NBC’s 6-Part Mystery Box Drama Was So Good, It Killed a Genre

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In 2016, NBC launched a unique mystery drama that stood out from typical network television. With streaming services becoming more popular, traditional TV channels have become more specialized. While many people think of network TV as being full of predictable crime shows and unoriginal comedies, there are still some surprisingly good programs on channels like ABC, CBS, and NBC. It’s true these types of shows are common, but network television used to offer a wider range of content.

Things haven’t always been this way; traditional TV networks used to take more risks with the shows they approved. Shows like ABC’s Lost, Fox’s The X-Files, and NBC’s The Good Place were known for their intriguing mysteries. But ten years ago, NBC combined that style with family drama in This Is Us. Created by Dan Fogelman, the show followed the Pearson family – Jack and Rebecca, and their three children, Kevin, Kate, and Randall – all born on the same day. The story spanned decades, from the parents’ beginnings to the end of their lives, and the non-linear storytelling created many mysteries that kept audiences hooked.

Ultimately, This Is Us was a show about family. The relationships within the Pearson family were central to its success. What set it apart, though, was how the creator, Dan Fogelman, added unexpected plot twists and intriguing mysteries that reshaped our understanding of the characters.

How This Is Us Killed The Family Drama Genre On Network TV

NBC’s This Is Us was a hit with both critics and audiences during its six seasons. It consistently received high ratings, averaging 94% on Rotten Tomatoes, and attracted around 12.4 million viewers per episode. Even though viewership declined somewhat in later seasons, it remained one of the most popular shows on television until it ended in 2022. The series concluded with an emotional finale focusing on the Pearson family, and since then, network television hasn’t featured a similar drama centered on a single family’s experiences. While shows like CBS’s Blue Bloods and Young Sheldon/Georgie & Mandy’s First Marriage exist, they don’t focus solely on the story of one family.

Looking back, NBC might have been able to continue This Is Us for another season. But the show’s creator, Dan Fogelman, had a clear vision for how long the Pearson family’s story should last and when to bring it to a natural conclusion. While shows like Parenthood, Brothers & Sisters, and Life in Pieces came before it, it seems traditional networks aren’t as interested in these kinds of family dramas now—especially after This Is Us raised the standard so high, at least for the time being.

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2026-06-06 17:40