TrueSouth episode 12 review: Bowman, SC
John T. Edge takes us back to his hometown to face his past and the scars he tried to bury.
By: Bossman Slim
Photo: via @johntedge
We often don’t know what those closest to us are going through, the demons they face on a daily basis. The trials and tribulations they’ve gone through that have led them to go right or left, make a U-turn, correct course or go off course. While we may think we know everything about our closest friends, our parents, our siblings...often, we’ve only scratched the surface. This is also true of our heroes.
Watching TrueSouth, your Southern pride always bubbles up to the surface, because you can feel John T. Edge’s genuine love for the region, its people, and its unique flavors spill from your screen. Each episode leaves you feeling warm from the conversation, the friendship, and the food - because you’ve felt that same feeling in those small-town and uptown restaurants. He can weave the tapestry of our people, our food, and our land in a way that no one else can. If the South were yarn, Edge is the needle, bringing it all together.
Yet while he weaves together our greater shared narrative, together is not where it all started for Edge. In this episode, we dig below the surface. Edge lets us in so we can understand him better and truly appreciate the man. He introduces us to his Mom’s catfish stew recipe, a dish that he grew up on. The recipe acts as a gateway to his past, to some dark places that have only recently seen light after many years tucked away in dark corners and quiet moments.
Executive producer Wright Thompson goes with Edge to his hometown of Bowman, SC to fend off Edge’s demons, come face to face with his past, and make amends to set up a brighter future. Thompson interviews Edge about his family history and his past and how he arrived where he is today. Thompson digs deep and doesn’t shy away from any question.
You’ll have to watch the episode to get all the details, but needless to say, Edge grew up in a tumultuous household. His mother was an alcoholic, and it caused the family heartache and left scars on our friend John T. that have followed him his entire life. Often the actions people take and what they pursue can tell you much about their past. This is the case with our host, who has been traveling around the South to understand himself better and to distance himself from a hometown filled with dark memories. He’s been running and searching to get away from a childhood that saw enough for a lifetime.
The episode is raw. It’s real and authentic. It doesn’t cut any corners, and we see the real John T. Edge. It was great to get to know our host better, and we’re glad one of our heroes allowed us below the surface. This might be the best episode of TrueSouth to date. We highly recommend it.
If you’ve never watched TrueSouth, start out with a few of the regular episodes to get a feel for one of the best-kept secrets on television...then travel with Edge back to his hometown to walk alongside him to face his demons. We’re with you, John T.
You can watch the episode now on ESPN+ or set your DVR for the next airing on SEC Network. No announcement yet on the next new episode of TrueSouth, so we’ll be back to going in reverse next week. That means we’ll be diving into season 2 with episode 4 in Memphis.
See you back here next Monday.