Grown-ish 2024 Tv Series Review Trailer
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Revisit the inaugural season of Black-ish and you'll discover that Kenya Barris' ABC comedy needed a few episodes to truly capture the essence of its characters and narrative structure. However, it came onto the scene as a remarkably confident sitcom from the start, particularly in terms of its voice and framework. This rapid establishment of identity is a rarity on television.
On the other hand, Freeform's Grown-ish represents a more typical scenario. After watching three episodes provided to critics, I can sense Grown-ish's potential to become a commendable show, or at least recognize its promise. However, as its title indicates about its college-aged characters, the series has not yet fully matured and is still finding its footing.
Creators: Kenya Barris, Larry WilmoreStar: Trevor Jackson, Yara Shahidi, Diggy Simmons
Loosely derived from the Black-ish episode “Liberal Arts,” the series' inception dates back to last spring. This episode, perhaps one of Black-ish's weakest installments, served as a catalyst. After that, one of Grown-ish's main characters was introduced in a fall episode of Black-ish, which was more baffling than engaging. Finally, the series debuts on Freeform with an exposition-packed premiere, focusing on resetting the premise and introducing characters, with few comedic moments.
Zoey (Yara Shahidi), the eldest daughter of Dre (Anthony Anderson) and Bow (Tracee Ellis Ross), begins her college journey at California College of Liberal Arts. Although the reasons behind her inscription are briefly hinted at, it is best not to question them. Zoey finds herself reluctantly attending a midnight class on digital marketing strategies taught by Dre's eccentric colleague Charlie (Deon Cole), who lacks teaching credentials. The class features a motley crew including sexually fluid Nomi (Emily Arlook), aspiring rapper Vivek (Jordan Buhat), twin stars Skyler and Jazlyn (Chloe and Halle Bailey), arty stoner Luca (Luka Sabbat) and college activist Aaron (Trevor). Jackson). The pilot recounts how these diverse individuals ended up in the same class, illustrating how unlikely groups can form pseudofamilies, a departure from Black-ish family dynamics.
However, despite the simplicity of Grown-ish's premise, the key issue lies in the development of Zoey's character.
It makes sense to center a spin-off around Shahidi, given her vibrant on-screen presence and her demonstrated intelligence in several projects. Logistically, parting ways with Black-ish with Zoey is reasonable. However, building a series around Zoey is challenging. Among the members of the Johnson family, Zoey remained the least defined after several seasons of Black-ish. While Shahidi's performance keeps Zoey from feeling completely empty, she still lacks clarity as a central character, often acting as the straight woman looking for comedic relevance.
Grown-ish struggles to fully utilize Cole's Charlie, a beloved Black-ish character. In the parenting show, Charlie served as comic relief, but his presence in Grown-ish feels forced and lacks the same impact. Additionally, Chris Parnell's character feels underused and contributes little to the overall narrative.
It's in the third episode that Grown-ish begins to find its groove, exploring themes relevant to its college demographic while establishing its own identity distinct from Black-ish. This episode delves into the dynamics of relationships in the digital age and offers insight into the show's potential to address contemporary issues while maintaining its comedic edge.
At its core, Grown-ish is a work in progress, just like its protagonist. It is still finding its voice and direction, but there is potential for growth and distinction as it continues to evolve.
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