The essential episodes of black-ish
Watch these 15 in order and you've got black-ish — each pick states its reason.
- 01
In "Pilot," Dre, an advertising exec, is happily anticipating a promotion at work, which would make him the firm's first African American senior vice president. Rainbow, an anesthesiologist, is looking forward to Dre's raise. Meanwhile, Andre Jr. makes an announcement -- he's converting to Judaism so he can have a Bar Mitzvah, like all his friends.
- 02
When Dre agrees to take over Rainbow's "mom" duties for a week, the overwhelming praise he gets from everyone at his kids' school goes to his head. He soon finds himself pushing the envelope to outdo everyone, even the school's "crazy mom".
- 03
Although Dre and Rainbow agreed they would no longer spank their kids, all bets might be off when Jack disobeys. Now, Zoey, Junior, Diane and a nervous Jack are afraid that their parents will go back on their word.
- 04
Dre fears his holiday fun will be ruined when the older kids balk at the glorious Johnson Halloween tradition of seeing who can pull the most outlandish pranks on each other.
- 05
After the kids turn their collective noses up at Dre's favorite cheap restaurant in his old 'hood, he decides it's time to give them a reality check. He insists all of them get jobs. But when Andre Jr. and Zoey start working at his office, he can't help but interfere, and Jack and Diane's efforts to make some spare cash leave the neighbors thinking the family has fallen on hard times, much to Bow's embarrassment.
- 06
"Oedipal Triangle"- Dre's mother, Ruby, comes for a visit, and she smothers her pork chops with gravy, Dre with love, and would like to flat out smother Bow, who feels the same way about her. Dre tries to find a way to get the two most important women in his life to get along, on "black-ish.
- 07
Dre wants the family to feel more connected so he encourages "Team Johnson" to embrace what it means to have each other's backs. But Dre creates trouble for himself when he falls short of Bow's expectations. Meanwhile, Bow and Dre invoke "Team Johnson" and put the less-than-enthusiastic Zoey and Andre Jr. in charge of babysitting the twins.
- 08
Dre's sister, Rhonda, is getting married to her girlfriend, Sharon, and the upcoming nuptials lead to a conversation on tradition. Dre finds out that Bow is against the patriarchal convention of taking the man's last name, but he never knew this because Bow's maiden name is also Johnson. Meanwhile, Jack and Diane want to be the ring bearer and flower girl but worry they've aged out of the gigs, and Junior and Zoey prep Ruby to embrace her daughter's relationship.
- 09
Their Eyes Were Watching Screens
When Diane stumbles onto some websites that give her more than she bargained for, Dre and Bow must take action. Concerned that the internet is corrupting their children, Dre and Bow decide to make their home an internet free-zone and deal with the backlash.
- 10
Dre raises awareness for a new holiday.
- 11
Dre has concerns about Jack and Diane spending the weekend with their friends' family in the desert. Meanwhile, Pops is forced to come to terms with how he treats women after he helps set Junior up.
- 12
The Johnsons go on vacation at an all-inclusive beach resort in paradise. Dre and Bow meet a couple without kids and live a kid-less fantasy for a while but soon begin to crave their kid-filled reality. Junior catches the eye of a cute girl at the resort and vies for her attention, while Jack gets the flu.
- 13
Dre underestimates how hard of an adjustment operating during a pandemic will be for the Johnsons. Meanwhile, Junior's attempts to bring his girlfriend closer to the family are stymied by the new realities of social distancing.
- 14
Going against Bow's warning, Dre tries to educate her white cousin Gary about how to be an ally. Meanwhile, Olivia is trying to impress Junior's family by attempting to psychoanalyze everyone and their relationships with each other. .
- 15
As Pops and Ruby prepare to move away, Dre and Bow consider if they should make a big life change as well. Grappling with this idea at work, Dre receives some unexpected advice from Simone Biles, who tells him to follow his heart. The Johnsons prepare for their goodbyes in the series finale.
Shows like black-ish
The closest matches on shared genres, ranked by match strength and popularity.
- 01Comedy·FamilyThe essential episodes of The Simpsons1989–present·FOX
The Simpsons is the longest running scripted show in US television history. - 02Comedy·FamilyThe essential episodes of Family Guy1999–present·FOX
Family Guy follows Peter Griffin the endearingly ignorant dad, and his hilariously offbeat family of middle-class New Englanders in Quahog, RI. - 03Comedy·FamilyThe essential episodes of American Dad!2005–present·FOXIn American Dad!, Stan Smith leads the all-American family in this animated sitcom filled with wild and crazy extremes.
- 04Comedy·FamilyThe essential episodes of Modern Family2009–2020Same network — ABC·
- 05Comedy·FamilyThe essential episodes of Bob's Burgers2011–present·FOXThe series follows Bob who runs Bob's Burgers, with the help of his wife and their three kids.
- 06Comedy·FamilyThe essential episodes of Mom2013–2021·CBS
Christy is a single mom who, after years of questionable choices, is now sober and trying to get her life on track.
