23 Episodes
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"The Millers" season one centers on siblings Nathan and Debbie Miller, whose lives are upended when their parents, Tom and Carol, announce their divorce after 43 years. The core premise is established when Carol moves in with Nathan and Tom moves in with Debbie, forcing the adult children to navigate their parents' intrusive presence and the resulting chaotic family dynamics.
The season's central conflict revolves around the siblings' attempts to manage their parents' post-divorce lives and their own. Key turning points include Carol discovering Nathan's private thoughts about her, leading to an apology, and the revelation of a long-held family secret about a childhood pet parrot. Nathan's schemes to reunite his parents fail, reinforcing their separation. The season also features awkward family discussions, Nathan's dating life becoming complicated by his mother's involvement, and a shocking twist when Nathan discovers his father's elaborate deception regarding a younger girlfriend.
The season concludes with the family continuing to grapple with their unconventional living arrangements and evolving relationships, highlighting the enduring, albeit often exasperating, bonds between parents and their adult children.
Season 1 of The Millers covers episodes 1-23. Here's everything that happened:
Season 1, Episode 1: Pilot - Nathan and Debbie are dismayed when their parents, Tom and Carol, announce their divorce after 43 years of marriage. Their distress escalates when Carol declares she's moving in with Nathan, while Tom decides to move in with Debbie. The episode concludes with the siblings reluctantly accepting their new, intrusive living arrangements, setting the stage for the series.
Season 1, Episode 2: Plot Twists - Carol's decision to rearrange the family's cemetery plot after the divorces creates a dilemma. Nathan is forced to confront his ex-wife, Janice, and ask her to give up her burial spot. This uncomfortable request leads to a series of awkward interactions, ultimately solidifying the new, complicated family dynamics for everyone involved.
Season 1, Episode 3: The Phone Upgrade - Nathan and Debbie decide to trade parents, each believing the other's situation is less challenging. Debbie, exasperated by Tom's forgetfulness, inspires Nathan to give their father a smartphone with programmed reminders. Nathan initially believes he has successfully "fixed" Tom, but he soon realizes that Tom's forgetfulness persists, demonstrating that a phone upgrade cannot alter inherent personality traits.
Season 1, Episode 4: The Mother Is In - After Carol discovers Nathan is seeing a therapist, she secretly books an appointment with the same psychologist to learn what he's been saying about her. Carol reads Nathan's candid thoughts about her, which deeply upsets her. Nathan explains his love but acknowledges the difficulty of living with her. Carol apologizes for her behavior, and the episode concludes with Adam and Tom comically singing their problems to the therapist.
Season 1, Episode 5: Giving the Bird - On Halloween, Nathan, Debbie, and Adam take Mikayla trick-or-treating at a house rumored to belong to a witch. Meanwhile, Nathan and Debbie become furious upon discovering Carol lied about their childhood pet parrot. They learn their mother did not let the bird fly away as they believed, revealing a long-held family secret about its true fate.
Season 1, Episode 6: Stuff - Nathan devises a scheme to reunite his divorced parents, Carol and Tom, by having them sort through sentimental family possessions. He hopes the nostalgic items will rekindle their love. However, Nathan's elaborate plan fails to bring them back together, and their divorce remains final, reinforcing their separate living arrangements with their children.
Season 1, Episode 7: The Talk - When Nathan brings home his first date since his mother moved in, Carol realizes Tom never gave Nathan "the talk" about the birds and the bees. Insisting it's not too late, she forces the entire family into an uncomfortable, belated discussion. The episode concludes with the family enduring this awkward conversation, highlighting Nathan's parents' overbearing nature.
Season 1, Episode 8: Internet Dating - Nathan and Ray create an online dating profile for Carol, then secretly impersonate her to communicate with a potential suitor. When Carol becomes interested in a particular man, Nathan and Debbie investigate, uncovering troubling information about his past. Carol ultimately faces a dilemma, struggling to choose between her family's warnings and her own instincts regarding her online romance.
Season 1, Episode 9: You're in Trouble - Nathan discovers Debbie is their father Tom's favorite child, prompting him to reveal Debbie's childhood secrets to their parents. However, Debbie cleverly turns the tables, exposing Nathan's own past misdeeds. The episode concludes with Nathan's plans completely backfiring, leaving him in trouble with their parents.
Season 1, Episode 10: Carol's Parents Are Coming to Town - When Carol's overbearing parents visit, Carol, Nate, and Tom fabricate happy relationships, with Nate considering reuniting with Janice. As the deception unravels, Carol's dad delivers a shocking revelation, announcing he wants a divorce from Carol's mother, causing irreversible family turmoil.
Season 1, Episode 11: Dear Diary - Debbie suspects Nathan and Carol are secretly reading her diary, so she and Adam concoct a plan. They plant a fake diary entry about Tom to expose the snooping. Their scheme successfully reveals Nathan and Carol's prying, leading to a confrontation where the parents are caught red-handed.
Season 1, Episode 12: Miller's Mind - Nathan's joke about Carol's rants becomes a popular on-air segment, forcing him to intentionally provoke his mother for new material. Adam also grapples with attending Mikayla's father-daughter dance. The episode concludes with Nathan's career now dependent on Carol's perpetual agitation.
Season 1, Episode 13: Driving Miss Crazy - Nathan, weary of chauffeuring his mother Carol, pushes her to ask Adam for rides. However, Nathan soon becomes intensely jealous as Carol and Adam begin to bond over their shared time. The episode concludes with Nathan realizing his mistake and attempting to reclaim his role as Carol's primary driver, highlighting his unexpected attachment.
Season 1, Episode 14: Carol's Surprise - Nathan attempts to finally surprise his "unsurpriseable" mother, Carol, for her birthday. Knowing she always uncovers their plans, he orchestrates an elaborate fake surprise party. The family, as expected, leaks details of this decoy. Nathan's clever deception works, leading to Carol being genuinely surprised by her actual birthday celebration.
Season 1, Episode 15: You Betcha - Nathan tries to find common ground with Tom during a weekend together. Meanwhile, with Debbie and Adam away at a vegetarian convention, Carol babysits Mikayla and accidentally turns her upbringing upside-down. Ultimately, Nathan and Tom struggle to connect, and Mikayla's routine is significantly altered by Carol's unconventional methods, leading to a chaotic but memorable experience for the child.
Season 1, Episode 16: Bahama Mama - Nathan's island vacation is crashed by Carol, who bought Ray's ticket. Nathan convinces Carol to relax; they embrace island life, deciding they never want to leave. But Ray, injured, flies down to bring them back home, ending their tropical escape.
Season 1, Episode 17: Plus One - Nathan obtains a ticket to a dinner with President Obama, but his excitement quickly turns to dread as he struggles to choose one family member as his "plus one." The entire family vies for the coveted spot, creating significant tension. Ultimately, Nathan faces the difficult choice, leading to inevitable disappointment for those not selected. Ray had already declined, having once beaten up "Barry" Obama in a pickup basketball game.
Season 1, Episode 18: Walk-N-Wave - Worried his mother made him feel superior, Nathan befriends his socially awkward co-worker, Doug, who quickly becomes more than Nathan can handle. Meanwhile, Tom and Adam argue about their intelligence, taking an online test that reveals who is truly smarter. Nathan's attempt at humility backfires, leaving him overwhelmed by Doug's presence.
Season 1, Episode 19: Cancellation Fee - Carol is furious after being charged a cancellation fee by her dentist, Dr. Sonya Vega, and adds her to the family boycott list. Unbeknownst to Carol, Nathan is secretly dating Dr. Vega, leading to awkward encounters. Meanwhile, Tom is perplexed by repeatedly waking up with gum in his hair. The episode concludes with Nathan trying to maintain his relationship amidst his mother's ongoing feud, creating a tense family dynamic.
Season 1, Episode 20: Tomlandia - Nathan pitches a children's show to his boss, Ed Dolan, based on Tom's beloved imaginary comic book world. However, Tom has a strong adverse reaction to the creative changes made to his cherished vision. Nathan ultimately realizes the importance of his father's original concept, leading to a reconciliation of creative differences and a renewed appreciation for Tom's unique imagination.
Season 1, Episode 21: 0072 - Tom proudly announces he is dating a much younger woman, prompting Nathan to investigate, fearing she is a gold digger. Nathan uncovers Tom's mysterious cover identity used to impress her. The episode concludes with Nathan realizing the extent of his father's deception.
Season 1, Episode 22: Sex Ed Dolan - Nathan tries to avoid "tomcatting" with his boss, Ed Dolan, by having his father, Tom, entertain him. This backfires when Ed sleeps with Carol, leading to Ed becoming clingy. Carol attempts to end the relationship without harming Nathan's career. The family's solution is for Carol to simply be herself to drive Ed away.
Season 1, Episode 23: Mother's Day - Nathan completely forgets to get Carol a Mother's Day present, leading to her having a truly awful day. His oversight causes significant disappointment for Carol, who feels unappreciated. The episode concludes with Carol's profound unhappiness, highlighting the impact of Nathan's forgetfulness on their relationship.
