‘Black-ish’ Catch-Up Guide: More Than Very Special Episodes and Good Times

Marcus Scribner, Tracee Ellis Ross, Anthony Anderson, Laurence Fishburne, Yara Shahidi, Marsai Martin, and Jenifer Lewis (Credit: ABC/Ron Tom)
Miles Brown, Marcus Scribner, Tracee Ellis Ross, Anthony Anderson, Laurence Fishburne, Yara Shahidi, Marsai Martin, and Jenifer Lewis (Credit: ABC/Ron Tom)

No sophomore slump here! In its second season, Black-ish officially established itself as must-see TV — and if you haven’t seen it, you really need to. The ABC comedy about the Johnsons, an upper-middle-class black family living in Los Angeles, made headlines with thought-provoking episodes built around a variety of hot-button topics. Then it proceeded to top off its 24-episode second season with a trio of Emmy nominations: for Outstanding Comedy Series as well as for lead actor and actress Anthony Anderson and Tracee Ellis Ross.

Related: Anthony Anderson’s Funniest Moments From the Emmy Nominations

A range of social issues were addressed in Season 2, with family patriarch Dre Johnson (Anderson) contemplating buying a gun, and the family skipping out on a predominantly white Presbyterian church for “cultural reasons.” Racism was addressed when Dre made assumptions about why his family wasn’t invited to their neighbors’ pool. And then there was the question of whether the Johnsons should hire a black nanny. The Bill Cosby scandal? Black-ish went there, too, and even recreated The Cosby Show’s famous opening credits in its homage to the fallen ’80s sitcom.

Watch the full “Rock, Paper, Scissors, Gun” episode of Black-ish:

If you’re behind on Black-ish, there’s still time to catch up before the new season premieres this fall. So, before you head into Season 3, here’s a primer on Season 2.

The Word

Black-ish kicked off its second season with an unspoken word. The episode “The Word” had young Jack Johnson (Miles Brown) performing Kanye West’s “Gold Digger,” and he cluelessly included the N word. While viewers didn’t hear the word uttered — it was conspicuously bleeped out — the scene served as a catalyst for a much-needed intergenerational conversation for the Johnson family.

Hope

And speaking of family discussions, the entire Johnson clan got into it in the season’s most-talked-about episode “Hope,” set in the family living room as they awaited a grand jury verdict on a police officer who shot an unarmed black teen. The family’s differing views on dealing with police brutality culminated with Dre insisting to his wife that they can’t sugarcoat things anymore, despite the fact that she wants their kids, Zoey, Andre Jr., Jack, and Diane to have a little hope in today’s terrifying world.

A Baby Bombshell

It was Dr. Dre to the rescue when his whole family came down with the flu. Except in Bow’s case, it might be a nine-month bug. That’s right, the season’s penultimate episode, “Daddy Dre-Care,” had Bow announcing that she’s pregnant. Of course, the timing couldn’t be worse — and not just because Mama Johnson thinks she’s too old for a bun in the oven. Layoffs are happening at Dre’s ad agency. Which brings us to…

Good-ish Times

Dre, worried about how he’d support another child, fell asleep watching a Good Times marathon on TV, then had a dream about how his life would change if he was living on a low income. Season 2 went out in a retro way when the Black-ish characters channeled the Evans family from the 1970s Norman Lear sitcom. The set was transformed into an apartment in an inner-city housing project for Dre’s version, Good-ish Times. In Dre’s world, Thelma (Ellis Ross) is pregnant and her boyfriend Keith (Anderson) hopes to support her with a pro football pipe dream (with the Houston Oilers, lol!). And while no one can ever fill Jimmie Walker’s shoes (or hat!) as J.J. Evans, Black-ish star Marcus Scribner tipped his hat to the classic TV character in this throwback episode that paves the way for next season — and baby No. 5.

Since Black-ish ended its first season with a high-concept episode, here’s hoping the pattern continues next season — because these fantasy episodes are dy-no-mite!

Black-ish returns Wednesday, Sept. 21 at 9:30 p.m. on ABC.

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