For Zoey, the initial fun of being in college clashes with the realities of trying to adult. Full recap of part 1 of the grown-ish series premiere, “Late Registration” by @luvthispayne.
Waassup good people! Welcome to #grownish, the fun, drama filled, hilarious, and edgy young adult show about Zoey Johnson, a college freshman. Most of you already know her, but for those that don’t, Zoey is the eldest child and daughter of Andre and Rainbow Johnson from black-ish. Zoey a beautiful, but sometimes vain and self-obsessed kid is the first of the Johnson’s kids to head to college. To be completely honest it was kind of a toss up on whether the girl would get into college because Zoey has always been more obsessed with her looks than books. The Johnsons are crazy-rich (yes that’s a unit of measurement) black folks who live in white suburbia and Zoey has largely lived a sheltered life that’s colored by the antics of her ridiculous ass Daddy, her trill Grandmother, her way too candid/sometimes criminal but definitely a two bit hustler Grandaddy, her quirky and corny Mom and her hilarious siblings. Needless to say, Zoey is interesting!
The show opens with our girl already at school, and she’s on the phone with her father, the ever dramatic Dre. Dre is mid monumental meltdown because his favorite child (his words not mine) has flown the nest. I rolled my eyes so hard I had a headache, Andre Johnson is one of the most dramatic men on EARF and I’m sure his wife has already earned wings in heaven. How she deals with him is a question that Sway doesn’t have the answers to.
(With caption, Zoey was all of us with her dramatic ass Daddy)
Anyway once Zo Zo (nickname from black-ish) has hung up with Dre, sis goes through 50/11 outfits trying to figure out what to wear to her midnight class. We’ve all been there. But, Wayment, who in the hell would sign up for a midnight class? You don’t even have to be a D average student to know that’s a dumb ass idea.
As if being in a midnight class isn’t bad enough, once Zoey gets there, she learns that the professor of said class is none other than Charles (shout out to Diane, say his name in her voice or you ain’t real). Who the hell let Charlie teach a class? Oh you don’t know him? Well let me introduce Charlie. Charlie is a D’Angelo imitating, child neglecting, always scheming, and never working crazy ass co-worker of Dre’s. The man is nuts and I am wondering if the school has actually checked their accreditation lately if they hiring him to teach. While he’s known to drop a few gems here and there, he’s mostly batshit crazy and I swear I’m scratching my head at how he conned his way into a professorship.
Inside, this midnight class and it’s like the Island of Misfit toys. Apparently, everybody, they mama and some hookers are in this class because they can’t face the truth of who they are in the daylight. They all have an issue they’ve come to this class to escape, So let’s meet the class:
Nomi: Jew Think You Know, But You Have No Idea
Nomi, is wholesome Jewish girl, who has come to college to soak up all the knowledge and lessons that school has to offer before she goes out to conquer the real world. Lol I’m kidding. Nomi is the sex positive, non-conformist who is just looking to explore her sexuality and identity and not be judged for it in the meantime. Coming from a conventional Jewish family makes it a little difficult to be open with who she truly is without the stigma of being labeled by her sexual preference rather than for who she is, a person. Who. Likes. To. Party. She also might’ve kissed a girl and she liked the taste of her cherry chapstick. We don’t judge over here. Do you Nomi girl.
Vivek: Great Value Brand Drake
Vivek, comes from a traditional Hindu family who believes that he is the way, the truth, and the light because of his academic intelligence in STEM. What he really is a drug pusher trying to get his money NOW not later. Vivek is the plug and he will get you shot if you don’t pay him what you owe him. Don’t act like you don’t know him. Did I mention this man raps and looks like a mini Drake, who just happens to be his hero? Oh well, he raps and we ain’t heard him spit yet so I’m going to reserve judgment. Plus he’s a cutie pie, so I’ll be nice. For now.
Skyler & Jazlyn: Double for Your Trouble
What’s better than one billionaire, TWWOOOOO. Well they not billionaires but they are twins doe. My faves. Twin track stars, straight up out the hood. They have all the sass and most of the swag. Funny enough the twins don’t really seem to be able to like each other very much when they’re alone. I’d imagine though it gets exhausting looking at somebody wit your same damn face everyday. They way Jazlyn called her sister a bitch though hurt my feelings. Damn girl. Anyway the girls don’t want to end up back in the hood giving blows jobs to the sock man to make ends meet and all in all, gotta say that’s a good goal.
Luca: Baby Basquiat aka The Weekday
Luca, who wears a ring on every single finger and probably has ankh necklaces in his dorm room is the resident academic weed head. We all know one of em. Dude is super talented and chill but most likely smells like a walking dispensary. I’m sure he tweets “Wake up, Bake up” in the mornings before class. He smart doe and seems like a genuinely good dude. I like him. So no shade. Sidenote: he also seems like he could do that Lil Uzi sassy shoulder shrug really well. I might be wishful thinking though. Y’all know the shoulder I’m talkin bout.
Aaron: Bae Woke (read that in the tune of Gambino’s redbone)
Aaron, is campus cutie activist. Cutie is underselling him. The man is FINE. Okay? Okay. He cares about all things black, like black lives matter and wears them literally on his sleeve. He might take his Fight The Power persona too literal which was made evident by his comment about switching from Blackboard to whiteboard. *Facepalm* I can’t. What we do know though is that his heart’s in the right place and that he eventually becomes Zoey’s boo because she brought him home from college during an episode of blackish. What we don’t know is how and when they hookup. I love a good backstory and can’t wait to see how they get together. Hey boo hey.
Everybody who’s in the class has a heart that’s in the right place. They just needed a space where they can sort out their identities but in such a way where they don’t have to worry about expectations from their families or society. Everybody. Except. Zoey. So why is her ass in this class, I’m glad you asked!
While everyone is running from philosophical or existential identity crises, Zoey is in this class because she pulled some aint shit stunt which brings us to one more person to meet, Ana.
Ana and Zoey met when they first got on campus and quickly bonded because the two girls had a lot in common. Minus the fact that Ana’s a staunch republican, let’s pause the game. Listen, we get to the end of what Zo Zo did I may or not not feel bad for Ana because of her political allegiance. The thought that she might’ve voted for the tangerine tyrant makes my flash crawl and she might deserve every good and terrible thing that happens to her. I haven’t decided yet though because they didn’t say how much of a republican she is. So imma chill.
Anyway Ana and Zoey become friends and when Zoey gets invited to an upperclassman party, she brings Ana along for the ride. Like a true freshman who’s at her first party, Ana drinks way too much and looks like Sis has an edible or two or three too. I couldn’t tell if the gummy worms were weed laced or liquor laced. Either way, Ana was white girl wasted and ended up puking her entire life up. Freshman mistake, am I rite, am I rite? On. Camera. At. The. Party. In. Front. Of. Everybody. So what does Zoey do? She threw the deuces and hauled ass out of there so no one would know she was friends with her.
Girl. Girl. Girl. Listen that’s not it Zoey. Especially in college when liquor is involved. You have to look out for your girl. You clean her ass up and keep it moving. Most of us have all been there, either being the friend carried off or doing the carrying. Chile. Thank god for flip phones when I was in college. That’s none of your business though.
But that’s why Zoey is here in a midnight class; avoidance. She can’t handle that at the first test of her friendship, she failed and failed miserably. Do better. The episode ends with Zoey in tears and a few tears from some of her other classmates as they talk about what it means to finally be young adults out on their own for the first time having to make real like adult decisions. I think our little Zo Zo is going to be okay, as long as she’s learned her lesson in friendship and doesn’t do some trifling ass shit like that again.
But just when we think we’ve escaped this episode with our lesson in tact, Zoey learns that Ana, is her new roommate. Aww shit.
Speaking of the word shit. I love that Freeform has made this a fully adult show and not only is there cursing, the topics push the boundaries and their exploration/portrayal seems to be authentic and not watered down for television.
I’m super excited about the rest of the season, what about you, who’s your fave so far? Let us know in the comments and we’ll see you next week for another episode of #grownish!
Twitter: @luvthispayne