The worst episodes of grown-ish
Ranked by viewer rating, lows first. Lit marks on the season rail place this list across the run. Vote on a placement to back it or contest it.
- 01
Zoey and the gang return for their sophomore year and Zoey is determined to make the “sequel” better than the original. She, Ana and Nomi move into a less-than-stellar off-campus apartment and have to quickly adjust to each other as roommates. Zoey is excited to see Luca again after a summer of keeping in touch via social media.
- 02
Zoey feels insecure when she realizes that her friends don’t see her relationship with Luca as #RelationshipGoals, prompting her to try a little too hard to prove that what they have is special. In his first move as an RA, Aaron organizes a movie night to build community … but his film choice does nothing to help people unwind.
- 03
Zoey struggles to make amends after accidentally breaking one of the group’s unspoken social rules and upsetting both Jazz and Luca. After Aaron and Vivek’s kickback is shut down by campus police, they try to find other ways to turn up.
- 04
While waiting for the mysterious drop of a modern-day musical genius, the gang debates what really makes a person “genius.”
- 05
When Nomi’s endless string of one-night stands starts to throw off the apartment dynamic, Zoey and Ana confront her. Aaron encourages Ana to let loose for a night and the friends all agree to check off an item from their bucket list.
- 06
When Luca faces an exciting, high-pressure assignment for his design class, Zoey starts to wonder if she’s made a mistake in her future career choice. Jazz and Sky are frustrated when they see that an untalented but undeniably sexy basketball player is receiving more attention than they are and debate with Aaron and Vivek if body image trumps skill.
- 07
When a new “Enthusiastic Sober Consent” policy is introduced on the CalU campus, everyone has strong opinions about whether it’s in place for the students’ benefit or to protect the school. Cash is caught in the crossfire and Luca is surprised when Zoey jumps to his defense.
- 08
Zoey decides to give styling a try and offers to help the twins revamp their image in the hope of boosting their social media following. Knowing that sex sells, Jazz wants to play up her sexuality more than the other girls are comfortable with, sparking a conversation about image and empowerment. Meanwhile, Ana’s new romance heats up.
- 09
When Zoey sees that Luca’s exhibit at the CalU Arts Fair dominantly features one of his ex-girlfriends, it sends her into a spiral of wanting to know more about his past. Nomi takes Professor Hewson’s advice and tries to learn more about the queer community on campus.
- 10
Zoey takes a work hard, play harder approach when her midterm falls the morning after the semester’s biggest rager and is forced to deal with the consequences. Meanwhile, both Ana and Nomi find themselves facing big decisions in their new romances.
- 11
Zoey is left to deal with the aftermath of getting caught cheating on her exam, including getting cut off financially by her parents. She takes another devastating hit when Aaron accidentally reveals that he and Ana have been hooking up, causing a snowball of feelings, fracturing her friendships with everyone around her.
- 12
To mask her true emotions, Zoey recruits her brother Junior to be her wingman at Titanium for a fun night out, ignoring the drama that is taking place around her. But that backfires when Junior makes an unexpected connection with one of Zoey’s friends and she’s left to face her emotions up front. Meanwhile, Nomi debates giving Paige another chance.
- 13
Zoey starts to feel the impact of her dwindling bank account. Her friends encourage her to get a job, but she struggles to find something that vibes with her career goals. Ana and Aaron consider attempting the “Shield Challenge.”
- 14
Labels are on everyone’s mind as Ana and Aaron struggle to define what they each want out of their relationship. Doug and Vivek are convinced that Aaron is boo’d up. Zoey tries getting “Luca Jae Hall”-level high, but winds up overdoing it.
- 15
Zoey and her girls head to the Johnson family home in Sherman Oaks for a weekend of self-care and detoxing … but Zoey soon learns that her idea of relaxation may not align with what they all really need. Aaron reconnects with his passion for activism and hosts a fundraiser for his community.
- 16
Vivek is getting a little too comfortable at Hawkins, sparking a heated debate over whether Vivek has crossed the line into cultural appropriation. Zoey does a service project to style a high school student for her prom.
- 17
Zoey, Ana and Nomi realize that they’ve been too nice to their significant others at their own expenses. They each take a small stand for their own happiness, resulting in some changes to their relationships.
- 18
Aaron is affected deeply when he learns one of his residents was possibly contemplating suicide and decides to bring awareness to black mental health on campus. With the campuswide “Fundie Run” on the horizon, Jazz and Sky let the competition get the best of them. Meanwhile, Zoey hones in on why fashion is so important to her.
- 19
Aaron hosts an elegant fundraiser for his new “Black Minds Matter” cause, bringing everyone together for a night to remember. The gang is excited to meet the event’s special guest, especially Luca, and Zoey makes sure to do everything to get him the face time he wants. Sky is feeling overwhelmed by Jazz and Doug’s overattentiveness.
- 20
As the gang’s sophomore year ends, bottled up emotions start to unravel, causing rifts in friendships, relationships, and some interesting reconciliations.
- 21
It’s Junior year and the gang throws an HBCU-themed Homecoming party to kick off the semester at their new off-campus house. Zoey returns from her summer internship abroad and realizes that she has to confront her feelings for Aaron and Luca quickly. Meanwhile, the rest of the crew is left to deal with some of the repercussions of their big mistakes before summer break.
- 22
The crew tries their best to cope with a shocking surprise, but another unexpected bomb sends Zoey into a spiral.
- 23
When Nomi challenges Zoey to try to be friends with Luca after their breakup, Zoey is forced to consider the age-old question, “Is it possible to be friends with your ex?” Meanwhile, Jazz and Doug try to help Vivek navigate the world of dating apps.
- 24
Luca sends off a confusing text to Zoey that has both of them spinning. Meanwhile, Ana leads the girls around campus on a “dorm storm” voter registration drive. Aaron reels after learning about his massive student loan debt.
- 25
Aaron’s student loan troubles come to a head when he looks for a job at the Cal U job fair, which leads him to ask Zoey for her help in getting a job working for her dad at Stevens & Lido. Meanwhile, Sky struggles to come to terms with her recent discovery about Rodney. Jillian tries to bond with Zoey.
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