The Unicorn Scale: This is Us

By Sky Lea Ross

March 12, 2021

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Photo credit: Disney ABC

In 2016, NBC brought us the riveting drama, This is Us, showcasing the “Big 3”, Kevin (Justin Hartley), Kate (Chrissy Metz), and Randall (Sterling K. Brown), 3 siblings moving through the ups and downs of life. The show follows a unique story format, involving flashbacks and flashforwards to share their childhoods as well as forecast intergenerational events that will take place in the future. Every episode is a tearjerker, so if you haven’t seen it yet, be warned, it’s not for the faint of heart!

With its expertly chosen ensemble, starring Mandy Moore as beloved mother Rebecca Pearson and Milo Ventimiglia as their legendary father, Jack Pearson, this show touches on grief, mental health, addiction, and what it means to be a family.

But today, we’re going to focus on the narrative of a phenomenal character, William “Shakespeare” Hill (Ron Cephas Jones). 

Do not proceed any further if you haven’t yet watched the show or wish to do so later, because there are a ridiculous number of SPOILERS ahead! And in case you are new to this type of article, please check out The Unicorn Scale guide here.

Photo/Disney ABC

What I Liked:

We meet William in the first episode, as Randall becomes inspired to find and meet his birth father. What is initially a tension-filled introduction between biological father and son turns into a game of catch-up for lost time as Randall learns that William has stage 4 stomach cancer and is dying.

William is a dynamic and multidimensional character. The cast and viewers alike are bound to fall in love with him.

When Randall finds him, he’s living in a worn-down building in Philadelphia, a building that Randall later comes to own. He’s a recovering addict with an ugly but lovable pet cat named “Clooney”, and the super refers to him as “the heart of the building”.

Photo/Disney ABC

His past reveals a rich history growing up in Memphis, Tennessee, playing piano, writing lyrics, and singing for his cousin Ricky’s jazz band. He writes beautiful poetry and enjoys the seductive nightlife until he hears word that his mother has fallen ill.

He returns home to Pittsburgh in order to care for her in her final days and becomes enamored with a beautiful woman, Laurel (Jennifer C. Holmes), who he meets on the bus.

Unfortunately, Laurel gets him involved with drugs, which were his only source of relief after his mother’s passing. But they maintain their sobriety after learning she is pregnant with Randall. When she gives birth, she’s in such pain that heroin seems like the only way through, which leads to her untimely death. (Or at least that’s all we know until we learn more of her backstory in more recent episodes.)

Desperate, William leaves baby Randall at a fire station, thinking that he cannot raise him as a single father, now grieving both the death of his mother and Laurel. It’s a horrible situation to be in, and perhaps this was the best solution he sought for his newborn baby’s life.

Photo/Disney ABC

William goes on to live a life on the streets, addicted to drugs until he’s arrested and given a second chance by the judge, who is moved by his tragic story of “being the most disappointed man he will ever meet”. William vows to make better choices and turn his life around soon following his release.

When Randall meets William as an old man, he is a beacon of light in his community. And later, we get the pleasure of meeting Jessie (Denis O’Hare), a man who William met in one of his Narcotics Anonymous groups and fell in love with.

Photo/Disney ABC

William’s bisexuality isn’t the focus of his character, but it’s a significant part of who he is. It isn’t mentioned until season 1, episode 10, when William brings Jessie home to celebrate Christmas, and Randall’s daughter Tess (Eris Baker) hilariously retorts, “Dad, grandpa’s gay. Or at least bi!” It is later confirmed again in season 2, episode 12, where Randall searches for more of William’s history after his death and returns to his apartment building in search of a woman he wrote poetry about, only to learn it was inspired by “Lady Day”, or a poster of Billie Holiday visible outside of his window.

What’s even better is that William is not the only queer character in the show! Obviously, his partner Jessie is. Lena Waithe guest stars as an animal shelter worker when Kate decides to adopt a dog for Toby making a brief mention of her wife, and we learn in a later season that Randall’s daughter Tess comes out as a lesbian. So, lots of LGBT characters and many of color too!

Photo/Disney ABC

William’s character is captivating, and when he passes away, just like Randall and his family, we are left wanting more.

What I Didn’t Like:

Considering that Ron Cephas Jones was nominated for an Emmy 4 times for his performance as William and won Outstanding Guest Actor in a Drama Series twice (in 2018 and 2020), it’s really hard to find fault with his character and this show.

I guess, if I really have to complain about something, I will note that I’m worried about Black bi characters who are recovering addicts becoming a negative stereotype. Bis already get the bad rep of being sexually deviant, and I’ve already written about Annalise Keating in How to Get Away with Murder, who was also bi and an alcoholic. I’m incredibly grateful to see healthier portrayals of bi individuals in media, but I don’t want people to get the wrong idea and assume that if you’re Black and bi, you must also struggle with substance abuse too.

I think what’s defining about both Annalise Keating and William Hill is the trauma they’ve faced, and this is what led to their substance use, not their bisexuality.

Photo/Disney ABC

It was also unfortunate that we get attached to William’s character only to inevitably lose him. Though I’m sure this was intended as it’s how Randall and his family must feel too. In a way, fans get to grieve with them.

The Rating:

It’s rare to see supporting characters in movies and TV shows which capture our interest, reflect our lives and steal our hearts. When we do see this, it’s even less likely that they are people of color, older, and bi. This is Us is an extraordinary show, and William Hill is an extraordinary character. As fictional as his story may be, there are pieces of it that may resonate with so many of us, and it's refreshing to see bi representation done right.

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