The original post: /r/television by /u/Theoriginalisaac on 2025-04-27 23:54:18.
Let’s be honest—Dan Fogelman is a problematic showrunner. While he hasn’t engaged in the same toxic behavior as others (looking at you, Schneider), his decisions severely hurt This Is Us in its final seasons. The most glaring issue? Casting his wife, Caitlin Thompson, in a pivotal romantic role—one that demanded serious chemistry with the male lead. Instead of auditioning talented actresses who could’ve elevated the storyline, Fogelman prioritized nepotism over quality, and it showed.
NBC had every opportunity to recast for Season 5 and salvage the arc, but they didn’t. And let’s not pretend this is harmless—it’s a disservice to viewers and hardworking actors who actually had to earn their roles.
The same pattern is playing out elsewhere. Take House of the Dragon: when director Miguel Sapochnik stepped back to a producer role (after failing to secure his wife a producing credit), the show’s quality nosedived. Coincidence? Unlikely. When personal agendas overshadow creative integrity, the art suffers.
I’ll give credit where it’s due—Paradise seems solid. But Fogelman’s track record proves he’s too comfortable blurring the line between professional merit and personal gain. If showrunners keep abusing their power like this, we’ll keep getting weaker storytelling.