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Produces address the similarities to the hit show This Is Us.

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A Million Little Things doesn't premiere for a few more months, but comparisons have already been drawn to NBC's hit family drama This Is Us, thanks to trailers that have been released.

The hour-long drama from creator DJ Nash revolves around a group of friends from Boston who bond under unusual circumstances. After one of them dies unexpectedly, it's the wake-up call the others need to finally start living.

"It's a compliment, firstly," executive producer James Griffiths told reporters at the Television Critics Association press tour on Tuesday when asked about the comparisons. " This Is Us is an incredibly successful show, and thank you to This Is Us for proving that there is an audience for stories about everyday lives and humans going through things."

"In that way, yeah, we're very thankful to This Is Us. But the comparisons stop there," Griffiths said. "Our show is a very unique, different show."

Producers revealed during the session that the first season will sprinkle various clues and hints as to what led to the death, slightly similar to the way This Is Us began charting how Jack Pearson died, a question that was answered late in its second season. By the end of the freshman finale for A Million Little Things, producers hope to provide the full picture of what happened on that fateful day.

"I had the idea for the show before This Is Us was on the air. Certainly, what Dan and everyone over there has done has paved the way for this. It's probably a big reason why a half-hour guy gets to do an hour-long show," Nash said, referencing his prior TV comedy credits like Bent and Up All Night.

Though A Million Little Things aims to provide hope, the first episode is quite grim and bleak. So how are they calibrating that as the season goes on past the pilot?

"Friendship might be one thing to save you from yourself. That's what we're going to talk about," Nash said. "If our show gives people the opportunity to start conversation that it seems like as a country we need to have, then I think we're really excited about that."

David Giuntoli, Ron Livingston, Romany Malco, James Roday, Allison Miller, Christina Moses, Christina Ochoa, Stephanie Szostak and Lizzy Greene star in the hour-long series.

A Million Little Things premieres Wednesday, Sept. 26 at 10 p.m. ET/PT on ABC.
RELATED CONTENT: 'A Million Little Things' Gives Us Major 'This Is Us' Vibes in New Trailer -- Watch! (Exclusive)

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'A Million Little Things' Producers Address 'This Is Us' Comparisons

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A Million Little Things doesn't premiere for a few more months, but comparisons have already been drawn to NBC's hit family drama This Is Us, thanks to trailers that have been released. The hour-long drama from creator DJ Nash revolves around a group of friends from Boston who bond under unusual circumstances.

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The praises for the first episode by major magazine.

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There's a scene in the first episode of ABC's new series A Million Little Things that's so weepy, it makes Terms of Endearment look like Teletubbies. (OK, that's an exaggeration...maybe.)

It takes place at the funeral for Jon (Ron Livingston), who died by suicide days prior. "Jon, you say everything happens for a reason. I can't find a reason for this," his friend Eddie (David Giuntoli) says during a speech, as he holds back tears. The camera cuts to more sad, despondent faces in the church. Regina (Christina Marie Moses), the wife of one of Jon's friends, is crying. Jon's family is crying. Everyone's crying. Then, right on cue, his teen daughter, Sophie (Lizzy Greene), stands up and sings Joni Mitchell's "Both Sides Now."

The entire sequence is an emotional juggernaut: It's melodramatic, yes, but it's highly effective. It's catharsis dialed all the way up-and people will love it. Because they already love it on another show: This Is Us, NBC's hit cry-fest that kicked off its third season yesterday, September 25. The similarities between This Is Us and A Million Little Things are numerous, from the way both shows are shot to the gooey emotional center.

There are some differences. A Million Little Things doesn't feature a rogue Crock-Pot or Mandy Moore in a grandma wig. Instead, we're introduced to four friends-Eddie, Jon, Rome (Romany Malco), and Gary (James Roday)-who are as thick as thieves. But when Jon unexpectedly dies, it sends their lives into a tailspin. What happens when you realize you don't know your best friends, or even your family, as well as you thought? That's the central question explored on A Million Little Things.

But most important, you'll probably sob much the way you've been sobbing over This Is Us the past three years. So, below, check out a nonexhaustive list of all the similarities your old favorite show and new favorite show have in common. (Don't worry: They play on different nights and at different times, so you can watch both. Also, DVR exists.)

1. There's a core group of people all the action is connected to. For This Is Us, it's the Big Three. On A Million Little Things, it's these four dudes. (The Emotionally Damaged Four?)

2. Everyone in this core group has a capital-P Problem. Gary is afraid of commitment and recovering from cancer, Rome is depressed and suicidal, and Eddie's an alcoholic who wants to leave his wife, Katherine (Grace Park), who's too good for him anyway. The reason Eddie wants out of his marriage is honestly mind-blowing, so I won't give it away, but that leads us to...

3. The twists and turns on this show are enormous. The pilot of A Million Little Things starts off pretty standard, but the last few minutes offer up a development so juicy it'll compel you to watch next week. And according to the cast, there's more where that came from. "There's so much we can't talk about," Allison Miller (who plays Maggie, Gary's new girlfriend) tells Glamour.

4. A death is at the center. If "How did Jack die?" was the battle cry for This Is Us, then " Why did Jon die?" is the one for A Million Little Things. We probably won't get a clean-cut answer to that mystery, though, and for good reason. "I don't think there's going to be a cookie cutter episode where you say, 'Oh, that makes sense,'" Livingston says of Jon's death. "To me, there can't really be an answer to that question. I flip the question: This guy was surrounded by warm, intimate relationships of wonderful people who were there to support each other. Why didn't he reach out? To me, that's the mystery."

5. Crying is a character in itself. Much of the marketing surrounding This Is Us focuses on the tearjerking nature of the show, and A Million Little Things will likely receive a similar treatment. The drama is so thick, you'd have to be a robot not to feel something-be it genuine pathos, skepticism, or a hearty mix of both. Either way, expect a whole new barrage of messages urging you to stock up on tissues.

6. There is humor. Interspersed on This Is Us are random bursts of banter between either the Big Three or their extended circles, and that's the case on A Million Little Things too. In fact, the one-liners in the pilot are so frequent you have to wonder how these characters managed to say them when their friend just died.

7. It will move you. A Million Little Things does hit real notes that resonate. When Rome admits (in the middle of a hockey game, no less) that he was contemplating his own suicide when he received the call about Jon's death, Gary puts his arm around Rome's shoulder. It's a subtle moment, but it says more about these friends than any tears or quippy jokes. As the title suggests, it's the small exchanges that truly define a friendship, and A Million Little Things should absolutely showcase more of those. "Let's get into material that makes us challenge each other, soften our hearts, connect with other people: Just that simple human connection," Moses tells Glamour. We couldn't agree more.

A Million Little Things premieres tonight at 10:00 P.M. ET on ABC.
Related Stories: This Is Us Needs to Stop Toying With My Emotions Milo Ventimiglia and Chrissy Metz's This Is Us Audition Tapes Are Here to Make You Bawl

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If You Like 'This Is Us,' Then You'll Love 'A Million Little Things'

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There's a scene in the first episode of ABC's new series A Million Little Things that's so weepy, it makes Terms of Endearment look like Teletubbies. (OK, that's an exaggeration...maybe.) It takes place at the funeral for Jon (Ron Livingston), who died by suicide days prior. "Jon, you say everything happens for a reason.

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Background on the show, and characters.

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A Million Little Things (TV Series 2018- )

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Created by DJ Nash. With David Giuntoli, Romany Malco, Allison Miller, Christina Marie Moses. A group of friends become motivated to living fuller lives after the unexpected death of a close friend.

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The show is called the rookie series.

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ABC has released the first trailers for their upcoming fall shows following the release of their 2018-2019 fall schedule on Tuesday.

Of the trailers released today, comedy " The Kids Are Alright" and dramas " The Rookie" and " A Million Little Things " will debut this fall. "Schooled," "Whiskey Cavalier," "Grand Hotel," and "The Fix" will debut at midseason.

Watch the trailers and read the official series descriptions below.
"The Kids Are Alright"-Tuesdays at 8:30 p.m. ET
Set in the 1970s, this ensemble comedy follows a traditional Irish-Catholic family, the Clearys, as they navigate big and small changes during one of America's most turbulent decades. In a working-class neighborhood outside Los Angeles, Mike and Peggy raise eight boisterous boys who live out their days with little supervision. The household is turned upside down when oldest son Lawrence returns home and announces he's quitting the seminary to go off and "save the world." Times are changing and this family will never be the same. There are 10 people, three bedrooms, one bathroom and everyone in it for themselves.

The series stars Michael Cudlitz as Mike Cleary, Mary McCormack as Peggy Cleary, Sam Straley as Lawrence, Caleb Martin Foote as Eddie, Sawyer Barth as Frank, Christopher Paul Richards as Joey, Jack Gore as Timmy, Andy Walken as William and Santino Barnard as Pat.

The series is inspired by the childhood of writer/executive producer Tim Doyle. Randall Einhorn directed and was an executive producer on the pilot. The series is from ABC Studios.
"The Rookie"-Tuesdays at 10 p.m. ET
Starting over isn't easy, especially for small-town guy John Nolan who, after a life-altering incident, is pursuing his dream of being an LAPD officer. As the force's oldest rookie, he's met with skepticism from some higher-ups who see him as just a walking midlife crisis. If he can't keep up with the young cops and the criminals, he'll be risking lives including his own. But if he can use his life experience, determination and sense of humor to give him an edge, he may just become a success in this new chapter of his life.

The series stars Nathan Fillion as John Nolan, Alyssa Diaz as Angela Lopez, Richard T. Jones as Sergeant Wade Grey, Titus Makin as Jackson West, Mercedes Mason as Captain Zoe Andersen, Melissa O'Neil as Lucy Chen, Afton Williamson as Talia Bishop and Eric Winter as Tim Bradford.

Alexi Hawley is writer and executive producer; Mark Gordon, Nathan Fillion, Michelle Chapman and Jon Steinberg are executive producers on the series. Liz Friedlander directed and executive produced the first episode. Entertainment One (eOne) is the lead studio on "The Rookie," a co-production with ABC Studios.
"A Million Little Things"-Wednesdays at 10 p.m. ET
They say friendship isn't one big thing, it's a million little things; and that's true for a group of friends from Boston who bonded under unexpected circumstances. Some have achieved success, others are struggling in their careers and relationships, but all of them feel stuck in life. After one of them dies unexpectedly, it's just the wake-up call the others need to finally start living. Along the way, they discover that friends may be the one thing to save them from themselves.

"A Million Little Things" stars David Giuntoli as Eddie, Ron Livingston as Jon, Romany Malco as Rome, Allison Miller as Maggie, Christina Moses as Regina, Christina Ochoa as Ashley, James Roday as Gary, Stephanie Szostak as Delilah and Lizzy Greene as Sophie.

DJ Nash is writer and executive producer; Aaron Kaplan and Dana Honor are executive producers; and James Griffiths is the director on the pilot and an executive producer, from ABC Studios/Kapital Entertainment.
"Whiskey Cavalier"
"Whiskey Cavalier" is a high-octane, hour-long action dramedy that follows the adventures of tough but tender FBI super-agent Will Chase (codename: "Whiskey Cavalier"), played by Scott Foley. Following an emotional breakup, Chase is assigned to work with badass CIA operative Francesca "Frankie" Trowbridge (codename: "Fiery Tribune"), played by Lauren Cohan. Together, they lead an inter-agency team of flawed, funny and heroic spies who periodically save the world (and each other) while navigating the rocky roads of friendship, romance and office politics. The series is from writer/executive producer Dave Hemingson and executive producer Bill Lawrence with Warner Bros. Television.

The series stars Scott Foley as Will Chase, Lauren Cohan as Francesca "Frankie" Trowbridge, Ana Ortiz as Susan Sampson, Tyler James Williams as Edgar Standish and Vir Das as Jai Datta.

Dave Hemingson is writer and executive producer; Bill Lawrence and Jeff Ingold (Doozer Productions) are executive producers; Peter Atencio is director and executive producer (pilot), and Scott Foley is producer of the series from Warner Bros. Television.
"Single Parents"
This ensemble comedy follows a group of single parents as they lean on each other to help raise their 7-year-old kids and maintain some kind of personal lives outside of parenthood. The series begins when the group meets Will, a 30-something guy who's been so focused on raising his daughter that he's lost sight of who he is as a man. When the other single parents see just how far down the rabbit hole of PTA, parenting and princesses Will has gone, they band together to get him out in the dating world and make him realize that being a great parent doesn't mean sacrificing everything about your own identity.

The series stars Taran Killam as Will, Leighton Meester as Angie, Kimrie Lewis as Poppy, Jake Choi as Miggy, Marlow Barkley as Sophie, Tyler Wladis as Graham, Devin Trey Campbell as Rory, Grace Hazelett as Emma, Sadie Hazelett as Amy and Brad Garrett as Douglas.

The series is from 20th Century Fox Television and ABC Studios. JJ Philbin and Liz Meriwether are creators and executive producers, and Katharine Pope is executive producer. The pilot was directed by Jason Winer, who is also an executive producer.
"The Fix"
Attorney and author Marcia Clark co-writes and executive produces a new legal drama about Maya Travis, an L.A. district attorney who suffers a devastating defeat when prosecuting an A-list actor for double murder. With her high-profile career derailed, she flees for a quieter life in Washington. Eight years later when this same celebrity is under suspicion for another murder, Maya Travis is lured back to the DA's office for another chance at justice. This legal thriller is executive produced/co-written by Clark, Liz Craft and Sarah Fain, and is from Mandeville TV and ABC Studios.

"The Fix" stars Robin Tunney as Maya Travis, Adam Rayner as Matthew Collier, Merrin Dungey as CJ, Breckin Meyer as Alan Wiest, Marc Blucas as Riv, Mouzam Makkar as Loni Kampoor, Alex Saxon as Gabriel Johnson, with Scott Cohen as Ezra Wolf and Adewale Akinnouye-Agbaje as Sevvy Johnson.

Elizabeth Craft & Sarah Fain and Marcia Clark are writers and executive producers. David Hoberman, Todd Lieberman and Laurie Zaks are executive producers (Mandeville). Larysa Kondracki directed the pilot.
"Grand Hotel"
Eva Longoria executive produces this bold, provocative drama set at the last family-owned hotel in multicultural Miami Beach. Charismatic Santiago Mendoza owns the hotel, while his glamorous second wife, Gigi, and their adult children enjoy the spoils of success. The hotel's loyal staff round out a contemporary, fresh take on an upstairs/downstairs story. Wealthy and beautiful guests bask in luxury, but scandals, escalating debt and explosive secrets hide beneath the picture-perfect exterior. The show is based on the Spanish series.

The series stars Demian Bichir as Santiago Mendoza, Roselyn Sanchez as Gigi Mendoza, Denyse Tontz as Alicia Mendoza, Bryan Craig as Javi Mendoza, Wendy Raquel Robinson as Mrs. P, Lincoln Younes as Danny, Shalim Ortiz as Mateo, Anne Winters as Ingrid, Chris Warren as Jason, Feliz Ramirez as Carolina and Justina Adorno as Yoli.

Brian Tanen is the writer and executive producer; Eva Longoria and Ben Spector (UnbeliEVAble), Ramon Campos and Teresa Fernandez-Valdes (Beta) are executive producers of the series. Ken Olin directed the pilot. The series is produced by ABC Studios.

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ABC Fall 2018-2019 Trailers: 'The Rookie,' 'A Million Little Things,' 'Kids Are Alright' (Watch)

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ABC has released the first trailers for their upcoming fall shows following the release of their 2018-2019 fall schedule on Tuesday. Of the trailers released today, comedy " The Kids Are Alright" and dramas " The Rookie" and " A Million Little Things " will debut this fall.

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The character Eddie pervious role

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David Giuntoli went from playing the adored Nick Burkhardt on Grimm for six years to playing Eddie Saville on ABC's A Million Little Things, a character that isn't the most liked by fans of the show - he was sleeping with his best friend's wife before said best friend committed suicide. However, Giuntoli, 38, was drawn to the role, regardless of the twisted story line.

Inside Fall 2018's Hottest Shows

"Nick Burkhardt was a hero. He was a lawman, and he would do anything to protect his loved ones and there was no sacrifice too great that he would not shoulder to help the community or his loved ones. Eddie Saville on the other hand, very flawed, so awash and burdened by his own demons that he often makes the wrong choice," the actor said on this week's "Watch With Us" podcast. "Reading A Million Little Things, I knew they were interested in me for Eddie and I read it and I'm like, oh this guy's great. He's in a position that's so different from Grimm."

He continued: "Then I read the last two pages of the pilot and I'm like, 'Oh my God, he is sleeping with his best friend's wife. Uh, this is gonna be interesting. I don't think people are gonna love this guy. How are we gonna pull this off?'"

He continued: "In short, I was very drawn to the differences that the character Eddie has, the differences between Eddie and Nick. You don't wanna play the same thing over and over and over again. The industry will only view you as a certain thing and Eddie couldn't be farther from Nick Burkhardt."

The finale of Grimm aired in March 2017. In February 2018, Giuntoli was cast in the ABC pilot and it was one he was pushing for. "I held my breath and said no to other things that were very similar to Nick Burkhardt," he told Us.

During the podcast, Giuntoli also commented on Eddie becoming a father for a second time on the show, his relationship with Delilah ( Stephanie Szostak) and his future in music. He also talked about getting his start in reality TV. In 2003, he was cast on MTV's Road Rules, then went on to compete on The Challenge: The Gauntlet.

Stars Who Got Their Start on Reality TV

"I wouldn't say I knew that I wanted to be an actor when I did Road Rules," he told Us. "I didn't even understand that acting was a thing you could do. I was in finance. I was in the Midwest. My parents were always very supportive of me, but I didn't know what I wanted to do. We certainly didn't understand that or have any sense of the roadmap to becoming an entertainer for a living. Road Rules was something that kind of happened on a whim. They were auditioning people at the school where I went, Indiana University. I was at the bar where they were doing interviews and I went in and I got it. It was really fun. It was one way for me to get off of the track that I was on."

Listen to Giuntoli's full interview for free on the "Watch With Us" podcast above and subscribe here. A Million Little Things airs on ABC Wednesdays at 10 p.m. ET.

Sign up now for the Us Weekly newsletter to get breaking celebrity news, hot pics and more delivered straight to your inbox!

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David Giuntoli Talks His Journey From Reality TV to 'Grimm' to 'A Million Little Things'

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David Giuntoli went from playing the adored Nick Burkhardt on Grimm for six years to playing Eddie Saville on ABC's A Million Little Things, a character that isn't the most liked by fans of the show - he was sleeping with his best friend's wife before said best friend committed suicide.

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The show delayed because of the CMA awards. Fans are disappointed dissapointed

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While it's luckily not taking a million weeks off, ABC's "A Million Little Things" is still going on a short vacation. The freshman drama won't be airing new episodes for two weeks, beginning tonight. It'll return on Nov. 28 with Season 1, episode 8, titled "Fight or Flight."

When it comes back on, Maggie's (Allison Miller) friends will finally learn what viewers have known for a while now: her cancer's back. Not only will she have to face their reactions, but she'll also be dealing with nightmares that force her to deal with a past trauma.

"Gary [James Roday] seeks help from an unexpected someone in order to make one final attempt at convincing Maggie to get treatment, but everything comes to a head at Regina [Christina Marie Moses] and Delilah's [Stephanie Szostak] first tasting party at the new restaurant, leaving this circle of friends to wonder if things will ever be the same," the synopsis reveals of what else is to come in the new episode.

Instead of a new "A Million Little Things" tonight, ABC is airing the 52nd Annual CMA Awards, which Brad Paisley and Carrie Underwood are once again hosting. The event begins at 8 p.m. EST and is expected to end around 11:35 p.m. EST.

As for next Wednesday, Nov. 21, repeat episodes of "The Goldbergs" and "Single Parents" will broadcast during the drama's usual 10 p.m. EST time slot. For the former, it'll be a rerun of the Season 5 episode, "A Wall Street Thanksgiving," just in time for the holiday. For the latter, its second episode, about Douglas (Brad Garrett) hosting a sleepover for the kids, will air.
"A Million Little Things" returns to ABC with Season 1, episode 8 on Nov. 28 at 10 p.m. EST.

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Is 'A Million Little Things' On Tonight? CMA Awards Delays Episode 8

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While it's luckily not taking a million weeks off, ABC's "A Million Little Things" is still going on a short vacation. The freshman drama won't be airing new episodes for two weeks, beginning tonight. It'll return on Nov. 28 with Season 1, episode 8, titled "Fight or Flight."

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The news of the pick up of the series

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ABC has ordered the drama " A Million Little Things " for the 2018-2019 season.

The order marks the network's first pickup for one of its pilot this year. The series centers on a group of friends from Boston who bonded under unexpected circumstances. Some have achieved success, others are struggling in their careers and relationships, but all of them feel stuck in life. After one of them dies unexpectedly, it's just the wake-up call the others need to finally start living. Along the way they discover that friends may be the one thing to save them from themselves.

The series stars David Giuntoli as Eddie, Ron Livingston as Jon, Romany Malco as Rome, Allison Miller as Maggie, Christina Moses as Regina, Christina Ochoa as Ashley, James Roday as Gary, Stephanie Szostak as Delilah, and Lizzy Greene as Sophie.

DJ Nash serves as the writer and executive producer. Aaron Kaplan and Dana Honor of Kapital Entertainment are also executive producers. James Griffiths is the director on the pilot and an executive producer. ABC Studios and Kapital produce.

" A Million Little Things " joins fellow new ABC dramas "The Rookie" starring Nathan Fillion and "Take Two" starring Rachel Bilson and Eddie Cibrian, both of which were ordered straight-to-series. The network has also ordered a spinoff of "The Goldbergs" set in the 1990s. Previously, the network also renewed the shows "The Goldbergs," "The Good Doctor," "Grey's Anatomy," "Modern Family," and "Roseanne."
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ABC Orders Drama 'A Million Little Things' to Series

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ABC has ordered the drama " A Million Little Things " for the 2018-2019 season. The order marks the network's first pickup for one of its pilot this year. The series centers on a group of friends from Boston who bonded under unexpected circumstances.

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The author of the book the show was based on.

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The Paperback of the A Million Little Things by Susan Mallery at Barnes & Noble. FREE Shipping on $25.0 or more!

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The networks description of the show

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Watch A Million Little Things TV Show - ABC.com

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Watch the official A Million Little Things online at ABC.com. Get exclusive videos, blogs, photos, cast bios, free episodes

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A group of loved ones mourn the unexpected death of the individual who was keeping them all together. The entire scene is a bit racially diverse, but still solidly upper-middle class. There's a twist that changes the entire way you view the series. Yes, this is definitely the premise of NBC's juggernaut of a family drama, This Is Us. But, it's also the framework holding up ABC's biggest bet of the fall season A Million Little Things.

A Million Things, premiering Wednesday, September 26, is This Is Us with a twist, and everyone who loves the Pearson clan will be crying right along with television's newest melodramatic crew this year.

As This Is Us' millions of fans know, the series hinged on the mystery of Jack Pearson (Milo Ventimiglia) for 32 episodes, leaving us to wonder the cause of the Papa Pearson's death until the final leg of the series' second season.

A Million Little Things doesn't play that specific grim game of "How Did He Die?" with viewers (instead, it plays " Why Did He Die?"). The drama revolves around a group of men who become best friends after getting stuck in an elevator together a decade prior. In the years since, the men, made up by real estate wheeler-and-dealer Jon (Ron Livingston), commercial director Rome (Romany Malco), guitar instructor Eddie ( Grimm's David Giuntoli), and Official Snarky Friend Gary ( Psyche 's James Roday), have thrived side-by-side, growing families, going to hockey games, and supporting each other through rocky times.

Then, tragedy strikes in the first few minutes of the pilot, when we learn the crew's emotional pillar, successful Jon, has died by suicide. As proof A Million is just as obsessed with the emotionally macabre as Us, Rome learns of his longtime friend's death in the middle of his own attempted suicide, as previews confirm. Immediately, Rome spits out the legion of prescription pills he had stuffed in his mouth. It's visceral.

The pilot then sets the scene for what A Million Things will become in the wake of Jon's death. The core cast all has their own battles to face, whether we're talking about alcoholism, marriage troubles, suicidal depression, the constant threat of cancer, or plain old grief. Yes, all of these crisis come up in about 42 minutes of television. These men also have wives and girlfriends who just might be more compelling than the core four dudes. Creator DJ Nash assured Refinery29 that Eddie's wife Katherine (Grace Park), who is sketched as an emotionless ice queen in the pilot, will get some sympathetic shading in an early season 1 episode.

But with all of this abject darkness, there must also be light. That comes in the form of shockingly emotional speeches or grand gestures. Despite Jon's death, he is usually the one sharing this saccharine rumination on the human spirit thanks to video footage and, a Pearson family favorite, flashbacks. Sometimes though, Rome, Eddie, and Gary do get to show off their own chops as teary, vulnerable leading men.

Like This Is Us, all of this emotionality is not enough to power a TV pilot in 2018 anymore. So, there are also a few twists, chief among them some leading details pointing towards why Jon would ever end his life. But this isn't 13 Reasons Why, a teen show built to allow Hannah Baker (Katherine Langford) to detail the many high school torments that led to her own suicide. While 13 Reasons Why does paint a portrait of a tortured girlhood, hounded by misogyny and sexual assault, even the Netflix series came under fire for claiming there could ever be "reason" for someone to die by suicide. Rather, suicidal depression is a complicated, layered mental health crisis - not a puzzle box to be solved.

Over a year after 13 Reasons first caused such waves, it's a bit jarring to see an entire primetime drama treat such a tragedy as a mere mystery. Especially when adults, who would hopefully know better, are at the center of the story.

The other surprise of A Million Little Things is that it's entirely possible you may not like some of these characters. In the same way Kevin Pearson (Justin Hartley) started off as a bit of a brat, and a sizable faction of viewers prayed his twin Kate (Chrissy Metz) wouldn't marry Toby Damon (Chris Sullivan), some of Jon's closest friends come off less-than-stellar. We learn almost immediately one person is a philanderer. Gary's snark manifests as callousness more often than is charming. Even Jon himself may seem inexplicably preachy at times in flashback.

But, that's all apparently a part of A Million Little Thing's process. After all, if you hate some of these characters now, the tears will come even harder when A Million Little Things tricks you into loving them. That's why it's unlikely the ABC drama and This Is Us will compete for a fan's heart - they'll share it in the same way Jon, Eddie, Rome, and Gary shared their secrets in that fated elevator.

Looking for more theories, recaps, and insider info on all things TV? Join our Facebook group, Binge Club. The community is a space for you to share articles, discuss last night's episode of your favorite show, or ask questions! Join here.

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A "Million Little Things" Review: Is It "This Is Us" 2.0?

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A group of loved ones mourn the unexpected death of the individual who was keeping them all together. The entire scene is a bit racially diverse, but still solidly upper-middle class. There's a twist that changes the entire way you view the series.

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After the guys became close, the girls became best friends, always supporting each other

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The friendship that started based on the connection of sports.

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Cast photo: displays the diversity of the cast.

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The trailer for the season 1 of A Million Little Things

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Official Full Trailer - A Million Little Things