black-ish

10 Best Episodes of black-ish

A family man struggles to gain a sense of cultural identity while raising his kids in a predominantly white, upper-middle-class neighborhood.

Written by Sophie and last updated on nov 20, 2022.

PS: The following content contains spoilers!

PPS: I will admit that parts of this page was written with the help of AI - it makes my work so much easier to not start from a blank page!

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black-ish - S3E4

#15 - Who’s Afraid of the Big Black Man? (Season 3 - Episode 4)

After a situation arises at work, Dre’s views are confronted regarding how black people are perceived now versus when he grew up. He wants to be more open-minded about being a part of his community, and his first step is joining his Homeowners’ Association. Meanwhile, Bow wants to spend more time with the kids before the new baby arrives and gets advice from Pops on how to make them want to be around her.

The episode was rated 7.79 from 902 votes.

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#14 - The Prank King (Season 1 - Episode 6)

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Dre is disappointed when the older kids balk at a family tradition.

The episode was rated 7.79 from 682 votes.

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#13 - The Word (Season 2 - Episode 1)

Jack performs the song “Gold Digger” at a school talent show and when he sings a lyric that includes THE word, it leads to his possible expulsion from school. Dre and Bow work together to get him reinstated, and along the way, examine the evolution of THE word through the generations and just who, if anyone, has the right to use it.

The episode was rated 7.79 from 651 votes.

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#12 - The Name Game (Season 3 - Episode 14)

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Dre and Bow have a gender reveal party, and Dre is thrilled because it’s his turn to name the baby. He decides on a culturally significant name that Bow and Ruby aren’t a fan of. Meanwhile, Zoey’s plan to have an anti-Valentine’s Day with her friend Shelly is thwarted when Junior asks Shelly out on a date, so Diane tries to fill in as Zoey’s BFF.

The episode was rated 7.80 from 830 votes.

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#11 - Elder. Scam. (Season 4 - Episode 3)

Ruby gets scammed and Dre begins to suspect that she isn’t as sharp as she used to be, particularly because she was the one who used to scam other people. Zoey’s friend Aaron visits and Diane develops an instant crush on him.

The episode was rated 7.80 from 629 votes.

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#10 - Black Like Us (Season 5 - Episode 10)

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Dre and Bow are furious after Diane isn’t lit properly in her class photo. Diane doesn’t want to make it a big deal, but they decide to talk to the principal about the need for sensitivity toward all complexions. Meanwhile, Junior claims there is unspoken colorism within their own family, and things get heated.

The episode was rated 7.81 from 243 votes.

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#9 - One Angry Man (Season 3 - Episode 16)

Dre is forced to participate in jury duty after Junior responds to the summons that was thrown away. The case is supposed to be open and shut, but when Dre sees that the defendant is a young African American, he feels a civic responsibility to give him a fair trial. Meanwhile, Bow decides to let the kids swear in the house since they are more open with her that way, but she and Ruby soon regret the decision.

The episode was rated 7.82 from 886 votes.

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#8 - The Purge (Season 3 - Episode 5)

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After Junior embarrasses Dre during a basketball game, Dre decides to remind Junior of his master pranking skills so he’ll never challenge him again. Meanwhile, the neighborhood participates in a “mischief night” during Halloween where petty crimes become legal, and Ruby takes it too far with the kids.

The episode was rated 7.84 from 899 votes.

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#7 - All Groan Up (Season 3 - Episode 22)

When Zoey gets into several colleges around the country, Dre and Bow begin to feel worried and sentimental. They reflect back on memories they’ve had with the family and wonder what life will be like without her around all the time. Pops enlists the twins to try and sway Zoey to go to college in a city they want to visit.

The episode was rated 7.84 from 802 votes.

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#6 - Hope (Season 2 - Episode 16)

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When the kids ask some tough questions in the midst of a highly publicized court case involving alleged police brutality and an African-American teenager, Dre and Bow are conflicted on how best to field them. Dre, along with Pops and Ruby, feel the kids need to know what kind of world they’re living in, while Bow would like to give them a more hopeful view about life. When the verdict is announced, the family handles the news in different ways while watching the community react.

The episode was rated 7.85 from 629 votes.

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#5 - Mother Nature (Season 4 - Episode 2)

Bow is feeling overwhelmed after the birth of DeVante and learns she is suffering from postpartem depression. Dre urges her to get help and stands by her side while she works through it. Meanwhile, the kids babyproof the house in an effort to help their parents out

The episode was rated 7.86 from 711 votes.

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#4 - Dream Home (Season 4 - Episode 23)

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Dre and Bow are living separate lives and switching off with the kids. They start to realize how much they relied on each other and how hard it is being on their own. Dre gets his sleek, ultra-modern dream house in the canyon with all the amenities, and Bow doesn’t think it’s suitable for the kids.

The episode was rated 7.87 from 297 votes.

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#3 - Sprinkles (Season 3 - Episode 24)

Initially wary, Dre embraces throwing Bow’s baby shower and wants it to be unforgettable. However, his plans are put on hold when Bow stops by the OB/GYN with a headache and discovers she is having complications.

The episode was rated 7.89 from 794 votes.

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#2 - Daddy Dre-Care (Season 2 - Episode 23)

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The flu is going around the Johnson household, and with things in flux at work, Dre tries to avoid catching the bug at all costs. Dre has to step up and take care of the whole family. Ruby is in quarantine with Bow, and she learns a lot about her mother-in-law. Meanwhile, the kids want Bow to take care of them and resist Dre’s help.

The episode was rated 7.91 from 666 votes.

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#1 - Lemons (Season 3 - Episode 12)

The nation is still reeling after the outcome of the presidential election, and tensions are particularly high at Dre’s work. Much to his frustration, they haven’t been able to get anything done since election night – eight weeks ago. Meanwhile, Junior is dealing with a disenfranchised student body as class president, and when he is asked to deliver Martin Luther King Jr.’s “I Have a Dream” speech at school, Pops teaches him there is more to the speech than Junior thought.

The episode was rated 8.12 from 942 votes.

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