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January 25, 2025When a project really works, there’s a natural impulse for the people involved to work together again. To call This Is Us anything short of a resounding success would be inaccurate, winning four Emmys and enthralling audiences over the course of its six seasons. One of those wins was for star Sterling K. Brown, who reunites with creator Dan Fogelman for a new series that doesn’t look anything at all like This Is Us or any of his previous projects but still delivers something entertaining and deeply involving that is sure to enthrall audiences.
Xavier Collins (Brown) is a Secret Service agent who works closely with President Cal Bradford (James Marsden). When he finds the president dead, an investigation begins that includes Collins as a suspect and reveals buried secrets about the nature of his administration and who within it can be trusted. As Collins navigates a treacherous path, he comes into contact with one of the late president’s top advisers, Samantha Redmond (Julianne Nicholson), and therapist Dr. Gabriela Torabi (Sarah Shahi).
One of the hallmarks of This Is Us was that it used time in a creative way to spin a story that didn’t play out as audiences expected. This series is set at a particular moment in history and utilizes flashbacks to fill in the gaps and introduce characters, and Fogelman’s signature touches can be recognized instead in the way that he constructs this world and keeps certain elements hidden and mysterious. A political thriller is hardly what anyone might have seen coming from the man who also made the short-lived series Galavant, Grandfathered, and Pitch, but it turns out that he does know what he’s doing in this entirely new genre.
Due to the visibility and popularity of This Is Us, Brown is at risk of being typecast in the future. In this case, he’s still playing one of the most straight-laced and good-natured characters in this show’s universe. He’s fiercely committed to his family and takes his job very seriously, and it’s easy to believe that he’s exactly as intense as he presents. Without onscreen siblings and parents to share the heavy lifting of carrying a show, he proves entirely capable, serving as its primary star but still deferring to the ensemble as flashbacks prove key to the worldbuilding of this expansive show.
Alongside Brown is a key cast of tremendously talented actors who have had a number of television roles in the past. Fresh off his first Emmy nomination for Jury Duty and an impressive double role on Dead to Me, Marsden feels a lot like a modern-day JFK, similar in physical appearance and demeanor and also presenting a friendly exterior that reveals a less polished and kindhearted nature when out of public view. Nicholson, an Emmy winner for Mare of Easttown, chews as much scenery as she can as an operator set to accomplish her goals no matter who gets caught in the crosshairs, and it’s a fantastic fit for her. Shahi, an underrated contributor to shows as diverse as The L Word and Person of Interest, is also put to great use as a more enigmatic player.
There’s more to this show than meets the eye, and its subtleties and plot twists are best left discovered organically without spoiling anything. In keeping with Hulu’s tendencies, this show offers its first three episodes to viewers at the start, and by the end of the third hour, anyone watching should have a very good idea of whether this show is for them. At times, it’s a bit soapier than necessary, but there’s a solid mystery and well-conceived plot grounding it, in addition to the very effective performances that help bring this invigorating story to life. Brown and Fogelman do make a great team, and it’s very worthwhile to see them do something very different together.
Series Rating: 7/10
Awards Buzz: Emmy voters are slowly warming to The Diplomat, which feels like it has a similar vibe to this show, and Brown and This Is Us did receive a handful of nominations throughout the show’s run. Whether this genre is something that voters will be all that into remains a question, but it’s certainly possible.