Whether you like the romantic family drama or not, there's no denying that This Is Us is a seriously emotional show. Chances are fans watch with a box of tissues nearby, prepping just in case it's one of those episodes that brings on the waterworks.
But everyone could use a good cry now and then, and This Is Us is heartbreaking but also heartwarming and entertaining. Every one of the main cast of characters offers a unique personality and perspective on the story, which jumps among various timelines in the past, present, and future. But that doesn't mean every character is beloved. While prepping for season five, which characters are most likable and which do fans loathe?
Most Likeable: Jack Pearson
Even though he passed away decades prior, Jack is seen in flashbacks to a happier time, when the kids were still kids. And he's by far one of the most beloved characters on the show.
He has his flaws, including insecurities and a drinking problem that he seemed to have gotten under control. However, he has the whole husband and dad role down pat, which makes him not only liked, but also respected and admired.
Can't Stand: Toby Damon
At first, Toby seemed sweet and kind, just what Kate needed to help get her out of a funk and raise her self-confidence. He was a hopeless romantic who did countless things to sweep her off her feet.
But there was always something about Toby that fans found irritating, and it all came to a head when he all but emotionally abandoned Kate following the birth of their visually impaired son. He was coming back around towards the end of the last season, but by then, the damage had been done in viewers' eyes.
Most Likeable: Rebecca Pearson
Viewers can't help but feel so much for Rebecca after everything she went through. She gave up her dream of becoming a singer to raise three children (all at once, unexpectedly!) She stuck with the man she loved despite the fact that he didn't have a penny to his name. She was a doting wife and great mother.
She did the best she could, often with a smile on her face. And while she meddles in her kids' lives now that they are adults with families of their own, she always means well and wants the best for them.
Can't Stand: Miguel Rivas
It's unclear whether Miguel deserves the hate or not, but he certainly gets it. He was Jack's best friend who did what he knew his friend would have wanted and took care of Rebecca and the kids after he died, doing whatever he could to help, whether it was fixing a broken appliance or just being a shoulder to cry on. But what seemed to have turned viewers off was that Miguel, long divorced, ended up marrying Rebecca years later.
The story of how their friendship went from platonic and supportive to romantic hasn’t yet been told. And chances are it might clear Miguel's name once and for all. Nonetheless, he remains the outsider that the family, and fans, just don't like very much – mostly because he just isn't Jack.
Most Likeable: Randall Pearson
Quirky, eccentric, obsessive, and anxious, there are so many reasons not to like Randall. Yet there are so many reasons to like him, too. He adores his wife and children, loves his life, and is passionate about everything he does, to the point of being embarrassing and corny.
Sure, he's controlling and that can get annoying. But he had a tough time growing up, often feeling like the unwelcome third wheel, especially because of the way his brother Kevin acted towards him. Given how giving and loving he is, it's tough not to like him.
Can't Stand: 12-Year-Old Kevin
Should fans fault a 12-year-old boy for his feelings? The young version of Kevin was pretty terrible towards Randall. Often jealous of his adoptive brother, feeling he got more attention because of his superior intelligence and position as a "mama's boy," Kevin would do anything he could to make Randall feel bad about himself.
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Fans do feel bad for the young Kevin because it's clear that between the troubled teenage Kate and the anxious Randall, the boy often got unintentionally ignored. Still, the 12-year-old Kevin was a super brat.
Most Likeable: Beth Pearson
No one tells it like it is like Beth, even if it is under her breath or while sharing a glass of wine and spilling tea with the other in-laws. She is exactly what Randall needs, holding him and the family together. She is tough, witty, and fiercely smart.
Beth is likable because she puts up with the entire Pearson clan with a level of patience and understanding that is sometimes unfathomable.
Can't Stand: Madison
Perhaps people don't like Madison mainly because it was recently revealed that she is the mother of Kevin's illegitimate child. She started off as the annoying thin and pretty young women in Kate's overeater's anonymous group. But then Kate came to realize that the two ladies had far more in common than she thought. Madison became Kate's loyal best friend and was there for her to help her through rough times. So it seems she should be likeable given that she seems like a genuinely good person.
Still, there's something about her that isn't entirely likable. The one-night stand with her best friend's brother that led to a pregnancy was icing on that unlikability cake.
Most Likeable: Kate Pearson
Kate has had her share of drama, including conflict with her mother, mostly due to being jealous of her, and guilt that she is the reason her father died because he went back into a burning house to get her dog.
But deep down, Kate is a good, honest person who just wants to finally see some positivity in her life. She's one of the most relatable characters on the show, from her family and marriage issues to internal struggles with self-confidence and weight. The fact that she is so real is what also makes her likable.
Can't Stand: Zoe Baker
The way Zoe seemed to play with Kevin's heart didn't sit well with viewers. She was closed off due to her troubled childhood and afraid of commitment, despite Kevin, a commitment-phobe in his own right, opening the door to it.
Despite the strong feelings Kevin had for Zoe, viewers just knew there was something missing. She was far too self-involved to be able to ever give herself fully to someone else. So, it was a welcome storyline and a relief when they broke up.