Ep. 20: Revisiting "Memphis" (116) in Memory of Ron Cephas Jones with special guest Jermel Nakia

[@mayacrosby8145]

This is the episode I tell people to watch if they have never seen the show. It is so beautifully and masterfully done, and it is my absolute favorite episode.

[@revrodgers]

This episode and The Visitor on ST-DS9 are two of the best Black Father/Son episodes ever. I cry every time I see them both and remember my dad. Thanks for these great performances and writing.

[@greggburklund5353]

You’re a beautiful person, Sterling, thank you for the good cry

[@joshjones1848]

One of the best father son moments between Randall and william

[@Zoe___oOooo]

💖 Oh I love that this podcast is also filmed and produced in such high quality for KZbin. I love how empathetic and emotionally balanced you are and not afraid of the tears flowing. That makes you so real, so likeable and authentic. I love it. Thank you so much. Sterling 💖 you have touched my heart deeply with your story. Best wishes from Germany 💖

[@lukethomasdillon3762]

Ah man, Sterling making the parallels between Williams death and his own fathers got to me 😭😭

[@CCphotobombs]

Me too and it made me sob because I feel the same way about the loss of my mother. Therapeutic in a way.

[@KristaDeSouza718]

Same!!!!!

[@85gmb1]

Same here

[@charnayeg]

The line, "I'm a little scared" gets me EVERY TIME!!!

[@ae0ns]

Wow it’s ironic that this dropped on the day of my dad’s birthday who passed away more than a decade ago. This was hard one to get through but also very healing (like the show). Thank you for gifting this podcast to us 💜

[@PolkaDots788]

After watching "Memphis" again, I realize how much I didn't appreciate it at the time. Wow, I'm so happy I had the opportunity to really "see" it this time. It's such a powerful episode for sure.

[@Damian-o7w]

Favorite episode...only Memphis and Birth Mother made me cry😢❤

[@diamondbed86]

He was so wonderful and has one of those memorable voices I will never forget

[@blackberrymolasses1502]

THIS is the episode I’ve been waiting for!! I snot bubble cried on the Memphis episode 🥺

[@thats_faithv212]

Mannnnn The Way I Sobbed At Hard When William Died🥺❤️….It Was So Moving,You Know😭

[@daniyahgoodwin3078]

Bracing myself for this episode 🥹😭

[@dntfeedthesimba]

This was the episode that got me. Beyond Excellent Storytelling and Acting 👏

[@lunaloutfy]

Okay, time to cry! Sending you all so much love. One of my favorite episodes ever!!! Rewatching it was still emotional for me, just like the first time around. And now I’m sure that I’m gonna be a bawling mess while watching this podcast episode. The tissues and wine are needed for this one 😭❤️

[@Baepsae_Nation]

I feel it's "time to cry" every week but this one in particular is more like "time to wail" ❤

[@angd4268]

I forgot this was the episode William died. My husband walked in during the scene when Randall was sitting beside William at the hospital and I was sobbing. I waved him away and said come back later. He had realized which episode it was when he heard the music at the beginning. My dad died a few months ago and it hit me so hard. I had two weeks of sitting with him but he couldn't communicate. I could just talk to him. I felt so jealous of Randall getting that time to talk to his dad. This show mimics so many times in my life. I have no idea how I will deal with the end of the show as my mom has dementia. And Durn if ya'll didn't have me crying during the podcast.

[@PolkaDots788]

Their discussion about how they handle anxiety was so real & raw. Thank you. ❤

[@adinya4860]

We can always come back to this” keeps playing in my mind throughout watching this episode and podcast ❤❤❤❤

[@amynapier3551]

This is one of the most powerful episodes. We're sad because of the story but also because we never completely healed in real life. Some of us had to be strong in order to make the decisions, carry out wishes and complete tasks. We patted ourselves on the back for being strong and dealing with it but we never had the opportunity to truly grieve. Thanks to all of the This is Us team for giving us the space, time and permission to begin the process or get closure to all those emotions and memories of the past. Hugs to everyone. You are not alone.

[@johnkodhek]

Truly, we can always come back to this. 💐💐💐💐

[@mariloushelledy]

My mom was diagnosed with cancer during Season 1 of This Is Us. This episode was so hard to watch. And later as her cancer became terminal I would go back to this episode. It really helped with my grieving process, as did the other episodes with Rebecca, her illness, and how the kids dealt with it. This Is Us really is a Playbook to Life. Amazing cast, directors, and writers. ❤

[@Black.Nostalgia]

This episode tore me up. I cried on other episodes but this was the first episode that make me scream and cry. No tv should ever make you feel like that lol

[@steph-on7458]

MEMPHIS is my favorite. It's a sad but great episode

[@RobinZK67]

OK. So how is it possible that I cried like a baby watching the episode…. And then CRIED AGAIN watching this. dang it!

[@chimenejemisi-m5877]

I wanted to thank you for the beautiful work you gave us. Through the series I was able to understand my family better. I understood that an experience can be seen from different perspectives. My sister's childhood may have been different than my brother's, and that's okay. I understand that men like Jack have to endure a lot to keep up appearances. I also understood that addiction can take different forms. There is the addiction to eating or drinking but there is also the addiction to perfection. I'm still learning a lot, especially through your current podcast, but I'm really enjoying it. So I just wanted to say thank you. Chimène from Germany😊

[@nataliemoya8062]

💛💛💛

[@revrodgers]

Feb 4, 1987 SKB’s Dad Dec 20, 1987 my Dad. Wow!

[@revrodgers]

Sitting here with three friends on the couch crying. Thank you Ron Cephas Jones for being the heart of this episode.

[@ShuntaGrant-t5d]

I haven’t even started the episode yet but just seeing Memphis I’m like agh!!! I rewatched to prepare and it’s still my favorite episode of TIU!!!!!

[@MojoviWrites]

I've never rewatched This Is Us because I know I'll cry through the whole thing and end up depressed, but I definitely can't rewatch this episode, despite how stunningly beautiful it was. Just listening to them recap it has me sobbing!

[@PolkaDots788]

Did anyone else notice that the beautiful crocheted sweater that Beth wore when Randall came back home looks SO similar to the one young William wore? I had to take pictures to see if it was the same one. It's not, but it made me wonder if William gifted one of his to Beth sometime while he lived with them. It makes sense because of all days, she's wearing it while she's consoling her husband. I feel like it's her way to feel close to William.

[@jayallureofficial]

This was the first episode that made me really emotional. It was incredibly well done. 🥹

[@PolkaDots788]

Somehow, I didn't think about the parallels with William leaving his mom & then leaving Randall (until they mentioned it on the podcast). 💔

[@seinfeldchik]

If you start a drinking game everytime Mandy saids “sure” you’d be drunk in no time.

[@aromany]

Or "same"