and frankly, the indicate doesn’t make a big deal of it. Jack doesnt get any hero degrees for remaining faithful, as he shouldnt.< strong> Jack proves real men can be complex beings with morals and values that aren’t based around sexuality .
It likewise becomes clear later in the series Jack was the one who pushed for wedding and children with Rebecca, a nice change of pace from the commitment-allergic men we’re used to seeing on TV.
“To me, you are every proportion my son.” GIF from “This Is Us”/ YouTube.
3. He’s a great, great, great dad.
A lot of TV fathers love their children and will show it through goofy hijinks, roughhousing, or gruffly bonding over athletics.< strong> But not Jack. He handles the tough stuff too .
Like who could forget the time he bided up all night sewing Madonna gloves for his daughter’s birthday party and, when things didn’t go as planned, tried to applaud her up by asking her to teach him how to “vogue”?
In one of his best instants, though, Jack realizes he as a white man can’t be the only role model in his black son’s life, so he takes him to an all-black karate class where he can learn how to face the difficulties that come with being a man of color.
GIF from “This Is Us”/ YouTube
4. He’s a true romantic.
TV and movies are rife with dunderheaded men forgetting birthdays and anniversaries, clambering around to cover their ways with thoughtless, last-minute gestures. Not Jack. In one episode, he rents his and Rebecca’s now-vacant first apartment for a night, fills it with candles and champagne, and challenges the both of them to never forget the things they love about each other.
He constantly finds hour and energy to construct his wife( and his children, for that are important) feel special, enjoyed, and appreciated .
Doesn’t get much more manly than that.
“Rebecca, you have changed the route I think about love.” GIF from “This Is Us”/ YouTube
5. Despite all of these things, Jack is a flawed man.
Throughout much of the series, Jack seems perfect. Rebecca even describes him as a “superhero” more than once.
But Jack battles with a booze trouble. Later, he has trouble reigning in his jealousy of another man in Rebecca’s life. He occasionally crumbles under the weight of being the familys rock.
Through it all, Jack requires his wife, and he knows it. In these instants, it’s Rebecca who picks him up and helps him get a better man.
Because no matter how “manly” you are , no one can do it all alone .
“From now on, I’m going to be an 11[ out of 10] for you, baby.” GIF from “This Is Us”/ YouTube.
We know Jack succumbs before his children are grown, but with the show’s jump-around timeline, let’s hope he shows up plenty in season two.
After all, he still has a lot more to teach us dudes about what it genuinely means to be a man.
Read more here: http :// www.upworthy.com /~ ATAGEND
