Join or Sign In
Sign in to customize your TV listings
By joining TV Guide, you agree to our Terms of Use and acknowledge the data practices in our Privacy Policy.
This Is Us Season 1 Episodes
Season 1 Episode Guide
18 Episodes 2016 - 2017
Episode 1
Pilot
Tue, Sep 20, 201643 mins
Those that are celebrating their 36th birthday today include: Jack, whose wife Rebecca is expecting triplets, which will be their first children; Randall, who has made a financial success of his life despite being abandoned by his unknown father at a firehall when he was a newborn; and twins Kevin and Kate, whose lives have taken divergent paths based solely on appearance, with "model good looks" actor Kevin having a lucrative lead role in a mindless sitcom called "Man-ny", the role which often requires him to be shirtless, and obese Kate wallowing in the difficulties in her life, those difficulties because of her weight. On this specific day, Rebecca goes into labor, six weeks premature, meaning that the children will have the same birthday as Jack. The stress from what is already considered a difficult pregnancy is ratcheted up a notch when Rebecca's regular doctor becomes incapacitated, leaving her in the care of a doctor she's never met, Dr. Katowski - "Dr. K" - he a septuagenarian at that. Regardless, Jack lets Dr. K know in no uncertain terms that losing either Rebecca or any of the three children is not an option. Through the work of a private detective, Randall discovers the name and whereabouts of his biological father, William. Randall had not thought through the implications of this discovery, including the impact on his and his family's life IF he decides to take the next step in meeting/confronting his father. Kevin and Kate have generally taken the path of least resistance to get to where they are. Each may end up taking a chance divergent from that normal path, Kevin's with regard to his career, and Kate's with regard to romance in the form of a wisecracking fellow support group member named Toby.
Episode 2
The Big Three
Tue, Sep 27, 201643 mins
Jack and Rebecca's kids are now eight, and Jack and Rebecca are having and have had continuing issues concerning all three. On top of it all, Rebecca has been doing all the heavy lifting keeping peace in the family, while Jack has been the best dad whenever he has been around, which is not very often, and becoming less and less so on his own initiative in not wanting to deal with the problems while he drowns his sorrows at a bar with Miguel. The question becomes if their family can withstand all these stresses on it. Meanwhile, Kevin discovers that leaving "Man-ny" is not as easy as just saying that he is quitting the show, as he has a binding two year contract. He is forced to attend a Hollywood party to ask the network bigwigs for forgiveness, something, because of his utter contempt for the show, he isn't sure he can do despite the consequences on his lucrative career. He wants Kate to go to the party with him for support, something she is resisting if only because of feeling self-conscious at a function where all the gorgeous people will be in attendance, while Toby wants her to go and take him with her so as not to make their relationship all about the common issue that brought them together, namely their weight problems. And Randall has welcomed William to his home so that he can help William get some proper health care for his advanced stomach cancer. Although she outwardly supports her husband in the matter, Beth can''t help but not trust William, believing he is using the "bus fare" that Randall provides him to buy drugs on what end up being his hours' long absences each day.
Episode 3
Kyle
Tue, Oct 11, 201643 mins
Jack and Rebecca have just taken the babies home from the hospital. While Jack is focused on moving on with their lives, Rebecca can't help but think about the one they lost and if their adopted son, who they've named Kyle - all the babies named after Dr. K - is a replacement for the one who didn't make it. As such, Rebecca is having problems bonding with Kyle, while Kevin and Kate seem truly to be parts of each other and of her and Jack. Rebecca believes that the man she spots at the hospital may help her alleviate at least part of her apprehension about taking Kyle as their own. Back in present day, Rebecca and Miguel's surprise visit places a slight crimp in Randall's plan in how he was going to tell his mother about finding his biological father. Although Randall doesn't believe she said anything unforeseen, Randall knows that something Rebecca said to William in the private conversation she requested with him has something to do with William's change in behavior. William having been in their house for a week now, Beth reminds Randall that they still know basically nothing about him beyond his stomach cancer. Randall will soon have to make a decision about how much he will let William into their lives for what time he has left. And Kate learns that what she believed was Kevin's flippant comment about moving to New York to try and get work on Broadway was indeed what he plans to do, which in their world means her also moving to New York being both his personal assistant and soul mate of a twin. Kate's focus on her brother doesn't sit well with Toby, who wants Kate to do things for Kate, especially when he catches her in a unguarded moment. Toby believes he has yet another way to make Kate feel the special person that he believes she is, in this case with her being able to do something for herself instead of Kevin.
Episode 4
The Pool
Tue, Oct 18, 201643 mins
Jack and Rebecca's kids are now eight. A heatwave is sweeping through the region, so Jack, to take refuge from the heat, suggests the family spend the day at the public pool. At the overcrowded pool, Jack and Rebecca not only display the continuing problems they feel they are having parenting three diverse kids the same age, but the three kids deal with their own issues with Kevin, whose problems may be the least obvious, shows partly why he has always felt some animosity toward Randall. In present day, a growing rift of sorts forms between Randall and William with Randall dealing with life as a black man having been raised in a middle class white household in a middle class white neighborhood, while William, still attired in his somewhat shabby clothes, is now living in an upscale neighborhood having long fought for the rights of the underprivileged black population. Randall may get a feeling of his childhood as the family attends Tess' school production. Kevin goes for his first Broadway play audition. Although he states he doesn't want to bring the baggage of a Los Angeles actor into his new stage life, he may not be able to put behind that Hollywood acting perspective as hard as he tries, and in the process may hit the realities of Broadway in its good and bad. And now unemployed Kate faces another crisis of self doubt when she sees from afar Toby's ex-wife, a skinny, successful woman. In Kate dealing with her feelings about the issue, an unexpected opportunity occurs for her while Toby demonstrates that he too has issues with which he needs support from people in his life like Kate.
Episode 5
The Game Plan
Tue, Oct 25, 201642 mins
The story behind the love for the Pittsburgh Steelers is revealed; Rebecca and Jack argue about starting a family; Randall and Beth experience an unexpected turn of events.
Episode 6
Career Days
Tue, Nov 1, 201643 mins
Jack and Rebecca's kids are nine. Randall has just tested as being academically gifted, which belies his average report card marks. The school administration recommends to Jack and Rebecca that they send him to a private school for gifted children. Jack balks at the notion, not wanting Randall to feel even more obviously different in what he considers an even whiter environment than their own local public school, where Randall is already the only black child but who has at least his two siblings. Beyond the fact that Jack admits that he worries about how to pay for a private school, especially as he was considering forgoing a promotion to form his own company, Jack may not want to admit that he has ulterior motives regarding Randall's private school opportunity that relate to more personal issues in his own being. In present day, Randall begins to feel that he and his work as a weather commodity trader are not the match he always thought it was as he prepares to give a talk at career day at Tess' school. Part of that feeling is learning that William has a musical background, something that Randall places as a romantic ideal for himself. Kate applies for what she believes is the perfect job for her, that as assistant to Marin Rosenthal, who runs a foundation. Kate is excited to get the job. However, she begins to feel that Marin had ulterior motives for hiring her. As such, Kate makes a risky on-the-job move. And Kevin is having problems feeling the grief associated with a certain scene in the play. Olivia believes she knows what Kevin needs to feel that grief: a party.
Episode 7
The Best Washing Machine in the Whole World
Tue, Nov 15, 201642 mins
Jack and Rebecca's kids are in their mid-teens. Kevin and Randall are still sharing a bedroom, as they've done all their lives. Kevin's animosity toward his brother over what he sees as especially his mother's favoritism toward him has continued, although Kevin has never mentioned his feelings to anyone, let alone his mother or Randall, while Randall has tried to be his brother's friend to no avail. Kevin being a good football player, the one area that has been his domain alone among his siblings, changes when Randall makes his school's team. Their feelings toward each other may hit new heights on the gridiron. And now that the kids are grown, Rebecca resumes her singing career, she having put it on hold as she played full-time mom. This area of her life may be more important to her than she lets on. In present time, Kevin and Randall have a dinner planned with their mother. Rebecca cancels at the last minute, leaving the brothers to have dinner together by themselves. This "two for dinner" scenario may be an uncomfortable one, as Beth has noticed that ever since Kevin has been staying with them, the brothers never spend time together just by themselves, they always needing at least a third as a buffer. With the brothers out, Beth gets a chance to spend some quality time with William. That time takes a few unexpected turns. And Kate is outwardly happy for Toby in he making his monthly weight loss goal early, while she has been working hard on her own weight loss, only to be inwardly disappointed that it has only resulted in a marginal weight loss. The differences between Toby and Kate with regard to their weight loss regimen may be a relationship breaker, but not quite in the expected way.
Episode 8
Pilgrim Rick
Tue, Nov 22, 201643 mins
As Jack, Rebecca and the three kids make their way to Rebecca's parents' house for their traditional Thanksgiving holiday, an unforeseen detour occurs. Kate makes two drastic life changing decisions. Kevin brings Olivia to Randall's house for Thanksgiving. Randall's heart is broken when he learns about a lifelong secret his mother has kept from him.
Episode 9
The Trip
Tue, Nov 29, 201643 mins
It's the day after Thanksgiving, and Randall is still reeling over the revelation that Rebecca knew where William was his entire life. Randall's anger is primarily directed at Rebecca but is not limited to her, as he realizes that William had some part in the decision. Randall believes that Jack didn't know about William's existence, and may or may not be aware that Jack tried to provide male black role models for him when he was growing up and looking for "who he was" inherently. Based on news from Rebecca during Thanksgiving dinner that she is selling the family cabin - a place Kevin, Kate and Randall love but haven't been to in years - they feel it is an appropriate time for an overnight sibling getaway, which will allow them also figuratively to get away from all their issues. The figurative memo about it being a getaway for three doesn't reach Kevin, who casually invites Olivia, who in turn brings an ex named Asher, and Sloane if only because she is the one with a car. Under this situation, the getaway becomes a bunch of mini therapy sessions, where individuals provide their objective perspective of what they see of others around them, or venting about issues concerning others. Randall's primary therapist at the cabin may give him a better view of his life and his mother. Kate, while reverting to her old role as Kevin's protector, turns to familiar territory for support. Kate also gets some wanted and unwanted perspectives of her life, especially with regard to her decision to have gastric bypass surgery. And within this setting, Kevin may have a clearer picture of his feelings for Olivia.
Episode 10
Last Christmas
Tue, Dec 6, 201643 mins
It's Christmas Eve, a day that, at least philosophically, nothing bad ever happens in the Pearson family. The family is convening at Randall and Beth's for dinner, including Rebecca with whom Randall has made up, he at least understanding why she did what she did. However, things for the family members don't go according to the plan to make it to Randall and Beth's - that "nothing bad" which may not apply this year. Before dinner, Randall and Beth themselves are attending an annual work function, at which Randall, going through a mid-life crisis associated with all that is going on in his life, has purchased a boat from his business colleague, Andy. William is attending a Narcotics Anonymous meeting, not so much for the meeting itself, but to reconnect with someone from his recent past, that reconnection which may take priority over spending Christmas Eve with his biological family. Kevin has given his last-minute regrets to Randall, as he, out of "owing her one," has to attend Hanukkah dinner with Sloane and her family. Part of that obligation is because they have just learned that the show is shutting down since Olivia walked out on the production after the fallout with Kevin at Thanksgiving. Kate, with a worried Rebecca at her side, has a meeting with her physician to discuss the good, and perhaps more the bad, of proceeding with the gastric bypass surgery. The emotions of the meeting lead to Kate canceling on dinner at the last minute, and Rebecca and Kate talking about joint events in their life which has led to where they currently are as mother and daughter, those events including Kate's ninth Christmas when a bout of appendicitis resulted in her and the rest of the family spending Christmas Eve at the hospital. But perhaps everything that happens today was meant to be, just as Kate's appendicitis on Christmas Eve was meant for Jack and Rebecca to reconnect with Dr. K at the hospital, he whom they had not seen since the children were born.
Episode 11
The Right Thing to Do
Tue, Jan 10, 201742 mins
Jack and Rebecca's first instincts upon learning of Rebecca's pregnancy are for Rebecca not to turn out like her judgmental passive/aggressive mother who still drives her crazy, or for Jack not to turn out like his physically and emotionally abusive father. Jack is estranged from his widowed father, who knows nothing about Jack's current life. By the end of Rebecca's first trimester by which time they've prepared somewhat for their new life as parents including renting a two bedroom sixth floor walk-up apartment they can ill afford, they learn that Rebecca is carrying triplets. Knowing that the apartment is impractical for three babies and not having the financial means for three children at this time, each of Jack and Rebecca make decisions about their life as parents for which they may not be emotionally prepared, but which they know they have to do to make it under the circumstances. In present day, things with the play seem to be going well with Kevin and Sloane now co-financing the production, and Ron complimenting them on their performances, which is probably aided by the fact that they are in a relationship off the stage, one however that is still undefined. Their lives are thrown for a loop when Olivia returns, she stating as a changed woman, one who not only wants back in on the production but who wants to resume her personal relationship with Kevin. After Kevin decides what to do about the dilemma, one statement that he makes to Olivia may define what ultimately happens. Randall admits that he is having a hard time with William's news that he is bisexual and was in a committed relationship with Jessie, the two who have resumed that relationship. Not understanding why he is having such a hard time, Randall may come closer to the truth than his initial assumption that he is homophobic. And Toby, who is in the hospital, learns that his collapse was a heart arrhythmia caused by the fact that he has a small hole in his heart. The affliction can be treated by medication or repaired by what is now a standard surgery, which still has its risks in that is heart surgery. A scared Toby and Kate have to decide not only what to do in dealing with the issue, but with their relationship in light of it, complicated by a declaration that Toby makes.
Episode 12
The Big Day
Tue, Jan 17, 201745 mins
It's August 31, 1980. Three parallel stories are told. In story one, Rebecca is thirty-three weeks pregnant, and the small pleasures which both she and Jack found in her early pregnancy have changed at least for Rebecca to what seems to be the constant verge of a total emotional breakdown. Regardless, Jack is still trying to keep her spirits up in any way he can. On this day, all Rebecca wants is to be alone, she banishing Jack from the house. In doing so, she doesn't realize that it is his thirty-sixth birthday, he who was looking forward to her annual birthday gift of a sexy Marilyn Monroe styled dance to him wearing only his birthday suit. In his banishment, Jack turns to Miguel for support and advice, Miguel, a father already, who may be able to provide some wisdom out of experience. In story two, Dr. K is both looking forward and not looking forward to a visit from one of his sons, Peter, and his family. Dr. K knows that Peter and his wife Alli will once again try to get him to move on with his life, his wife of fifty-three years, Caroline, who passed away fourteen months ago from cancer. Still talking to Caroline at the breakfast table every morning and having not thrown out any of her prescription medications, Dr. K is closer to wanting to end his life than he is to moving on without Caroline, despite an old friend, Anne, offering him her friendship. In story three, Joe, a fireman, looks to God to repair his long broken marriage to his wife, Samantha. He still loves her, or at least loves the memory of how he felt the first day he met her. That sign from God he believes is something he finds that is left outside the fire hall that day. These three stories will intersect by the end of the day, which will vastly change what looked to be the trajectory of each of the individual stories at the beginning of the day.
Episode 13
Three Sentences
Tue, Jan 24, 201743 mins
It's Kevin, Kate and Randall's 10th birthday. Unlike the joint parties their parents usually throw them complete with children's games like pin-the-tail-on-the-donkey, Kevin and Kate request separate preteen bordering on teenaged-themed parties, with which Randall goes along. This request, which their parents oblige, marks what Jack in particular sees as a turning point in their lives as a family. On Jack's initiative, Jack and Rebecca contemplate having more children seeing that their first three are moving onto another stage of their lives. Beyond what Jack and Rebecca see as issues with the resulting parties - some which affect them more than their children, and some which affect their children more than them - the goings-on mark some true turning points in their family dynamic. Kevin, in particular, has what will end up as a defining moment in his life. And Jack and Rebecca decide by the end of the parties if another child is what they really want at this point in their lives. In present day, Kate, seeing Toby having gone through heart surgery, decides to forgo gastric bypass surgery at least for now, in favor of a month-long extreme weight-loss boot camp recommended to her by her doctor. Kate ends up being surprised by the camp in more ways than one, including getting an offer which for most of her life would have been a foreign concept. With Kate away, Toby is left to his own devices in New York, a city which he doesn't know at all. As such, Kate arranges for Kevin to be his companion in her absence. Kevin decides to treat Toby as his new Kate, i.e. his support, which he feels he needs after dumping Olivia, and Sloane in turn dumping him. Toby does offer Kevin a fresh perspective on his love life - trying to get him to choose between Olivia and Sloane as his true love - which he takes to heart. And after Randall sets a twenty-four hour deadline for what could be a career-defining project - that deadline which he is working against an internal competitor - he has to decide if a last-minute request by William is more important, he who has gone off chemotherapy and has renewed energy no longer being affected negatively by the chemicals, but whose days are numbered as a result.
Episode 14
I Call Marriage
Tue, Feb 7, 201743 mins
Toby throws a wrench in Kate's weight loss journey; Randall struggles to accept William's deteriorating health; Miguel and Shelley's devastating news has Jack and Rebecca worried about their own relationship; Kevin examines his romantic past.
Episode 15
Jack Pearson's Son
Tue, Feb 14, 201743 mins
It's the mid-1990s on Valentine's Day. Rebecca has decided to go on tour with the band, for which she has Jack's full support, or so he says. In reality, Jack is already feeling overwhelmed with Rebecca's evening gigs at the bar, which is only exacerbated with both Kevin and Randall going through issues that need to be addressed. As has always been the case, Jack feels he has to be the perfect husband and father, which in his mind means not showing any weakness in doing it all on his own. This day, Miguel - wanting to get back out in the social scene after his breakup with Shelly - will accompany Jack to the bar to hear Rebecca perform with Jack as Miguel's wingman before Jack and Rebecca go out for their annual ritual of their Valentine's Day dinner. An incident at the bar may change Jack's perspective on the entire matter. In present day, each of Jack's three offspring are having issues that channel their deceased father in some aspect. As Jack had felt on that Valentine's Day, Randall too is feeling totally overwhelmed in his general modus operandi of doing it all on his own in being the perfect father, husband, son, and employee. Randall, who has had a nervous breakdown before from internalizing everything, is feeling added pressure from William dealing with a new home care nurse, Beth having to take an emergency trip to DC to assist her injured mother, and Randall himself having an important business meeting at which he doesn't want Sanjay once again to appear better than him. Kate has decided what to do about Duke's offer, which leads to her and Toby deciding that they truly have to get to know each other better in the holistic sense, each of Kate and Toby who have long had a burning question that they've wanted answered about the other. And the opening day of the play has arrived, with Kevin, as always, doubting everything about himself before the curtain goes up. Kevin turns to one person after another for words of encouragement, with all his usual supports - including Kate, Rebecca and now Randall and Sophie - dealing with their own issues to be able to help him. He ultimately receives advice from who he would consider an unexpected source, that advice which affects what he does at curtain time.
Episode 16
Memphis
Tue, Feb 21, 201743 mins
Beth is wary of Randall's plan to drive to Memphis with William, his hometown where many of his, and thus by association Randall's surviving biological relatives still live. Beth's concern is solely because of Randall's nervous breakdown happening one week ago and he only having been out of the hospital for five days. But the trip is a go on the okay by Randall's psychiatrist. With biological father and son alone on the drive, their differences - William being carefree whereas Randall is regimented - may be highlighted. Beyond Randall meeting the family he never knew, he will find that William has some very specific things he needs to do on this trip, Memphis where he has not been in approximately forty years. Due to the reasons behind some of the things he needs to do, William may find that his homecoming is not all heartwarming, mostly around not why he left Memphis for Pittsburgh, but rather he having abandoned his responsibilities in Memphis. Randall will also discover that William has ulterior motives for this trip. Along the way, the spirit of Jack enters into the fray in more ways than one.
Episode 17
What Now?
Tue, Mar 7, 201743 mins
Rebecca is about to head off on her first two-week tour with the band, and the emotional wall that Jack places between him and her because she never told him about having dated Ben when they were younger is noticeable, Rebecca accusing him of being passive-aggressive in his behavior toward her. Kate can see that strain the more than the other kids and does whatever she can to encourage her dad to make things right with her mom before things get out of hand. In present day, Kevin is having his second opening night of the play. He knows that a good review from influential critic Brandon Novak is crucial in whether the play is a success or not. The problem is that Novak has made his intention of not showing known because he attended the first opening which didn't happen, he assumes because Hollywood television star Kevin, used to multiple takes, was ill-prepared for a one-take environment. Kevin has to try and convince Novak to give him a chance for this second opening night. And the entire family is congregating at Randall and Beth's house for William's memorial. William has made his surprising memorial wants known in a note he left hidden at the house. The way that William left for Memphis knowing he was going to die without saying anything leaves one member of the family feeling left out. Rebecca and Randall have to decide if they will discuss the elephant in the room, namely the strain in their relationship due to Rebecca not having told Randall of William's whereabouts as he was growing up. A memorial service of a father may provide the impetus for Kate to open up to Toby about Jack's death. Randall wants his life to show some tangible legacy of William. The events of the day show Randall at least which path not to take to honor his biological father.
Episode 18
Moonshadow
Tue, Mar 14, 201742 mins
1972. Jack has recently returned from the Vietnam War, where he worked as a mechanic. He has been working odd jobs for whatever he will be paid in pursuit of his many goals: to open a garage with his friend Darryl, to move out of his parents' house so that he never has to deal with his abusive father again, and to get his mother out from his father's control. Jack comes to the conclusion that he has to reach for what he wants as opposed to letting life come to him. This attitude takes Jack into some uncharted territory, some risky and dangerous, and others just unexpected. Meanwhile, Rebecca, whose friends are largely getting married or starting families, is focusing on her singing career, she just having produced a demo and singing regularly at open mic nights at bars on the weekends. Because of the small percentage of performers who make it big, Rebecca's friends encourage her to "diversify", namely to place some energy into finding a nice guy to marry which may entail going on some of those blind dates on which her family and friends are always trying to set her up, something she has and is still resisting. Back in 1996, Kate has convinced her father to drive the two hours to Cleveland to watch Rebecca perform in her first out-of-town gig with the band, and in the process to make things right with her. The events of that evening will have a profound effect on Jack and Rebecca's marriage. And in present day, each of Kevin, Kate and Randall come to pivotal points in their lives, the latter two, channeling Rebecca and Jack respectively, who make decisions on where they want certain aspects of their life to go.
