THIS IS US: The First Season: The Best Washing Machine in the Whole World

Name: THIS IS US: The First Season: The Best Washing Machine in the Whole World
Item: THIS IS US: The First Season: The Best Washing Machine in the Whole World
Author: Steph Manthe

Season 1 Episode 7

Family Content: -2 Extreme caution for older teenagers and adults.

Entertainment Quality:

	None	Light	Moderate	Heavy
Language
Violence
Sex
Nudity

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Content:

(BB, LL, V, N, A, DD, M):

Dominant Worldview and Other Worldview Content/Elements:

Strong moral worldview with an emphasis on the value of family, marriage and children, and the story of Cain and Abel is referenced;

Foul Language:

Nine obscenities and seven profanities;

Violence:

Mild violence with a shoving, wrestling match between two teenage boys, and a shoving, wrestling match occurs between two grown men;

Sex:

No sexual content or immorality, but several couples kiss;

Nudity:

A brief television shot with a shirtless man;

Alcohol Use:

Mild alcohol content with several people shown drinking alcoholic beverages at restaurants;

Smoking and/or Drug Use and Abuse:

No tobacco smoking but a woman shares marijuana brownies with a man who uses it for medical purposes; and,

Miscellaneous Immorality:

Lying, anger, bitterness, jealousy, racism.

Episodes: Season Overview

Number	Date	Title	Content
1.1	9/20/2016	Pilot	-2
1.2	9/27/2016	The Big Three	-2
1.3	10/11/2016	Kyle	-2
1.4	10/18/2016	The Pool	-1
1.5	10/25/2016	The Game Plan	-2
1.6	11/1/2016	Career Days	-2
1.7	11/15/2016	The Best Washing Machine in the Whole World	-2
1.8	11/22/2016	Pilgrim Rick	-1
1.9	11/29/2016	The Trip	-2
1.10	12/6/2016	Last Christmas	-3
1.11	1/10/2017	The Right Thing to Do	-3
1.12	1/17/2016	The Big Day	-2
1.13	1/24/2016	Three Sentences	-1
1.14	2/7/2017	I Call Marriage	-2
1.15	2/14/2017	Jack Pearson’s Son	-1
1.16	2/21/2017	Memphis	-2
1.17	3/17/2017	What Now	-2
1.18	3/14/2017	Moon Shadow	-1

More Detail:

“The Best Washing Machine in the Whole World” is the seventh episode of NBC’s series of THIS IS US. It addresses tense relationship between Kevin and his adopted brother, Randall. Randall is shown reaching out to Kevin as a teenager and getting continually rebuffed. Old hurts resurface when the adult Randall and Kevin go out for dinner by themselves, and Randall admits he never watched Kevin on his sitcom. Meanwhile, Kate is frustrated by her minimal weight loss despite her best efforts while her boyfriend, Toby, keeps losing weight even though he decided to abandon his diet. Finally, while eating some marijuana brownies to ease his physical pain, William accidentally reveals to Randall’s wife, Beth, he has known Randall’s adopted mother, Rebecca, since Randall was a baby.

“The Best Washing Machine in the Whole World” addresses the issues that can occur when a family adopts a child. The episode beautifully highlights the challenge that parents face when they strive to love their children equally even as they work to encourage every child to use their different talents. The series continues to be deeply cathartic and engaging in the seventh episode, but caution is advised due to foul language and a scene showing marijuana use.