This Is Us Season 3: Cast, EPs Tease Zoe's Backstory, Ghost Homage

The loved ones ofThis Is Us‘ Big 3 are stepping into the spotlight: The history of Melanie Liburd’s Zoe will be examined in an upcoming Season 3 episode, the show’s creator confirmed Tuesday.

During a post-premiere panel discussion in Los Angeles Tuesday, Dan Fogelman said that the show will explore the backstories of Kevin, Kate and Beth’s significant others this season.

“Zoe grew up with Beth, so she’s part of Beth’s story,” co-showrunner Isaac Aptaker told TVLine at the event. “When we go into Beth’s childhood, Zoe is there.”

The news follows announcements that the NBC drama will examine Beth and Toby’s pre-Pearson lives; a Miguel episode also is in the works, star Jon Huertas told TVLine in July.

During the panel, Chris Sullivan joked that Toby’s episode — which is Episode 5 — is “insufferable,” then added that Fogelman and K.J. Steinberg wrote a beautiful script. Fogelman chimed in that the hour made everyone in the editing bay cry, and Sullivan’s co-star Chrissy Metz later said that her favorite scene from the season takes place in that episode.

The panel also allowed the cast and EP to tease other Season 3 tidbits, including:

* Episode 3 will feature a scene from early on in Rebecca and Jack’s courtship that may remind you of another well-known screen romance. “There’s a scene I love so much, like Demi Moore and Patrick Swayze doing pottery,” Fogelman said, referring to Ghost‘s iconic scene.

* “We’ll live in the past quite a bit this season,” the EP said, adding that stars Milo Ventimiglia and Justin Hartley were heading to Vietnam to shoot exterior footage.

* Didn’t recognize the guy that showed up at Rebecca’s door? You weren’t supposed to — and Fogelman declined to shed any light on the suitor’s identity. — With reporting by Diane Gordon

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