Next up is a look at why I think Miguel Rivas is an Enneagram 2. Enneagram 2s are commonly referred to as “The Helper.” This type shows the most genuine interest in helping others. They believe helping is the path to love. That said, their desire to be seen as helpful can sometimes outweigh their actual helpfulness. If you would like to learn more about the Enneagram 2 in detail, check out The Enneagram Institute or Truity for complete profiles.*
Remember that this post contains spoilers, so don’t continue if you haven’t finished the series. It also does not go in any particular order in terms of episodes or chronology.
When we first meet Miguel Rivas on This Is Us, he’s listening to Jack Pearson vent about his wife Rebecca to his best friend. By the end of the same episode, we find that (a much older) Miguel is now married to Rebecca Pearson. Quite a jump with little explanation! Of course, throughout the series we learn how this came to be. I believe this is at least partly to do with the fact that Miguel is an Enneagram 2.
His First Encounter with Jack
The first time Jack meets Miguel on the show is while shopping for a jacket to wear to dinner with Rebecca and her parents at their club. Miguel is the salesman in the store where Jack goes. When he learns that Jack can’t afford what he needs, Miguel lets him “borrow” the jacket (Season 4, Episode 1.) Seems like the generosity of a classic Helper to me!
Miguel’s Workaholism
Being a workaholic is more likely to be seen as a Type 3 trait, and it’s possible that Miguel has a 3 wing that contributes here. We learn that at least part of the end of Miguel’s marriage to his first wife, and the fact that his kids are angry at him, is because he spent so much time working. The fact that he wasn’t heaping attention on his wife and kids may seem rather un-Two-like. However, the motivation behind him working all the time was to support and provide for his family. It wasn’t about accolades or attention… it was about helping his family, which is much more indicative of an Enneagram 2.
Being There for Rebecca
After Jack dies, Miguel is Rebecca’s number one support figure. There is never a question in Miguel’s mind that he will do whatever he can for Rebecca and The Big Three. Even though he is also grieving the loss of his best friend, he is almost compulsive in his efforts to provide what Rebecca needs. This ultimately ends up in denying his own desires for so long that he moves to Texas because he doesn’t know how to stay and deal with the feelings he has developed for Rebecca (Season 6, Episode 7.)
Winning Over “The Big Three”
Enneagram 2s want to be loved, needed, and included. Miguel is no exception. Throughout the series, we see him attempt to bond with “The Big Three.” He clearly has a strong desire to be accepted by the Pearson kids as part of the family. It is also no easy feat to win over your dead best friend’s kids after you marry their mother. You can see this in Season 1, Episode 8 when trying to bond with Kevin, who sarcastically rejects his attempt. We also see it in Miguel’s request to wear the “Pilgrim Rick” hat, which is a Pearson family tradition. It isn’t until much later in the series when the Pearson kids, especially Kevin, come to accept and appreciate Miguel.
Taking Care of Rebecca
The clearest evidence Miguel Rivas is an Enneagram 2 comes when Rebecca’s Alzheimer’s is progressing. All Miguel wants to do is take care of his wife. It is very difficult for him to accept outside help when he is capable of taking care of her on his own. We see his struggle even more so in Season 6, Episode 15. Miguel is desperate to take care of Rebecca in spite of his own needs and hardships due to his age and health. It is at this point that the Pearson kids must intervene so he can take care of himself. It is also when he is finally convinced of the love and acceptance that he always wanted from them.
So, Is Miguel Rivas an Enneagram 2?
I think that he is. From being there for his best friend to his selfless care-taking of his sick wife, Miguel shows what it is to be an Enneagram 2. Even though his motivation may be to feel love himself, he is genuine in his desire to help and take care of others. He sincerely cares for others, and he does what he can to make sure they know it. These traits demonstrate the Enneagram 2 desire to be loved and accepted, and “earning” that through helping others.
* I also utilize The Wisdom of the Enneagram for analysis
