SHARE THE MOMENT:   This Is Us Season 1 Episode 18 “Moonshadow.”

This Is Us “The Big Three.”  

Sterling K. Brown as Randall Pearson & Ron Cephas Jones as William Hill/ Jermel Nakia  sit down for a no-holds-barred deep dive on a show that broke your heart, in This Is Us Season 1 Episode 16 "Memphis."

William grew up in Memphis. Formerly a drug addict, he got clean after he thought he saw a monkey on the streets, then realized nothing good comes from a person being on the street at 3:30 at night. He is suffering from stage-four stomach cancer but is well enough to live with and enjoy his new-found family. William can play the piano, which he learned from his father, as well as sing.  William is bisexual and previously had a relationship with a man named Jessie (Denis O'Hare). William never broke up with Jessie, who assumed he died when he vanished one night to move to Randall's.  William returns to Philadelphia to attend a Narcotics Anonymous meeting in hopes of bumping into Jessie to reconnect.  Rebecca realized William was Randall's father when she saw him leave the hospital, and eventually tracked him down, a secret she kept from everyone, including Randall and Jack.  William always wanted to have a relationship with his child and regretted giving him up, but promised Rebecca he would stay away for Randall's benefit.  William accidentally reveals this secret to Beth one night when they got high together.  Randall accidentally finds out himself when he finds a letter in William's apartment while looking for cassette tapes.

Quotes From  This Is Us Season 1 Episode 15 Review “Jack Pearson's Son.”

This Is Us’ Milo Ventimiglia as Jack Pearson &  Mandy Moore as Rebecca Pearson Picking A Favorite Episode.   

"The Big Day" (SPOILER ALERT) The Pearson family captures our hearts week after week after week and we continue to wonder how they do it.  It’s because the show is “real.”  It explores real issues and yet does it in a way that adds the appropriate drama that a television show needs.  Yet at no point are you feeling like you’re about to say, “this is just so unrealistic.” Because in reality, almost everyone who has seen this show has seen the situations presented.  None are too far fetched and all of them hit us in one way or another.  It’s just so close to home that it’s nearly impossible not to like it.For a show that took such a risk in combining past and present into one show, you have to appreciate that they pulled it off.  The seamless blending of Jack and Rebecca with their kids and fast forwarding to Randall, Kate, and Kevin with their own trials and tribulations with their own families and relationships works well.  The show does a great job of explaining each character and backing up their emotional state with historical references.  You know why they are the way they are and who they are.  It all makes sense and you have to credit the writing and directing for that.Plus you’ve got two side characters that are highly entertaining.  Toby brings us the comic relief and William brings an “old sage” vibe that everyone appreciates.   I like every single moment with Kevin.  He’s just too entertaining, not to mention his little love triangle with AT&T girl and British Vixen is about to heat up.  But let’s get back to my original concern.  Tonight’s show.   I’m definitely concerned. The triplets, forgetting birthdays, this is normal stuff and I think we’ll all feel comfortable with these plot points.  However, I’m a little worried about them getting into Dr. K too much.  He was great in the premiere episode and I like his pseudo father figure tendencies with Jack.  But at this point in the show they are becoming tired.   Now we’re really going to get into an exploration of him?  I’m not sure it’s necessary.  While I think the show will do it well, how much do we need to add to an already full roster of families?The firefighter who brought Randall to the hospital?  I get it, I suppose but do we need to dedicate a lot of this airtime to this situation?  Don’t get me wrong.  I love the show and have a feeling we’ll all be fine tonight.  However, what’s already a risky show is in danger of getting overcrowded.  Remember to go with what works guys.   We’re in love with the families you present and the lives they lead.   Don’t try to get us involved in other families either when you’re doing great now. 

Meet  Jack Pearson portrayed by Milo Ventimiglia and Rebecca Pearson portrayed by Mandy Moore who stars in NBC tearjerker This Is Us.