15 most likable TV leads
By Reed Gaudens
15. The Pearsons on This Is Us
When it comes to likability, the definition doesn’t always have to entail total, never-ending perfection. For some characters (and real-life people), likability means being endearing despite one’s flaws. That’s why the Pearson family, the whole lot of them, of NBC’s hit drama series This Is Us, ranks dead last but still ranks. Sometimes, we don’t like any given Pearson because of some bad decision they’ve made, but we could never not love them.
For most viewers, Jack Pearson is the most likable guy not only on the series but, like, ever. Just look at the way his family reveres him and places him on an unreachable pedestal. He’s the man against which all others have been measured. But even Papa Jack has had his missteps, whether it’s lying about his past and the brutal punch that packs or failing to hold space for Rebecca to blossom outside the home. At the end of the day, we see ourselves in these human struggles.
We admire Rebecca Pearson for her dedication to her family, her willingness to honor her own passion, and her strength in picking herself up from grief. We admire Kate for her resilience and sense of humor, and we admire Randall for his commitment to doing the right thing no matter what. We cheer on this family through the good and the bad because they are good, but even the most likable characters can leave a nasty voicemail for their wife or pick petty fights with their mother. The Pearsons aren’t antiheroes or criminals. They’re imperfect, likable characters.