More of Beth and Randall’s backstory, please and thanks

Here’s everything we know about how Beth and Randall, This Is Us’ best couple, met.

In This Is Us season 2 episode 2, “A Manny-Splendored Thing,”  we got our first glimpse as to how Randall and Beth met and, obviously, we need/want more. While we weren’t treated to a flashback just yet, we did learn about where the couple met and how Randall asked her out — with a major assist from Kevin.

The reveal, in fact, comes as part of a pretty sweet scene between Kevin and Beth. The two have one of the show’s most interesting relationships — Beth doesn’t especially like Kevin, or think he’s funny, and Kevin knows this. (You also have to wonder/assume how much Beth knows about Kevin’s less-than-stellar behavior as a brother to Randall growing up informs her feelings towards the Manny.) On the show so far, we’ve seen the two keep a delicate balance with occasional moments of bonding and camaraderie over Randall — such as the one in episode 2.

Beth comes to Kevin’s trailer, frustrated with Randall’s foster parent cold feet. You already get the sense she must be desperate if she so willing to unload on him. In any case, while Beth explains his freak out, Kevin tells her the story of the one time Randall ever risked failure:

"Kevin: You know my brother never attempts anything unless he’s positive he’ll succeed it at it, right?Beth: I know that, I guess that’s true.Kevin: There was this one time. This one time, in his entire life. He was in college and he met this girl at a party. This really, really badass dreadlocked girl, who was by the way — let’s be honest — like 17 times out of his nerdy, sweater-vest-wearing league, he had no shot in hell at her, but he asked her out anyways. He called her.Beth: Good God, he was so nervous, he made me sweat. I still remember his opening line, it was so cheesy. He was like: “You don’t know who I am — ”Kevin: “But you’re about to.”Beth: Wait —Kevin: I’m sorry, you thought Randall had that kind of game at 19? Who do you think was Cyrano-ing the entire thing? You, Beth, you fell for the Manny’s game! Now you sit there, and you just think about that for a second.Beth: Oh, no, it hurts. I got got!Kevin: You know Beth, that’s the only time in my brother’s life that he’s actually risked failure. The only time. You know how that hard was him? How scary that was for him? The man was terrified."

Beth’s face when Kevin gets to the “badass dreadlocked girl” and she realizes he’s talking about her and she begins remembering that night is priceless and sweet. When she realizes that Kevin was coaching Randall on — and on the line, “you laughed at my jokes that night” — is even better.

Next: 5 shows to watch if you love This Is Us

So now we know: Beth and Randall met at a party in college, probably as freshmen or early sophomore year. She had dreads. He wore a sweater vest.

More about College Beth and Randall. And more Beth and Kevin scenes, too, while we’re at it.