Black-ish ran for eight seasons on ABC from 2014 to 2022, following the Johnson family as they try to hold onto their Black identity while living in a wealthy, mostly white suburb. The show is built on that tension, and it never lets go of it.
Trailer, via IGN.
The Johnson Family
Andre Johnson, played by Anthony Anderson, runs a successful ad agency. His wife Rainbow, played by Tracee Ellis Ross, is an anesthesiologist. Their children include Zoey, played by Yara Shahidi, the confident eldest; Junior, played by Marcus Scribner, the nerdy middle child; and twins Jack and Diane, played by Miles Brown and Marsai Martin. Later seasons add more characters: Dre’s mother Ruby, played by Jenifer Lewis; his co-workers Josh Oppenhol and Charlie Telphy, played by Jeff Meacham and Deon Cole; his boss Leslie Stevens, played by Peter MacKenzie; and Junior’s girlfriend Olivia Lockhart, played by Katlyn Nichol. Laurence Fishburne plays Dre’s father Earl, a recurring character throughout.
The Show’s Core Tension
The Johnsons want to keep their Black identity alive even as they live in a neighborhood full of white neighbors. That balance drives almost every episode. The show treats this tension as comedy, but it also handles serious subjects like race, politics, and family pressure.
What Works
The writing stays sharp across eight seasons. The cast is consistently strong, with Anderson and Ross carrying the show while the younger actors grow into bigger roles over time. The show also benefits from guest stars who appear regularly, adding depth to the Johnsons’ world.
What Doesn’t Work
Not every season lands with the same force. Some episodes feel thin, built around jokes that don’t connect to the show’s central idea. The show can also lean too hard on its premise, repeating itself without giving the characters new ground to cover.
Comparing Episodes
| Type | Strength | Weakness |
|---|---|---|
| Best episodes | Funny and emotional | None |
| Worst episodes | Thin jokes | Repeats the premise |
The show’s best episodes hit both funny and emotional notes. Its worst ones simply repeat what came before.
Our Verdict
Black-ish isn’t perfect, but it’s consistent. The show knows what it wants to say about race and family, and it says it clearly. The cast is excellent, and the writing holds up across eight seasons. The show’s weaknesses are real, but they don’t cancel out its strengths.
The show gives its characters room to grow over time.
Our score: 7.7 out of 10.
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