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THIS IS US: The First Season: Memphis

Season 1 Episode 16

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

Entertainment Quality:

None Light Moderate Heavy
Language
Violence
Sex
Nudity

Credits →

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Content:

(CC, BB, LL, V, AA, DD, M):

Dominant Worldview and Other Worldview Content/Elements:

  Strong Christian, moral worldview with an emphasis on the value of family, marriage, and children (especially the father/son relationship), a man asks God’s blessing on a couple for their kindness, and a priest comes to the bedside of a dying man to read the Bible with him;

Foul Language:

11 obscenities and two profanities;

Violence:

Two women shown slapping a man behaving like a womanizer;

Sex:

  No sexual content;

Nudity:

  No nudity;

Alcohol Use:

A man gets drunk at a bar, people shown drinking at a bar several times, men drink beer on several occasions;

Smoking and/or Drug Use and Abuse:

  Several men are shown smoking, people shown passing around a joint several times, a woman gets high, and drug needles are shown; and,

Miscellaneous Immorality:

  Some anger.

Episodes: Season Overview

Number Date Title Production 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:

In “Memphis,” Randall has recovered from his breakdown and takes William, his biological father, on a road trip back to where he grew up in Memphis. In flashbacks, viewers learn William grew up with his mother and then pursued a career as a gifted musician/songwriter. Upon learning that his mother is ill, William leaves his band to come care of her. When his mother dies, William’s grief leads him into drugs. In the present, Randall and William make it to Memphis, and William shares parts of his history with Randall. While there, William’s health takes a nosedive. He’s admitted to the hospital. With Randall by his side, William passes away.

“Memphis” is a beautiful yet heartbreaking glimpse into William’s past. It shows the deep connection that Randall and William have even after knowing each other for only a short time. On William’s death bed, Randall comforts William with the same technique Jack used to comfort Randall when he was a young boy. The “Memphis” episode is deeply moving, with a strong Christian, moral worldview, but caution is advised due to some mature audience content, including some references to substance abuse.