15 Reasons 'This Is Us' Is The New 'Grey's Anatomy'

Chances are you're totally obsessed with the new drama This Is Us. If you're not, you should be kind of ashamed of yourself. The show stars Mandy Moore and Milo Ventimiglia as the parents to three adorable and awesome kids played by Justin Hartley, Chrissy Metz, and Sterling K. Brown. You definitely have some BFFs who are completely into this show and are always begging you to start watching so you can dish about it. So you really have no reason not to tune in. It's sweet, it's sad, and it's never, ever boring. It's basically the best show ever and you probably are wondering how you ever lived without it. You hate that there is only one episode out every week because if it was up to you, you would binge an entire season in one afternoon. It's tragic that you have to wait because you're always in withdrawal.

You may think that This Is Us is totally unique -- and it definitely is. But there's another show that you can actually compare it to. Here are 15 reasons why This Is Us is the new Grey's Anatomy.

15 They're Both About Families

Sure, Grey's Anatomy may SEEM to be about a bunch of doctors working at a hospital. But it is really about a family. Sorry to be so cheesy but it is the best thing about the show when you think about it. Meredith is at the center of it all and has her people around her, from her real family members (sisters Maggie and Amelia) to friends that have become like relatives (Alex, Richard, Bailey, etc). Everyone seems to have lived in Meredith's house at one point or another which really adds to the whole warm and fuzzy vibe. This Is Us is LITERALLY about a family -- mom Rebecca, dad Jack, and "the big three" kids Randall, Kate, and Kevin. So the two shows have that in common and it is pretty awesome. Family dramas really are the greatest to watch. Just think about how wonderful Parenthood was (R.I.P.).

14 They're Both SUPER Emotional

If you can get through an episode of This Is Us without crying (and by crying that would be sobbing hysterically), you are the biggest liar in the world. It is an incredibly emotional show that really gets to you. You care about the characters SO much and you can barely even handle it. You feel like they are your friends or even your own family members and you really want to make sure that they succeed and wind up happy. You feel the same way about the characters on Grey's Anatomy which is another extremely emotional show. So This Is Us is DEFINITELY the new Grey's Anatomy when you think about it. You definitely cry sometimes when watching Grey's, even if you would never admit it because you love Meredith and wow has she been through some really horrible and sad and tragic things. You just can't even deal with all your emotions.

13 You Get Invested ASAP

When you watched the pilot of Grey's Anatomy a million years ago (which is not even that dramatic because the show premiered in 2005), you were invested right away. You loved the characters, the whole vibe of the series, and you wanted to be best friends with Meredith. Or maybe you thought that you WERE her, depending on your life and experiences. It was a pretty awesome thing because there is nothing better than watching a new show and realizing that you are totally and hopelessly in love. You can think about all the great episodes ahead of you and it is awesome. This Is Us is definitely the new Grey's Anatomy because, with both of these shows, you have been interested in the storylines, the people and the show in general from the very first episode. Even from the very first scene to be honest. You can't even decide which storyline is your favorite because it is all amazing!

12 They're Both Long-Running Shows

Okay, so This Is Us is currently in its first season, but chances are it's going to be a super long-running series since it was recently renewed for SEASON TWO AND SEASON THREE. It was the best news ever for fans since that literally never happens. It's a guarantee that you will be able to keep watching this lovely show for at least two more seasons and that kind of commitment is just the best. Grey's Anatomy is definitely one of the longest-running shows out there. It's currently in its 13th season and not only that but it was just renewed for a 14th. So you can be sure that you will be watching Meredith and the gang for even more time. Just think about how great it is that you get to watch two amazing and emotional shows for so many more seasons and so many new years. It's basically like winning the TV lottery.

11 There Are DREAMY Guys

If you want another reason to compare This Is Us to Grey's Anatomy, think about this: both series have dreamy guys. Just call Jack McDreamy 2.0. On Grey's Anatomy, you have an endless number of hot men to look at and it is pretty awesome. From McDreamy to McStreamy (R.I.P.) to Alex and DeLuca and Owen, there is a lot of eye candy. This Is Us has some dreamy guys as well. Jack, Randall, and Kevin are all super hot. They really are. Of course, if you are watching because you are in love with Jack (aka Jess from Gilmore Girls), you are probably not alone. That must have been what attracted a lot of fans to the show in the first place. Thankfully, the show turned out to be AMAZING and so you are still watching, but the cute males definitely don't hurt and definitely keep you excited to watch every week.

10 There Are CRAZY Plot Twists

It goes without saying that is a MAJOR SPOILER but you should be watching this show and so you really have zero excuse for not knowing this plot line. The biggest plot twist on This Is Us (well, at least it's the biggest one yet) was at the end of the second episode. Years into the future, you see Rebecca showing up to visit her kids… and her husband Jack isn't standing behind her. Instead, you learned that she re-married and her new husband is none other than Jack's BFF Miguel. This was a rough moment for you and the other fans since you love Jack and you can't imagine him not being with Rebecca. Of course, Grey's Anatomy also has a TON of plot twists and they are just as crazy. They are often storylines that you would never, ever guess and that you really bow down to Shonda Rhimes about since she is the queen of drama. So when you think about it like that, these two shows have a lo more in common than you might have thought.

9 There Are Epic Love Stories

There are definitely amazing romantic storylines on both of these shows. Of course, the most romantic storyline of all on Grey's Anatomy was the long-term relationship of Meredith and Derek. They originally hooked up after meeting in a bar in the pilot and then Meredith realized that he's essentially her boss at the hospital. OOPS. Then they fell in love and it was obvious that they were totally meant to be together. Of course, things weren't always super simple for them and they were definitely more dramatic than any IRL relationship would be. Meredith is all dark and twisty and she's got a lot of things to deal with at any given moment, and Derek had his own issues (like the fact that he had a bit of an ego sometimes -- sorry Derek, still love you but just being honest here). Then there was their post-it marriage which was just the greatest. On This Is Us, the characters Kate and Toby have an epic love story as well since Toby is a fan of rom-com level grand gestures and always makes sure that she knows how much he cares about her. Awwwww.

8 They're Both Hilarious

Both of these shows are pretty funny. They have a great mix of both humor and tragedy and that's what keeps you coming back and makes sure that you don't get too bummed out. On Grey's Anatomy, there are characters that crack jokes and are super sarcastic and some of them are funnier than they even think that they are or are trying to be. On This Is Us, pretty much everyone is hilarious. Well, Rebecca and Jack seem pretty serious, but that's because most of their storylines are in flashbacks and they were dealing with some serious things like raising kids. But Randall, Kate, and Kevin are so funny, they keep you in stitches and they make the show's heavier scenes and themes a lot easier to deal with. It's always great when a show knows that just because it's technically a drama doesn't mean that humor doesn't have a place.

7 The Main Male Character Dies On Both Shows

You're still upset that Derek died on Grey's Anatomy and that is probably something that will never change. It's an impossible thing to get over, right? He was the main male character and no one can ever fill that void, either in Meredith's heart or on the show in general. Similarly, the main male character has also died on This Is Us. You learned after a while that the reason why Rebecca gets re-married is because Jack passes away. It took quite a few episodes to figure out when he died (it was definitely when the kids were teenagers, as evident from a recent funeral scene) and it is not an easy thing to deal with. You're pretty much outraged about this but the good thing is that you can still see Jack on the show since most of his scenes are all flashbacks. The same thing can't be said about Derek, unfortunately. Sometimes you wish that Derek could come back as a ghost or something. That would just be the greatest thing ever.

6 Both Series Feature Diverse Characters

One awesome thing about Grey's Anatomy (and the other Shonda Rhimes shows) is that there are diverse characters. It is sadly and unfortunately rare that a lot of TV shows have characters that are not white. It is a massive issue that needs to be fixed and fast. So it is great to see characters and actors of different backgrounds on that show. The same thing is true of This Is Us. There are diverse characters like Randall and his wife and two daughters, his biological father William, and Jack's friend/Rebecca's second husband Miguel. Since there are so many different backgrounds in the world, it is really ridiculous that more shows are not as diverse as these two dramas are. There is really no reason for it and it is good that at least these two series understand that television should reflect what the world actually looks like.

5 There Are Hospital Scenes

Of course, Grey's Anatomy is a hospital show. Most of the scenes are in a hospital and the characters are doctors. This Is Us is for sure the new Grey's because there are even some hospital scenes… and some really good ones, too. The pilot had the best ones since Rebecca has a super difficult delivery and Jack has to come to terms with what is going on. He meets Dr. K (aka the most adorable and best doctor ever) and gets a great life lesson. Dr. K tells him that sure, it sucks that one of the babies will not survive and they will have twins instead of triplets, but you have to deal and make the best of any situation in your life. You definitely were super inspired. Well, after you stopped crying, at least. Dr. K has shown up a few more times and you always love seeing him. He just always knows what to say.

4 There Are Flashbacks

Flashbacks sound fun in theory because you definitely want to see what your favorite characters were doing before you "met" them on the show. Unfortunately, sometimes flashbacks are the WORST and you wonder how such a good show could screw up so much. It can be kind of scary how bad they are. Thankfully, both of these shows use flashbacks -- and really awesome ones, too. Grey's Anatomy has used flashbacks to show what it was like for Meredith to grow up and to showcase her late mom's illness. The show recently had a flashback-heavy episode that was mostly about Richard. This Is Us is essentially made up of flashbacks since every single episode has two parts: the present day which features Randall, Kevin, and Kate and the past which features Rebecca and Jack (and usually the kids at various stages, or else Rebecca is still pregnant or they haven't made the decision to have a family yet).

3 There Are Quiet Moments

Sometimes the best TV shows have quiet moments that are totally beautiful and really inspiring. Both of these shows have done that and it's what keeps you watching. On Grey's, there have been so many small moments that different characters have shared. Maybe it was people that you never thought would be nice to each other or get along. Maybe it was someone letting their guard down. It could be anything but it always gets you right in your heart which was probably the point (so sneaky). On This Is Us, you usually witness these small moments with Randall since he's such a sweet, adorable character and he's not into screaming or anything like that. When he's upset, you can see it all over his face and his character development and storylines are a lot more subtle than some of the others. You sometimes see those moments with Kevin, though, especially in a recent episode when you learned that he has been in love with someone named Sophie since he was a child. OMG so cute.

2 The Storytelling Is Top Notch

Let's be real here, sometimes you watch shows that are definitely pretty terrible. They could be reality shows and then that's the reason that you watch them, or maybe they're dramas or comedies and you're watching to laugh at them for all the wrong reasons. The cool thing about both Grey's Anatomy and This Is Us is that the storytelling is amazing. You watch and trust that the writers and creators and producers know what they are doing and that they will take you on a beautiful journey that you will be so glad that you went on. On Grey's, you have watched Meredith become a more confident woman who can handle whatever life throws her way, and you have also watched the other characters grow up and come into their own. Just look at Alex -- he's definitely become a better person and that is some real character development right there. On This Is Us, the storytelling is super epic since every episode jumps through different time periods and it's just so well-done. That's not easy to do.

1 Both Shows Deal With Serious Themes

The final reason that Grey's Anatomy and This Is Us have a ton in common and that This Is Us is the new version? Both shows deal with serious, important themes. Sure, both shows have some funny moments and lighter scenes, but for the most part, they are trying to tell a very serious and interesting story. On Grey's, that story would be Meredith's journey into adulthood -- it's kind of a coming-of-age story when you think about it -- and how she can come to terms with her issues with her late mother. Is she going to end up like her? What kind of doctor and person is she meant to be? On This Is Us, every single character is trying to find themselves and become happy. They are trying to do the right thing even in the worst kinds of situations and circumstances. You're definitely super happy that while thankfully Grey's Anatomy isn't going anywhere anytime soon, you have another favorite show in This Is Us. Now can the next episode hurry up already?!