Adoption in This Is Us: A Groundbreaking Representation of Family, Identity, and Belonging
Adoption is one of the most deeply personal and complex human experiences, yet for years, its portrayal in film and television has often been reduced to tired tropes. Think of the “grateful adoptee” who is forever indebted to their adoptive parents, the “villainous birth mother” who selfishly abandoned her child, or the “traumatized adoptee” whose life is defined solely by loss. These one-dimensional portrayals do little to reflect the reality of adoption—the joys, the struggles, the questions of identity, and the lifelong journey of navigating belonging.
Enter This Is Us.
From its very first episode, this hit NBC drama made it clear that adoption wasn’t just going to be a subplot—it was woven into the DNA of the story. Through the character of Randall Pearson, played by the incredible Sterling K. Brown, This Is Us explores adoption in a way that feels authentic, nuanced, and, at times, deeply personal for many viewers. Over six seasons, the show tackles transracial adoption, the search for biological family, the impact of adoption on mental health, and even the complexities of foster care adoption.
Unlike many of its predecessors, This Is Us doesn’t treat adoption as a one-time event but as an ongoing journey—one that shapes identity, relationships, and sense of self throughout a lifetime. It’s one of the best portrayals of adoption we’ve seen on mainstream television, and today, we’re going to explore why.
Adoption as a Lifelong Experience
One of the most powerful aspects of This Is Us is the way it acknowledges that adoption isn’t something that happens to someone—it’s something that becomes part of their story forever. Many adoptees describe adoption as an ongoing process of self-discovery, filled with questions about identity, loss, and belonging. The show masterfully illustrates this through Randall’s journey, from childhood into adulthood.
Randall is adopted as an infant by Jack and Rebecca Pearson after they lose one of their triplets during childbirth. Growing up in a white family as a Black child, Randall struggles with his racial identity, a sense of belonging, and the unanswered questions about his birth parents. But what This Is Us does exceptionally well is show how these struggles evolve as Randall ages.
Adoption isn’t something that gets “resolved” once a child grows up. Randall’s identity as an adoptee influences his relationships, his parenting, his career, and his emotional well-being throughout his life. It’s a beautiful and realistic portrayal of the way adoption is woven into a person’s story, not just in childhood but in every stage of life.
Transracial Adoption: The Challenges of Growing Up in a White Family
Transracial adoption comes with unique challenges, and This Is Us handles this topic with sensitivity and honesty. Randall grows up deeply loved by Jack and Rebecca, but love alone doesn’t erase the realities of being a Black child in a white family.
A well-known concept in adoption research is the Transracial Adoption Paradox—the idea that children raised in families of a different race often experience both privilege (through association with their adoptive family’s racial identity) and alienation (from their own racial and cultural background). Randall experiences this firsthand.
As a child, he struggles with being the only Black person in his family and often in his community.
He doesn’t have mentors or role models who share his racial identity, which leaves him feeling disconnected from Black culture.
His adoptive parents, despite their deep love for him, sometimes fail to understand the racial realities he faces.
One of the most poignant moments in the show is when young Randall asks Rebecca to find his birth parents. Rebecca, out of fear and insecurity, hesitates—worried that learning more about his biological family might make Randall love her less. This is a common experience for adoptive families, where the fear of loss can sometimes prevent open conversations about an adoptee’s origins.
However, This Is Us also shows Rebecca’s growth. Later in the series, as an adult, Randall expresses his frustration that his mother didn’t do more to connect him to his culture and birth family. Instead of getting defensive, Rebecca acknowledges her mistake, apologizes, and encourages Randall’s search for his roots. It’s a powerful example of how adoptive parents can grow and learn alongside their children.
The Search for Birth Family: An Emotional but Essential Journey
Many adoptees feel a pull to learn more about their biological roots, whether it’s to find answers about their medical history, understand where they come from, or simply piece together a missing part of their story. This Is Us portrays this reality with stunning emotional depth.
When Randall finally finds his birth father, William, it’s not the fairy-tale reunion he might have imagined. William is terminally ill, meaning their time together is painfully limited. Randall struggles with grief, anger, and the difficult question of why didn’t you come for me?
This storyline beautifully reflects the ambiguous loss that many adoptees experience—the grief over a biological family they never got to know, mixed with the love they feel for their adoptive family. Randall’s reunion with William is heartbreaking, healing, and deeply human. The show resists the urge to make it a perfect ending, instead acknowledging the complexity of emotions that come with reunions.
Adoption and Mental Health
Adoption is an incredibly emotional experience, and This Is Us does not shy away from exploring its impact on mental health. Randall’s struggles with anxiety are a major theme in the show, and they’re handled with care and authenticity.
Research has shown that adoptees are at a higher risk for anxiety and depression compared to non-adopted individuals. This isn’t because adoption is inherently harmful, but because being separated from one’s biological family—even in infancy—can create underlying feelings of loss, identity confusion, or insecurity.
Randall’s anxiety manifests in perfectionism, overachieving, and a deep fear of failure. He carries the weight of trying to be “the perfect son” for his adoptive parents, feeling an unspoken pressure to prove that he was “worth adopting.” This is a struggle that many adoptees can relate to—the need to justify their existence, to not be a burden, to excel in order to feel secure in their place.
The show also highlights the importance of therapy. Randall eventually seeks professional help, demonstrating that mental health struggles—even for successful, loving husbands and fathers—are valid and deserving of care.
A Few Missed Opportunities
While This Is Us is one of the most thoughtful portrayals of adoption on television, it isn’t without its flaws.
Randall is depicted as hyper-successful, reinforcing the “perfect adoptee” trope. Not every adoptee needs to be exceptional to be valuable.
The challenges of adopting a teenager through foster care (as Randall and Beth do with Déjà) are somewhat simplified. While the show acknowledges her trauma, her adjustment happens more smoothly than it often does in real life.
Beth, Randall’s wife, often does the heavy lifting in supporting his adoption-related struggles. It would have been refreshing to see Randall process more of his emotions in therapy rather than through Beth alone.
Final Thoughts: A Powerful and Nuanced Portrayal
Despite some minor shortcomings, This Is Us is one of the best representations of adoption we’ve seen in mainstream media. It captures the complexity, beauty, and struggles of adoption in a way that feels real and heartfelt. The show reminds us that adoption is not just about loss or gratitude, but about identity, resilience, and the many different ways family is created.
For adoptees, adoptive parents, and birth families, This Is Us offers a story that resonates—one that acknowledges the joys and pains of adoption with honesty and grace. And if you didn’t cry at least once during Randall and William’s scenes, well…you might just be a robot.
If you’re an adoptee, adoptive parent, or birth parent navigating the complexities of adoption and identity, therapy can provide a supportive space to process your experiences. Contact me today to learn how I can help you on your journey.
What did you think of This Is Us’s portrayal of adoption? Let’s talk in the comments!
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