Grown-ish Is Your Newest TV Obsession & Here's Why You Need To Tune In
We have to admit -- we've never really watched Black-ish, except for an episode or two. Surprising, we know, especially since we have a profound love for Tracee Ellis Ross. We are kindred spirits and we are writing into existence that one day, we'll be best friends. Okay, that reads really creepily, but you know what we mean. Regardless, it's been a show at the top of our to eventually binge list.
Despite all of this, we might've been more excited for the January 3rd series premiere of the show's spin-off, Grown-ish, than we were for New Year's.
Grown-ish is like if The Breakfast Club and A Different World were blended together and updated for 2018... and we are loving every second of it.
Listen, we would never be okay with a Breakfast Club remake, but Grown-ish did a good job incorporating the classic film into the TV series. The movie is referenced a few times in the series premiere and even in the promo pic, above, and the genius promo, below. We think John Hughes would be proud. It's perfectly produced for Gen Y to relate to, but also for us older Millennials to reminisce on.
Don't let the fact that it's on Freeform deter you. It's edgy and not sanitized. It's, dare we overuse the word, "woke." We want to say it's "diverse," but in all actuality, it's just reflective of the world we live in (shoutout to Shonda). It reminds us of our college experience at Temple University, which was a huge melting pot of every race, religion, culture, ethnicity, sexuality... you name it.
It makes us miss college, but then again, not. It brings us back to those awkward times when we thought we knew everything, only to realize we still had so much to learn. The show's first two episodes already touches on sexuality, drugs and race, to name a few. It's a coming of age show of sorts, and it holds a lot of promise.
It also doesn't hurt that the show is so perfectly cast. Grown-ish stars Yara Shahidi (the older daughter from Black-ish) and she is legit the coolest 17 year old in real life and on-screen. We want to grow up to be her... but sadly, that's a bit impossible, unless we're Benjamin Buttoning. We also need her character's wardrobe, stat.
The show also features a now grown-up Trevor Jackson, Beyonce's protégés Chloe x Halle, Secret Life star/Selena Gomez's BFF and kidney donor, Francia Raisa, Emily Arlook, and newbies Jordan Buhat and Luka Sabbat.
L to R: Luka Sabbat, Yara Shahidi, Jordan Buhat, Halle Bailey, Chloe Bailey, Emily Arlook, Trevor Jackson, Francia Raisa
The theme song is written, produced and sung by Chloe and Halle Bailey. Their song, "The Kids Are Alright" also makes a cameo at the end of episode one and another track can be heard at the end of episode two. Of course, if you're card-carrying members of the BeyHive, you already have known about the talented sister duo for quite some time.
We're glad to see Chloe and Halle acting and somewhat out of their element. It makes them seem more versatile, relatable and multi-dimensional. Not like they need it (with their Beyonce co-sign, and playing Coachella '18 and all), but Grown-ish will probably help boost their music status, and fanbase, in general.
The series also sparingly uses some popular songs (ex: "Rake It Up," "All The Way Up,") but places them in such a strategic way that doesn't come across as trying too hard to be current.
Grown-ish is only two episodes in and we're already hooked. We already can't wait to see what the rest of the season holds.
WATCH THE FIRST TWO EPISODES (for free!) HERE.