60. This Is Us and the fantasy of modern family life

In the first episode of 2026, Nat reflects on finishing This Is Us and why the show stayed with her long after the final episode.

This isn’t a recap or a spoiler-filled review. It’s a conversation about motherhood, family, and the quiet expectations we absorb from TV.

Nat explores:

• Why This Is Us feels both comforting and unrealistic

• How motherhood and family life are idealised on screen

• The invisible labour behind “magical” childhood memories

• Why older family structures feel impossible to recreate today

• What the show gets right about love, connection, and the village

• And why modern motherhood often feels like failure when it’s actually a lack of support

A reflective episode for any mum who’s ever watched a family drama and wondered why real life feels so much harder.

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