Sharon Washington delivered her most compelling performance this week as Joyce Thomas in Power Book III: Raising Kanan episode 403. In an exclusive interview with BeatsBoxingMayhem, Washington dives deep into Joyce’s motivations, the emotional weight of her cancer diagnosis, and how it affects her complicated relationships with Kanan, Raq, Lou, and Marvin. As the series unfolds, Joyce’s revelation sends shockwaves through the Thomas family, forcing them to confront long-standing tensions and buried trauma.
In this candid discussion, Washington breaks down Joyce’s bond with Kanan, why he was the one she confided in, and how her late husband Elijah’s tragic past continues to shape the family dynamic. With Raising Kanan exploring themes of love, loss, and generational trauma, this interview provides an insightful look into the emotional depth of Joyce’s character and what fans can expect in future episodes.
Editor’s Note: This interview has been edited for written clarity and flow. The audio version is available HERE.
BeatsBoxingMayhem: I want to start by looking at your character, Ms. Joyce Thomas. Why do you think she chose to tell Kanan about her illness? Was it because she felt he was emotionally ready, or was it more out of desperation since he’s the only family member who isn’t estranged from her?
Sharon Washington: Wow, great question. I believe it’s because of their very special relationship. Joyce and Kanan have developed a deep trust. Their bond is rooted in what I call pure love. She has a complex and complicated history with her children—especially with Raq, because they’re so alike. And, of course, she has her own dynamic with Marvin and LouLou as well.
But with Kanan, it’s different. First and foremost, it’s a grandmother loving her grandson. Sometimes, in families, you naturally connect with a particular relative, and that’s what happened with them. Kanan is the only one who could have come to her and said, “You need to talk. We need to do this.” Their relationship is honest, and ultimately, it’s all based in love.
BeatsBoxingMayhem: When a matriarch or patriarch receives a diagnosis like this, it can either bring a family closer together or reopen old wounds, pushing them further apart. Do you think Joyce is ready to be vulnerable enough to foster accountability and healing, or does she just not know how?
Washington: I think Joyce truly doesn’t know how this will affect the family. She has her own issues, and that’s part of why she’s estranged from her children.
Kanan wants to break the cycle of trauma that’s been passed down through their family, but the outcome is uncertain. They’ve been through so much and somehow stayed together. But this—this is something no one saw coming. No one knows who will step up. Will it be Raq? Kanan? Or someone unexpected? There’s always that question of, “Can we fall apart and still come back together?” Because, in the end, family is family. Joyce is taking a gamble—one she doesn’t really have a choice in—because Kanan has made her see that she has to do this.
BeatsBoxingMayhem: When you read the script for episode three, which relationship do you think has the best chance of being repaired—Joyce’s with Lou or with Raq—after the cancer news?
Washington: When I first read the script, I wasn’t sure how it would impact her relationship with Lou. And with Raq, you never really know. Their relationship is so charged, so moment-to-moment, filled with so many different emotions.
Patina and I didn’t discuss it much beforehand. We wanted to play it in the moment and let it unfold organically. The script was beautifully written, especially the dinner table scene. And in moments like that, anything can happen—people can interpret things differently than expected. Credit to the director for giving us space to explore that. But one thing I did know? It was going to be a confrontation. That’s the nature of Joyce and Raq’s relationship. And with news like this, it wasn’t going to go over well with Lou and Marvin either. I think Joyce hoped she could get through to her sons.
BeatsBoxingMayhem: Something that really stuck with me was when Kanan was seeking the truth about his grandfather. How do you think Joyce’s backstory—specifically her husband’s suicide—shaped the way she parented her children?
Washington: I think it completely changed everything. That’s where the original trauma lies. Joyce expected one kind of life with her husband, Elijah, and she got another. He was a creative, a beautiful spirit—much like Lou. She thought their life would be different, but when he died, she was left thinking, “What do I do now?”
She wasn’t prepared to raise their children alone, and that’s where the breakdown began. Each child formed their own version of who their father was. And because he wasn’t there, they could mold that image into whatever they needed it to be. But Joyce sees the truth. She’s saying, “You think it was one way, but this is what really happened.” As the season progresses, you’ll see how that singular event shaped each of them. It completely altered the trajectory of the family.
BeatsBoxingMayhem: Sharon, I truly appreciate your time. It’s been a pleasure speaking with you. And I won’t say this is the end—because with all the medical advancements out there, remission is always a possibility. Hopefully, we’ll get to talk again at the end of this season or maybe next season.
Washington: That would be lovely. Thank you so much. I really appreciate it.
Raising Kanan season 4 airs every Friday at 8 p.m. ET on Starz. Subscribe to the BeatsBoxingMayhem YouTube page for the weekly reviews and predictions!
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