The well-written dialogue, strong acting, and use of music in the TV drama, "This Is Us," continue to impress me each week. Last week's show got off to a strong start by using Nick Drake's "Northern Sky" effectively. However, it saved its most effective use of musical underscoring for the end of the episode. As Rebecca, played by Mandy Moore, envisions raising her kids in the fixer-upper of a house that her husband, Jack, played by Milo Ventimiglia, purchased, Labi Siffre's "Watch Me" underscores the scene. The tune's sunny vocals and guitar part emphasize the potential for happiness in raising kids there. As I watched, the guitar line reminded me of Bread's "Make It With You," and Siffre's vocals struck me as an approximation of how Yes might have sounded as a folk-rock group.
It always impresses me when any TV drama pulls off the hat trick of solid writing, acting, and use of music in a poignant scene.
