The third season of the American television series This Is Us continues to follow the lives and connections of the Pearson family across several time periods. The season is produced by Rhode Island Ave. Productions, Zaftig Films, and 20th Century Fox Television, with Dan Fogelman, Isaac Aptaker, and Elizabeth Berger serving as showrunners.
This Is Us | |
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Season 3 | |
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Promotional poster
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Starring |
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No. of episodes | 18 |
Release | |
Original network | NBC |
Original release | September 25, 2018 (2018-09-25) – April 2, 2019 (2019-04-02) |
Season chronology | |
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List of episodes |
A third season was ordered, alongside a second season, in January 2017, with production for season three beginning in July 2018. The season stars an ensemble cast featuring Milo Ventimiglia, Mandy Moore, Sterling K. Brown, Chrissy Metz, Justin Hartley, Susan Kelechi Watson, Chris Sullivan, Jon Huertas, Melanie Liburd, Niles Fitch, Logan Shroyer, Hannah Zeile, Mackenzie Hancsicsak, Parker Bates, Eris Baker, Faithe Herman, Lonnie Chavis, and Lyric Ross.
The third season premiered on September 25, 2018 and concluded on April 2, 2019. The season consisted of 18 episodes.
No. overall | No.in season | Title | Directed by | Written by | Original air date | Prod. code | U.S. viewers (millions) |
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37 | 1 | "Nine Bucks" | Ken Olin | Dan Fogelman & Isaac Aptaker & Elizabeth Berger | September 25, 2018 (2018-09-25) | 3AZC01 | 10.54[13] |
The night Jack meets Rebecca, he has only nine dollars. As Franco Harris completes the Immaculate Reception, Jack takes Rebecca to a carnival. After it rains, he admits he could not afford an umbrella and that his life has been unstable since coming home from serving in Vietnam. Rebecca recounts their incompatibilities and the date's shortcomings but, because of "the way he looks at her," she kisses him and agrees to another date. Jack later sees another man giving her flowers and kissing her. | |||||||
38 | 2 | "A Philadelphia Story" | Chris Koch | Kay Oyegun | October 2, 2018 (2018-10-02) | 3AZC02 | 8.87[14] |
After Jack's death, the Pearsons look for a new home. Kevin is frequently drunk; Kate gains weight and never completed her Berklee application; Randall criticizes Rebecca for not stepping up. She admits she barely has the energy to get out of bed and wonders what would have happened if she had agreed to buy the house Jack showed her months before the fire. Randall is accepted to Howard, but turns it down because his family needs him. In the present, Randall tries to effect repairs on a recreation center near his Philadelphia building; William's friend ChiChi tells Randall that focusing on the community's problems does not make him part of the community. | |||||||
39 | 3 | "Katie Girls" | Rebecca Asher | Julia Brownell | October 9, 2018 (2018-10-09) | 3AZC03 | 8.91[15] |
As a child, Rebecca disdains the role of housewife. The day she and Jack have planned to have their second date, her high-school boyfriend Alan arrives, three years after she declined his invitation to move to London. Jack returns home; he and his mother leave Jack's emotionally abusive father. Rebecca agrees to relocate to New York City with Alan, but confides in his mother that she has feelings for someone else. Rebecca goes to see Jack; as he washes dishes, she helps him and suggests they drive to Los Angeles together. In the present, the Pearsons love Kevin's film. | |||||||
40 | 4 | "Vietnam" | Ken Olin | Dan Fogelman & Tim O'Brien | October 16, 2018 (2018-10-16) | 3AZC05 | 8.92[16] |
Jack and Nick's youth is shown in reverse-chronological order. When Nick is born, Jack's father is a supportive non-drinker whose own father is emotionally distant. Nick is born at 11:58 pm on October 18; Jack's father exhorts him to protect Nick. Jack believes seven-year-old Nick can be heroic. Nick stands up to their abusive father; Jack supports Nick and experiences tachycardia. When Nick is twenty-one, October 18 receives the fifth position in the first Vietnam War draft lottery. Jack plans to smuggle Nick into Canada, but Nick decides to prove himself by complying with the law. | |||||||
41 | 5 | "Toby" | Chris Koch | K.J. Steinberg | October 23, 2018 (2018-10-23) | 3AZC04 | 8.53[17] |
In 1998, Randall skips prom after Allison's father rejects him because of his race. Sophie brings a drunk Kevin to Miguel's. Miguel buys Rebecca a piano and handles some home maintenance; he told Jack he would look out for the Pearsons if Jack died. Rebecca suggests Kate use music as an emotional release, but Kate is not ready. Young Toby suffers anxiety and depression; his humor helps his mother's depression. His mother and a therapist help him regain functionality after Josie leaves him. | |||||||
42 | 6 | "Kamsahamnida" | John Fortenberry | Vera Herbert | October 30, 2018 (2018-10-30) | 3AZC06 | 8.88[18] |
When the Big Three are young, Jack is injured boxing; Rebecca asks him to stop, but later supports it as a needed emotional outlet. To get closer to his father, Randall pretends he has been bullied, so Jack will teach him to box. In the present, Beth has an outburst, struggling with unemployment and her daughters' Girl Scout cookie sales. Randall fails to win over his rival's constituency at a black church, partially because he lives all the way in Alpine, New Jersey. Kevin leverages his South Korean fanbase to help Randall campaign in Koreatown. | |||||||
43 | 7 | "Sometimes" | Ken Olin | Bekah Brunstetter | November 13, 2018 (2018-11-13) | 3AZC07 | 8.47[19] |
Serving in Vietnam, Jack wants a struggling Nick transferred to his unit, but commanding officer Major Dawson refuses because brothers are not normally assigned to serve together. A man named Bao transports Jack back to his base; Bao apparently participates in the manufacture of land mines and admits to "sometimes" being Viet Cong. At night, Jack sees the woman wearing the necklace; she runs away. Dawson gives Jack two weeks with Nick. Rebecca and Jack drive to Los Angeles for her singing audition. They are intimate, but Jack will not speak of his nightmares. | |||||||
44 | 8 | "Six Thanksgivings" | Catherine Hardwicke | Kevin Falls | November 20, 2018 (2018-11-20) | 3AZC08 | 7.91[20] |
During the Vietnam War, Jack's unit celebrates Thanksgiving. Jack treats an injured boy whose mother gives Jack the necklace, but Nick refuses to assist; a villager betrayed Nick's first commander, resulting in his death. In 1997, Miguel spends Thanksgiving with the Pearsons and worries that his ex-wife is distancing their children from him. Randall writes a college essay about how loved ones and strangers can affect one's life. William and Jesse meet at a recovery group meeting. Jesse opens up to William, then joins him and other musicians for Thanksgiving. Jesse makes it clear to William that he is single. | |||||||
45 | 9 | "The Beginning Is the End Is the Beginning" | Ken Olin | Shukree Hassan Tilghman | November 27, 2018 (2018-11-27) | 3AZC09 | 8.98[21] |
In the past, in Vietnam, Jack and Nicky come to blows and Nick abuses drugs. Nicky is obsessed with their "mission" to "kill." He disappears from camp and a boat explodes, apparently with an American aboard. In the present, Kevin and Zoe visit the village, but learn nothing about Jack or the woman. Their guide tells Kevin that Nicholas Pearson did not die in the Vietnam War; unbeknownst to them, Nicky is alive in Bradford, Pennsylvania. | |||||||
46 | 10 | "The Last Seven Weeks" | Roxann Dawson | Laura Kenar | January 15, 2019 (2019-01-15) | 3AZC10 | 7.74[22] |
On election night, the Pearsons wait for the results. The preceding seven weeks are depicted. Randall realizes his mistake; he spends time with his family and Beth decides the family should follow through on a Philadelphia church visit. Kevin asks Zoe to move in with him, which she does but without unpacking. While researching his uncle, Kevin learns Zoe dumped an ex via email; he fears she will leave him and they break up. | |||||||
47 | 11 | "Songbird Road: Part One" | Chris Koch | Kevin Falls & Tim O'Brien | January 22, 2019 (2019-01-22) | 3AZC11 | 8.22[23] |
Young Nicky hopes to become a doctor who owns a house and a boat. In Vietnam, a drug-intoxicated Nicky takes Lanh, the boy whose foot Jack treated, to go "fishing" with grenades; the boat explodes, killing Lanh. For years, Jack ignores postcards Nicky sends to his office. In 1992, Jack receives a postcard at home; after telling Kevin to correct, rather than repeat, Jack's mistakes, Jack visits Nicky at his trailer in Bradford. Jack tells Nicky to stop contacting him; Jack wants to forget the war. Nicky is haunted by the sight of Lanh's grieving mother. | |||||||
48 | 12 | "Songbird Road: Part Two" | Ken Olin | Julia Brownell | February 12, 2019 (2019-02-12) | 3AZC12 | 7.40[24] |
In 1992, an emotionally drained Jack returns from seeing Nicky. Rebecca takes Jack's place to bring Kevin to a signing by Pirates player John Smiley and is touched when Smiley tells her that Kevin researched his future professional home of Minneapolis for him. At the house, Kate and Randall make a mess constructing Valentines; Jack loses his temper and destroys a plate, but apologizes and starts a sequin fight. In the present, the siblings bring Nicky to a hotel. Rebecca arrives and recalls the weekend Jack saw Nicky. | |||||||
49 | 13 | "Our Little Island Girl" | Anne Fletcher | Eboni Freeman | February 19, 2019 (2019-02-19) | 3AZC13 | 7.55[25] |
In the present, Beth and Zoe visit Carol after she bruises her hip at work as a high-school principal. They cannot convince her to retire. In the past, a young Beth gets accepted into a prestigious ballet academy and hopes to become a pioneering African-American principal dancer. Her parents, Abe and Carol Clarke, work longer hours to pay her tuition. Four years later, Beth is dedicated, but struggles to keep up. Abe dies of lung cancer, shortly after retelling Beth the story of how she danced before she walked. Beth confronts Carol over taking away her dream and accuses her of being emotionally disconnected. | |||||||
50 | 14 | "The Graduates" | Sarah Boyd | K.J. Steinberg & Danielle Bauman | March 5, 2019 (2019-03-05) | 3AZC14 | 7.82[26] |
In 1982, toddlers Kate and Kevin soothe each other. In 1998, the Big Three graduate from high school. Kate, with no plans and upset that Kevin is moving to New York with Sophie, skips her graduation ceremony; Randall is his school's valedictorian. Rebecca has a panic attack over Jack's absence from the milestone; Miguel calms her. Miguel later takes Rebecca, in tears after watching old home movies, to a grief support group meeting. At a graduation party, Kate, Kevin, and Randall agree to stay in each other's lives. | |||||||
51 | 15 | "The Waiting Room" | Kevin Hooks | Bekah Brunstetter | March 12, 2019 (2019-03-12) | 3AZC15 | 7.74[27] |
In the hospital waiting room, tensions rise as the Pearsons wait for news on Kate and the baby. Randall and Beth bicker and cannot agree how best to obtain child care, especially after learning Rebecca and Miguel are considering relocating to California for Kate. Kevin is hostile to Madison, whom Miguel encourages to find her own way to support Kate; Madison later retrieves a Ruth Bader Ginsburg doll Kate bought as a gift for her baby. Zoe hears out Kevin's explanation of his behavior and indicates to Beth that she will stay with Kevin; Zoe later tells Beth that a water bottle Kevin obtained earlier actually contained vodka. | |||||||
52 | 16 | "Don't Take My Sunshine Away" | George Tillman Jr. | Vera Herbert | March 19, 2019 (2019-03-19) | 3AZC16 | 7.64[28] |
In 1992, the Big Three attend a school dance. Randall wants to study, but chaperones Jack and Rebecca insist he honor his commitment to escort Kate's friend Jessica. Kevin ropes a reluctant Sophie into a prank on the principal. Rebecca requests an old song to dance to with Jack, who never attended a dance. | |||||||
53 | 17 | "R & B" | Kevin Hooks | Kay Oyegun | March 26, 2019 (2019-03-26) | 3AZC17 | 7.63[29] |
In 1998, Kevin coaches Randall to successfully ask Beth out. She is overwhelmed when he wears a suit and takes her to an upscale restaurant that discriminates against them; she asks him not to call her, but he privately believes they will marry. Seven years later, they are a couple, but Beth has declined Randall's repeated marriage proposals. Beth chafes that Randall's life "consumes" them. Rebecca tells Beth that Randall didn't know his place in the universe until he met her. Beth and Randall agree to be equals; she accepts his proposal. On their wedding day, they write their vows together. | |||||||
54 | 18 | "Her" | Ken Olin | Isaac Aptaker & Elizabeth Berger | April 2, 2019 (2019-04-02) | 3AZC18 | 8.22[30] |
During the Big Three's childhood, Rebecca crashes the car and is hospitalized. Randall is especially worried about her and Jack ultimately brings the children back to the hospital before dawn. To Jack, Rebecca is the family's "engine." In the present, Rebecca dominates Kate's conversations with healthcare professionals about baby Jack. Kate is frustrated, but ultimately admits that Rebecca was a great mom; Kate affirms she wants Jack to have Rebecca's "magic" in his life. |
On January 18, 2017, NBC renewed the series for a second and third season of 18 episodes each, for a total of 36 additional episodes.[31]
Main cast members Milo Ventimiglia, Mandy Moore, Sterling K. Brown, Chrissy Metz, Justin Hartley, Susan Kelechi Watson, Chris Sullivan, Jon Huertas and Ron Cephas Jones return from the second season as Jack Pearson, Rebecca Pearson, Randall Pearson, Kate Pearson, Kevin Pearson, Beth Pearson, Toby Damon, Miguel Rivas, and William H. Hill, respectively.[32] Lyric Ross, who recurred as Deja throughout the second season, was subsequently promoted to the principal cast in the third season.[33] In August 2018, Michael Angarano was cast to recur as Nick Pearson, Jack Pearson's brother;[34] the character was first mentioned in the second season, and previously was depicted only briefly as a child. Melanie Liburd was promoted to series regular after guest starring in the second season as Zoe, Beth Pearson's cousin and Kevin Pearson's new love interest.[35][36]
Production on the season officially began on July 10, 2018, in Los Angeles.[37][38]
No. | Title | Air date | Rating/share (18–49) |
Viewers (millions) |
DVR (18–49) |
DVR viewers (millions) |
Total (18–49) |
Total viewers (millions) |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
1 | "Nine Bucks" | September 25, 2018 | 3.0/12 | 10.54[13] | 1.9 | 5.76 | 4.9 | 16.30[39] |
2 | "A Philadelphia Story" | October 2, 2018 | 2.4/9 | 8.87[14] | 1.9 | 5.68 | 4.3 | 14.55[40] |
3 | "Katie Girls" | October 9, 2018 | 2.3/9 | 8.91[15] | 1.9 | 5.68 | 4.2 | 14.59[41] |
4 | "Vietnam" | October 16, 2018 | 2.2/9 | 8.92[16] | 1.8 | 5.50 | 4.0 | 14.43[42] |
5 | "Toby" | October 23, 2018 | 2.1/8 | 8.53[17] | 1.8 | 5.50 | 3.9 | 14.03[43] |
6 | "Kamsahamnida" | October 30, 2018 | 2.1/9 | 8.88[18] | 1.7 | 5.15 | 3.8 | 14.03[44] |
7 | "Sometimes" | November 13, 2018 | 2.0/8 | 8.47[19] | 1.8 | 5.33 | 3.8 | 13.81[45] |
8 | "Six Thanksgivings" | November 20, 2018 | 1.8/8 | 7.91[20] | 2.0 | 6.10 | 3.8 | 14.01[46] |
9 | "The Beginning Is the End Is the Beginning" | November 27, 2018 | 2.1/9 | 8.98[21] | 1.7 | 5.16 | 3.8 | 14.14[47] |
10 | "The Last Seven Weeks" | January 15, 2019 | 2.0/8 | 7.74[22] | 1.8 | 5.50 | 3.8 | 13.24[48] |
11 | "Songbird Road (Part 1)" | January 22, 2019 | 1.9/8 | 8.22[23] | 1.8 | 5.50 | 3.7 | 13.72[49] |
12 | "Songbird Road (Part 2)" | February 12, 2019 | 1.7/7 | 7.40[24] | 1.7 | 5.42 | 3.5 | 12.82[50] |
13 | "Our Little Island Girl" | February 19, 2019 | 1.8/8 | 7.55[25] | 1.6 | 5.19 | 3.4 | 12.75[51] |
14 | "The Graduates" | March 5, 2019 | 1.7/7 | 7.82[26] | 1.8 | 5.66 | 3.5 | 13.48[52] |
15 | "The Waiting Room" | March 12, 2019 | 1.8/7 | 7.74[27] | 1.7 | 5.33 | 3.5 | 13.06[53] |
16 | "Don't Take My Sunshine Away" | March 19, 2019 | 1.7/7 | 7.64[28] | 1.7 | 5.21 | 3.4 | 12.86[54] |
17 | "R &B" | March 26, 2019 | 1.7/7 | 7.63[29] | 1.6 | 5.17 | 3.3 | 12.80[55] |
18 | "Her" | April 2, 2019 | 1.9/8 | 8.22[30] | 1.7 | 5.33 | 3.6 | 13.55[56] |
General references