Season 3 Discussion

[Dee]

I laughed out loud, forreal, at Rainbow's panicked reaction to Zoey assuming that her mom's 'era' was Studio 54. 'How old do you think I am?!'

[MadyGirl1987]

Such a funny episode! Loved Charlie panicking about Diane having the internet.

Made me remember some of my experiences on the internet as a kid. We got internet back when I was in 5th grade, the days of AOL and dial-up, so just a little older then the twins. One time, when I was in late middle school probably, I searched porn. Just typed in porn. Not to see anything but just wondering if it was really that easy to find. Just typed it into the search and then closed it out. Kids are curious and the internet can be such a series of landmines... If I was a parent it would freak me out... It's easy to see where Dre and Bow are coming from. Also thought Ruby had some good advice at the end about how stuff you don't want will always make its way into your home.

[Tiger]

Dre's side comment to Rachel about complaints about the extreme racism was definitely speaking to the online backlash to some of the fall eps.

Loved Bow obliviously snapchatting as she's being paged and a patient is being wheeled into the ER.  

[tennisgurl]

I cracked up at some of the technology references this episode, like Bow using snapchat filters while being paged at work, and Bow finding all sexy pictures on Zoe's Instagram...except for her Flash Back Thursday pictures.

Wow, Ruby was actually making sense for a minute there! Kids are going to find sexy things if they want to, no matter the generation, even if it is easier now. At least this episode didn't turn into an episode of Law and Order SVU, where the internet was apparently invented for the express purpose of getting kids and perverts together through web cams.

Dianne's old text book reminded me of my old social studies textbook from elementary school, which included a picture of the world with the USSR on it. This was in 1999.   

[DearEvette]

This was funny.

I love that for all her precociousness we were reminded just how young Diane is and that looking at sexy things on the computer freaked her out completely.  Her reading the old encyclopedias "Who is Ronald Regan and why does this say he is the current president" was funny.  And so relatable because I think our family set of Encyclopedia's are just right around when Bill Clinton became president.

I also appreciated that we got to all the breadcrumbs that led Diane to seeing porn -- especially when she walks into the house and sees Junior and Zoe and asks them 'what is sex?' and they simply say 'Google it" very disinterestedly. and she shrugs and says "ok."

I absolutely feel that Dre's work scene was most definitely a bit of fan service.  Pointedly telling us that Lucy got fired to make way for Stevens' son.  And Dre speaking as an aside about the out of control racism.  And Stevens and Son were still very toned down.  But it was still funny because Charlie's freak out over realizing it was Diane they were talking about instead of Zoe was worth the entire scene and I like how the new woman who was obviously sent there to control them got sucked into the drama immediately.  LOL.

Also, glad that we are seeing more of Bow's workplace as well.

[buckboard]

A funny episode, but ONCE AGAIN Dre's behavior as a parent is more juvenile than his children. 

They could have written a funny scene with Dre being uncomfortable talking to his daughter about sex (along with his wife).  But Dre wasn't just uncomfortable in that scene; he was COWERING behind the corner, leaving the responsibility entirely up to Bow.  

It is embarrassing watching him play the buffoon episode after episode.  (Disney World.  Verbally abusing Junior.  Older daughter gets a job, etc., etc.)   Dre is a Black man trying to deal with living an upper middle class life in a white neighborhood and job and when they write about that in an amusing vein, it is gold.   

[OnceSane]

I loved Charlie's fear about Diane's access to the internet, and new lady at Dre's work falling into discussing the internet issue instead of getting them back on track.

I'd also like to see a little less of Dre's manbaby side, it's not as funny as the writers think. 

[gesundheit]

Out of curiosity (because I'm a bit out of the loop), what's the fan backlash people are referring to about the workplace scenes earlier this season?

[RedHawk]

My eyes were watching my iPhone screen through most of this episode, found it very boring, maybe the worst one so far. Aside from Charlie's (always dependably) entertaining moments, it was a "meh". Oh, I did like Ruby declaring that she was an adult so Dre and Bow could not control her use of electronics.

[shura]

1 hour ago, DearEvette said:

I absolutely feel that Dre's work scene was most definitely a bit of fan service.  Pointedly telling us that Lucy got fired to make way for Stevens' son.  And Dre speaking as an aside about the out of control racism.  And Stevens and Son were still very toned down.

What is the point of Stevens' son character anyway? What is it that he brings to the table that the showrunners thought the show needed?

42 minutes ago, RedHawk said:

Oh, I did like Ruby declaring that she was an adult so Dre and Bow could not control her use of electronics.

And the quickly scurrying out of the room to be sure they don't, as if she wasn't completely convinced that what she said was true. It was very teenager-like.  I also liked Diane's "I better give up my Speak & Spell too. Who knows what I might spell?" Do they still make Speak & Spell? Or did it come together with the Reagan book?

[peeayebee]

I like how they're making Bow more wacky, esp at work. Forgetting to monitor anesthesia, too busy SnapChatting to hear herself being paged. Loved when the patient groggily said, "I feel air on my liver."

The flashback to how Bow reacted to Diane watching porn cracked me up. "No! Bad!"

Another favorite Bow moment was when she and Dre were talking to Junior -- 

Bow: It's not that I don't trust you.
Dre: I don't trust you.
Bow: I don't either!

Everything with Charle was great. Besides his panic over learning that Diane had access to the internet, I liked when the new woman was asking Dre if he wanted to bring up racism, and Charlie was nodding vigorously.

[Michel]

This episode was pretty much pitch perfect.

Dre and Bow dealing with Diane seeing sex in front of her face, Diane going completely back to the days of little to no technology, Zoey and Junior being collateral damage, most of Ruby's scenes, almost all of Charlie's scenes (including nodding rapidly at Dre to address the racism), and even the workplace scenes weren't too bad.  I do like that they seem have to have pulled back on Connor (so that's Stevens's son's name!) a little bit and even on Stevens himself.

One of the best parts, though, was seeing more of Bow at her workplace at last, and yes, like @peeayebee said, showing her as wacky at work.

Very entertaining episode.  Gets an "A" for me.

Edited January 5, 2017 by Michel

[Traveller519]

I will carry a candle for Diane Farr until the end of time

[DearEvette]

7 hours ago, gesundheit said:

Out of curiosity (because I'm a bit out of the loop), what's the fan backlash people are referring to about the workplace scenes earlier this season?

Stevens has always been a privileged rich white guy, but some of the early eps this season they feel liked they crossed a line from just 'clueless' mild racism with Stevens to something a little more explicit and virulent.  Imo, it was jarring and a lot of people seemed to notice it.

[buckboard]

4 hours ago, peeayebee said:

I like how they're making Bow more wacky, esp at work. Forgetting to monitor anesthesia, too busy SnapChatting to hear herself being paged. Loved when the patient groggily said, "I feel air on my liver."

The flashback to how Bow reacted to Diane watching porn cracked me up. "No! Bad!"

Another favorite Bow moment was when she and Dre were talking to Junior -- 

Bow: It's not that I don't trust you.
Dre: I don't trust you.
Bow: I don't either!

Everything with Charle was great. Besides his panic over learning that Diane had access to the internet, I liked when the new woman was asking Dre if he wanted to bring up racism, and Charlie was nodding vigorously.

[buckboard]

Quote

I like how they're making Bow more wacky, esp at work. Forgetting to monitor anesthesia, too busy SnapChatting to hear herself being paged. Loved when the patient groggily said, "I feel air on my liver.

That opinion apparently is the view of the majority of viewers, but, to each her own.  For me, it's one thing to make Bow look socially awkward in interactions with people, but I sure would like to see her portrayed as competent professionally, not a wacky Jacky.  You know, like an Ivy League graduate with a long career in medicine?  I know this is a comedy and not a documentary, but I think making Bow an airhead at work detracts from her character.    

Edited January 6, 2017 by Drogo
Quote formatting.

[CaptainCranky]

The show continues to become less and less much watch TV for me.

1. Bow's medical career is not realistic.

2. Dre's poor job of parenting and his character turning into a whiney idiot.

3. Steven's son is terrible.

On the plus side the kids characters and Charlie I love.

[possibilities]

13 hours ago, shura said:

What is the point of Stevens' son character anyway? What is it that he brings to the table that the showrunners thought the show needed?

This is such a mystery.

Kenya Barris (the showrunner) was interviewed by Terry Gross on Fresh Air (NPR) this week, and he says he identifies with Dre, and whenever the show is debating any issue, Dre can pretty much be understood to represent Barris' viewpoint.

So whenever I see the show demeaning Bow or adding another manbaby (like Stevens' son) while eliminating a female role, I am going to just take it as a sign that Barris was feeling starved for attention and throwing a tantrum.

I do want to see Bow at work, but I'm not thrilled that they're making her a ditz. On the other hand, Dre is and always has been a baby, so maybe this is just a form of equality where everyone is brought down so that the manbaby doesn't feel lesser.

[LBS]

I thought this episode was pretty good!  My favorite line was an aside from Charlie when he found out that Diane was on the internet and fearful that she knows where he lives "you're white.  You must have a pool house".   The way he said it just struck me as so funny!  I need to re-watch it again because I was half-watching while on my phone (ironically)

[ExplainItAgain]

Charlie is the best. So far they've used him exactly like a show should use a funny side character - sparingly. Somehow these characters end up taking over a lot of shows and they get more exaggerated over time so I appreciate the few Charlie moments we get. I love how he said "It's DIANE that has....the internet?"

[attica]

17 hours ago, Traveller519 said:

I will carry a candle for Diane Farr until the end of time

She really was the best thing about Loveline back in the day.

[Dagny]

When it was revealed that Diane googled sex, I was a little disappointed becaue it was easy. I wanted it to play more on everyone's fear that she is going to be a mad power-broker when she gets older.

[ElectricBoogaloo]

 One thing I really enjoyed about this episode was the reminder of how things used to be when Dre and his coworkers were younger. Instead of having porn available on the Internet from simply googling, people had to sneak their dad's Playboys or watch scrambled Cinemax!

I also liked Ruby pointing out that parents will always be shocked at how explicit things are and what their kids have access to. Her reaction to 2 Live Crew was hilarious (as was Dre's explanation that he just liked looking at wet butts).

To be fair, actual porn is much more inappropriate than a 2 Live Crew video so I understand Bow and Dre freaking out that Diane had seen porn. I just hate that Bow was the only one willing to put aside her discomfort in order to have an actual conversation with Diane about it. 

Charlie's reaction to Diane having internet access was hilarious!

[Happytobehere]

To me the best thing about the episode was how it dealt with Diane.  I have felt that the Diane is a sociopath undercurrent was being played up far too much.  So to see her react as a child and being treated as a child by her parents, who are far too often seen as living in abject terror of her was refreshing.

[Granny58]

On 1/5/2017 at 3:41 PM, peeayebee said:

I like how they're making Bow more wacky, esp at work. Forgetting to monitor anesthesia, too busy SnapChatting to hear herself being paged. Loved when the patient groggily said, "I feel air on my liver."

The flashback to how Bow reacted to Diane watching porn cracked me up. "No! Bad!"

Another favorite Bow moment was when she and Dre were talking to Junior -- 

Bow: It's not that I don't trust you.
Dre: I don't trust you.
Bow: I don't either!

Everything with Charle was great. Besides his panic over learning that Diane had access to the internet, I liked when the new woman was asking Dre if he wanted to bring up racism, and Charlie was nodding vigorously.

I love everything Bow does and says.  She and Charlie are my favorites.  

[mansonlamps]

I hate Bow being "Wacky" ( incompetent) at work.  She's my favorite character, but now it seems like Ruby's dismissive treatment of Bow's  career is merited.  They made her look like an overgrown teenager IMO.

[DearEvette]

3 hours ago, mansonlamps said:

I hate Bow being "Wacky" ( incompetent) at work.  She's my favorite character, but now it seems like Ruby's dismissive treatment of Bow's  career is merited.  They made her look like an overgrown teenager IMO.

Normally I would agree with you.  But TER is such a great comedic actress!  Honestly when the show started I was in fear of them defaulting to the sitcom trope of the husband being the wacky-loser-manchild and the wife being the sensible-wise-straightman so much that we wouldn't really get to see her stretch comedically.  But I really do see Tracee as a Lucille Ball type.  So for me, letting her be a little more wacky even at work feels really good for me.  And we have seen her be very competent at work in the past so I don't necessarily see these small glimpses as being really indicative of her abilities.

[Arcadiasw]

3 hours ago, mansonlamps said:

I hate Bow being "Wacky" ( incompetent) at work.  She's my favorite character, but now it seems like Ruby's dismissive treatment of Bow's  career is merited.  They made her look like an overgrown teenager IMO.

Bow is becoming more like Dre. I was surprised they still remember Bow is pregnant and are continuing with the baby bump we saw in the Christmas show.

I guess I wasn't paying attention but I didn't know both Ruby and Pops were living with Dre and Bow? I thought it was only Pops. Poor Bow. Yikes.

[Mrs OldManBalls]

Loved Diane's "Am I a pervert now?" 

[charmed1]

Stevens has always portrayed his kids to be a sort of an American Uday and Qusay, so I'm never surprised by his son. I hope the writing doesn't change based on the Internets. I enjoy the show as it is.

[Marley]

Why is Bow pregnant? It has added nothing to the show. I keep hoping they forget about it or something.

I did not like Bow being a complete moron at work. It's just not funny.

Dre is an idiot but he still cracks me up.

[attica]

It probably is too obvious to mention, but on the off chance peeps don't know, the title of the ep is a nod to the Zora Neale Hurston book Their Eyes Were Watching God in which (among other things) a grandmother sees her teenage granddaughter smooching a boy and panics that the girl will be ruined. And then she overreacts, which in turn creates....consequences.

[OnceSane]

Quote

Bow convinces a begrudging Dre to try therapy, and he learns how to cope with his anger issues. Meanwhile, Johan becomes a life coach to the kids.

[gesundheit]

On 1/5/2017 at 7:31 PM, DearEvette said:

Stevens has always been a privileged rich white guy, but some of the early eps this season they feel liked they crossed a line from just 'clueless' mild racism with Stevens to something a little more explicit and virulent.  Imo, it was jarring and a lot of people seemed to notice it.

Thanks for the explanation and, yes, that makes perfect sense. I remember wondering when the racism went from microaggressions to folks who probably have white hoods at home!

[mtlchick]

Well that was heavy.  And shades of All in the Family, which given the current state of affairs and broadcast TV, is something that needed to be said.  

After a really weird start, the writers have figured out what do with this season. 

[Dee]

The episode's writing was pretty well balanced but the tone was overly earnest.

Anthony Anderson is really gunning for that lead actor emmy this year.

[Nordly Beaumont]

I thought it was well done. I have a friend who's about one Trevor Project scarf away from being Bow.

Loved the sweet moment of Jack insisting his glass was half full. Even though it was empty. And a bowl.

[Sparger Springs]

I thought it was too preachy.

[Bronzedog]

It was sort of an after school special.

[kaygeeret]

I am old so that means I remember the "I have a dream speech" when it happened.  I majored in English/Speech and I have yet too find a contemporary speech that has the power to move that MLK's speech did and does.  I was misty at the end for sure.

I found the entire episode resonated with me, in particular of course Dre's speech at work.... a lovely speech of aspiration and reconciliation that I fear will fall on deaf ears.

But, most memorably the interaction between grandpa and grandson throughout the epi...just brilliant writing...and beautifully done by the actors.

The child actors have come under quite a bit of criticism, a lot of which I have agreed....however, I now believe it has more to do with the writing and the 'vision' of the episodes.

This epi, to me only of course, demonstrated the kids are indeed actors and the oldest son knocked it out of the park!  Gosh I wish I could remember his name.

[auntiemel]

This was totally the "Isaac and Ishmael" of Blackish! I loved it. I also loved Isaac and Ishmael, though, which is another unpopular opinion. :) I think, because of the kind of show this is--the premise, and the issues it has a history of tackling--it would have been a blatant oversight to not include this episode. It reminded me of the "Very Special" episodes of sitcoms in the 70s and 80s, even into the 90s. Which (third unpopular opinion of the night) I also loved. :)

To me, if a sitcom spends 90% of the time making me laugh, 5% making me cry, and 5% making me think - that's a balance I adore!

Lastly, it's nice to see Catherine Reitman back from (I assume) filming Workin' Moms.

[jumper sage]

This was one of the best episodes so far.  I have been back and forth with this show but tonight's episode really resonated with me.

Little fyi:  During the MLK speech a park ranger is next to him to protect him for it was up to the park ranger to handle the event.  Years later he was interviewed about his role that day.  

Edited January 12, 2017 by jumper sage

[NUguy514]

I don't care how preachy and earnest it was: I cried through the second half of this episode.  That's probably the most powerful episode of television I will see all year.

[Michel]

Where the hell did Charlie go halfway through the episode?  He was there, but he was suddenly gone.

I swear, I watched the pandemonium caused by Lucy's admission I can't tell you how many times.  That was a lot of laughs for me.  Though she explained her point of view well enough.  Though speaking of Lucy, I thought she was Hispanic, not white.  I could've sworn she'd even said she was once.

Daphne and Connor were both used shockingly well in this episode.  Even Josh didn't come across as dim as he usually does.

Not a lot of Jack or Diane, for some reason.

All in all, this episode resonated with me.  I feel the same way as Bow -- I'm scared.  Scared of what this country's going to be in for.  Scared of what this country is going to do to other countries.  And scared of whether or not international relations will remain good or completely crumble all because millions of morons elected the king of all morons to the office.  I know Connor and Lucy both said that he should be given an honest chance, but . . . I don't know if I can give him that.

Edited January 12, 2017 by Michel

[ElectricBoogaloo]

1 hour ago, Michel said:

Where the hell did Charlie go halfway through the episode?  He was there, but he was suddenly gone.

Daphne and Connor were both used shockingly well in this episode.  Even Josh didn't come across as dim as he usually does.

Heh, Charlie went to the library, allegedly to find out if Obama was really a Decocrat, but really to return Young Guns 2, which he does not recommend.

I was surprised that Josh was given a break from his usual role of cartoon to say some good stuff.

Variety interview with Kenya Barris and Anthony Anderson about Lemons episode

[Superpole2000]

I would have loved to have seen something a little more enlightened than "Trump sucks! How could you not vote for Hillary?" The show did actually veer down a more interesting line of thinking when it condemned the system and said that neither Trump nor Hillary would have changed much of anything. The historical snapshots really worked and helped save this for me.

I didn't like the "White women aren't sisters. We hate each other!" line. I really hope people don't think that's the case, and I hope shows/media will stop joking about it.

Edited January 12, 2017 by Superpole2000

[charmed1]

Quote

The child actors have come under quite a bit of criticism, a lot of which I have agreed....however, I now believe it has more to do with the writing and the 'vision' of the episodes.

They have? Not doubting you, I'd just like to know who's been making those criticisms so I can egg their houses. The children, Jenifer, and Deon make the show for me. No disrespect to Tracee, but if anybody's deserving of awards, in my opinion, it's them.

Edited January 12, 2017 by charmed1

[MyAimIsTrue]

LOVED this episode, loved it.  I thought it was so well done, funny when it needed to be and thought provoking at other times. 

One thing that stuck out to me was the banter at Dre's work and while I know they're all professional actors I was surprised by how natural those scenes felt with people talking all over each other, little snide comments at just the right time, etc.   The naturalness of that conversation could have taken place in the conference room at my office.

[KateeBar]

Loved this episode as well. Some of those workplace conversations were almost exactly like real-life conversations I've had with co-workers and friends since the election. 

While this season has been a bit more uneven than the previous two, I continue to appreciate the writing team's ability to deliver intelligent and thought-provoking discourse on hot button topics, in a sitcom. Of course it all doesn't land perfectly, but I'll take some of the thuds along with the brilliant bits. 

And I too can't figure out who would criticize the kid actors. I find them some of the best on TV at this point. Interesting.

[DrivingSideways]

I'm glad others liked this episode.  Maybe it wasn't aimed at me.  It felt preachy and condescending, and the tone was all off.  Anthony Anderson's Emmy reel speeches were eyeroll inducing... his boss asking him "Why don't you care about America..."  I mean, come on.  I don't have a problem with the content of the episode, but I am not watching network sitcoms for morality plays.  Not a Trump voter or fan, but it's so hard to find a respite from politics that I was bummed to see this show take a hard right into pedantic drama.