![]() So does Johan, though he Johans it up and gets a little roughed up by a cop. The fact that, when cops show up, an innocent Dre runs and leaves his also-innocent son, also-innocent brother-in-law,and a drunk-and-unconscious Janine behind is the type of selfish Dre thing that's funny at knee-jerk response but almost doesn't work in the long run - until Junior does the same thing. ![]() If anything, the episode feels a bit rushed in how it reaches the (understandably obvious) conclusion to the plot: Dre is actually right, despite all of the ways he is doubted and doubts himself. It's not something the episode dwells on or turns into Very Special Episode fodder, but it is something that's apparent to Dre. It also leads to people feeling way too comfortable being casually racist around him, and that's what happens here where Janine goes on about the "too Persian" renovations from the neighborhood's Persian family during the Homeowners Association meeting. It's a nice touch that Dre letting his guard down doesn't just lead to the good things that being a more open person lead to. Plus, nuisance neighbor Janine (Nicole Sullivan) is always a welcome addition to any episode of Black-ish. The episode goes to extremes to give Dre doubt about his belief in the myth of the scary "big black man." The Dre/Johan/Junior elevator scene with the woman who gives out all of her personal information over the phone while Dre watches, stunned, is hilariously over-the-top and works even better because of how smugly straight Scribner and Daveed Diggs play it.Īs cartoonishly fun and chaotic as the Stevens & Lido scenes are, a return to the Johnson family's relations with their neighborhood is a satisfying and refreshing detour from Dre's work life. Naturally, Dre is perceived as seeing things that aren't there, even though he's technically right throughout in this episode. Dre, Charlie, and Curtis are aware of the type of community they're in when it comes to these types of situations. Stevens (Peter Mackenzie) and Josh (Jeff Meacham).īut as Charlie (Deon Cole) and Curtis (Allen Maldonado) confirm they did the same thing to avoid the "trap," it becomes apparent what the episode is really about. That leads to harsh judgment from the biggest creeps around, like Mr. Dre backs away slowly once the elevator doors close her in. The cold open is an instant classic, as Dre speaks in voice-over about just how important and special America is for the very fact that "everyone does their part" - only for him to freeze at the sight of a toddler girl in the parking garage elevator. ![]() He just has the "misfortune" of living with his perfect family in the suburbs and not having to face the realities of racism regularly. Because, let's face it, it's not only in his head. In "Who's Afraid of the Big Black Man," Dre again tries to prove that racism is still very much alive, and it's not just in his head. In "Martin Luther Skiing Day," Dre (Anthony Anderson) went "full Dre" in order to remind Junior (Marcus Scribner) that racism is still very much alive and that Martin Luther King didn't die for nothing. "Who's Afraid Of The Big Black Man" is essentially an improved upon version of the first season episode " Martin Luther Skiing Day." That's not necessarily a bad thing though. So yes, Black-ish often repeats itself in terms of general concepts. Plus, Ross always nails Bow's awkward attempts at being a cool mom, or in this case a "bomby" (a "bomb mommy"). Little things, like the fact that Bow doesn't try to bribe the kids with non-existent cookies as usual - and then fails when going with the subpar Rice Krispies Treats - are nice touches. The ultimate takeaway is this: three seasons in, Black-ish very much knows what it's doing and what it wants to be.Īs small as it is, Rainbow's (Tracee Ellis Ross) plot this week in this episode is the perfect example of that confidence: her attempts to spend more time with the children is similar to past episodes, but it's also a plot that Black-ish does easily without running out of ideas to keep it funny. Wednesday's "Who's Afraid of the Big Black Man?" does the best it can to avoid being too weighty, though there's certainly an underlying nature of the truth throughout the episode. It was funny, but also immensely weighty. ![]() Last season's phenomenal " Hope" specifically took on the epidemic of unarmed black shootings in the country, and proved to be the series' most subversive episode yet. After last week's political episode, this week, Black-ish detours into social issues, specifically those that affect black men in America. ![]()
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