Yes, there are lots of little plot lines, yes there are multiple tv tropes at play and yes it is a tearjerker most episodes. It's also well written dialogue, and has characters that you can root for quickly, and the story lines are fast. It's not full of filler and unnecessary garbage.
I think this is a show designed for today's smart tv viewer who doesn't have to have everything spelled out for them, and who isn't afraid to cry over characters in a tv show.
And not for nothing, if you let it, this show can lead into some thoughtful discussions about some potentially tough subjects, like the best episodes of "This is Us".