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The Best Episodes of black-ish

Every episode of black-ish ranked from best to worst. Let's dive into the Best Episodes of black-ish!

The Best Episodes of black-ish

A family man struggles to gain a sense of cultural identity while raising his kids in a predominantly white, upper-middle-class neighborhood.

Seasons8

  1. Background image for If a Black Man Cries in the Woods...
    8.5/10(169 votes)

    #1 - If a Black Man Cries in the Woods...

    S8:E12

    Pops, Dre and Junior go on a "man trip" to heal old wounds. Meanwhile, Diane and Jack contemplate their futures as they look at their college wish lists.

    Director:Iona Morris
    Writer:Unknown
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  2. Background image for Hope
    8.3/10(766 votes)

    #2 - Hope

    S2:E16

    When the kids ask some tough questions in the midst of a highly publicized court case involving alleged police brutality and an African-American teenager, Dre and Bow are conflicted on how best to field them. Dre, along with Pops and Ruby, feel the kids need to know what kind of world they’re living in, while Bow would like to give them a more hopeful view about life. When the verdict is announced, the family handles the news in different ways while watching the community react.

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  3. Background image for Black Like Us
    8.3/10(292 votes)

    #3 - Black Like Us

    S5:E10

    Dre and Bow are furious after Diane isn’t lit properly in her class photo. Diane doesn’t want to make it a big deal, but they decide to talk to the principal about the need for sensitivity toward all complexions. Meanwhile, Junior claims there is unspoken colorism within their own family, and things get heated.

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  4. Background image for Lemons
    8.1/10(616 votes)

    #4 - Lemons

    S3:E12

    The nation is still reeling after the outcome of the presidential election, and tensions are particularly high at Dre’s work. Much to his frustration, they haven’t been able to get anything done since election night – eight weeks ago. Meanwhile, Junior is dealing with a disenfranchised student body as class president, and when he is asked to deliver Martin Luther King Jr.’s “I Have a Dream” speech at school, Pops teaches him there is more to the speech than Junior thought.

    Director:Kenya Barris
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  5. Background image for The Word
    7.9/10(407 votes)

    #5 - The Word

    S2:E1

    Jack performs the song “Gold Digger” at a school talent show and when he sings a lyric that includes THE word, it leads to his possible expulsion from school. Dre and Bow work together to get him reinstated, and along the way, examine the evolution of THE word through the generations and just who, if anyone, has the right to use it.

    Director:Matt Sohn
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  6. Background image for Mother Nature
    7.9/10(356 votes)

    #6 - Mother Nature

    S4:E2

    Bow is feeling overwhelmed after the birth of DeVante and learns she is suffering from postpartem depression. Dre urges her to get help and stands by her side while she works through it. Meanwhile, the kids babyproof the house in an effort to help their parents out

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  7. Trending NowTRENDING NOW

    The 20 WORST Episodes of black-ish

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  8. Background image for R-E-S-P-E-C-T
    7.9/10(243 votes)

    #7 - R-E-S-P-E-C-T

    S4:E14

    Dre and Bow confront gender biases of their own after finding out that both Junior and Zoey have become sexually active. Meanwhile, Ruby is hurt when she finds out that Jack and Diane have been hanging out with a friend’s grandmother after school.

    Director:Gail Lerner
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  9. Background image for The Real World
    7.8/10(337 votes)

    #8 - The Real World

    S1:E19

    Bow invites her friends from college to an elaborate dinner party in hopes of impressing them; Dre learns a lot about Bow's past; the kids decide to create their own reality show by documenting the party.

    Director:Unknown
    Writer:Unknown
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  10. Background image for The Purge
    7.8/10(299 votes)

    #9 - The Purge

    S3:E5

    After Junior embarrasses Dre during a basketball game, Dre decides to remind Junior of his master pranking skills so he’ll never challenge him again. Meanwhile, the neighborhood participates in a “mischief night” during Halloween where petty crimes become legal, and Ruby takes it too far with the kids.

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  11. Background image for Being Bow-racial
    7.8/10(307 votes)

    #10 - Being Bow-racial

    S3:E8

    Bow must address unresolved feelings about her own biracial identity when Junior brings home his first girlfriend, who happens to be white. Dre is handling a big project for a client at work and relies on Charlie to teach him how to relate to the campaign’s white, female point-person. Meanwhile, Zoey needs extra credit for her design class, and asks Jack and Diane if she can remodel their room.

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  12. Background image for Sprinkles
    7.8/10(268 votes)

    #11 - Sprinkles

    S3:E24

    Initially wary, Dre embraces throwing Bow’s baby shower and wants it to be unforgettable. However, his plans are put on hold when Bow stops by the OB/GYN with a headache and discovers she is having complications.

    Director:Eva Longoria
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  13. Background image for The (Almost) Last Dance
    7.8/10(111 votes)

    #12 - The (Almost) Last Dance

    S8:E11

    Pops and Ruby announce they are moving out of the house to travel the United States in their RV, garnering mixed reactions from the Johnson family. When Bow realizes she is beginning perimenopause, Dre enlists her mother’s help.

    Director:Unknown
    Writer:Unknown
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  14. Background image for The Nod
    7.7/10(526 votes)

    #13 - The Nod

    S1:E3

    Dre tries to help Andre Jr. expand his social circle. Rainbow tries to inspire Diane.

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  15. Background image for The Dozens
    7.7/10(354 votes)

    #14 - The Dozens

    S1:E15

    Dre teaches Andre Jr. how to trash-talk a school bully, Diane is afraid of the dark.

    Writer:Unknown
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  16. Background image for Dr. Hell No
    7.7/10(298 votes)

    #15 - Dr. Hell No

    S2:E3

    After Dre gets his yearly physical and comes home traumatized, Pops explains his generation's strong aversion towards healthcare and admits that he hasn't seen a doctor in years. Shocked by this disclosure, Dre and Bow try to convince Pops to get a check-up and he begrudgingly agrees. When Pops finds out he has a clogged artery and needs a small procedure, the rest of The Johnson family handles the news in different ways.

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  17. Background image for The Leftovers
    7.7/10(273 votes)

    #16 - The Leftovers

    S2:E19

    When Dre and Bow realize they don't have a legal guardian for their kids, they make it their mission to find replacement parents should anything happen to them. Meanwhile, Zoey and Junior reveal the truth to Jack about their old dog's death and other family secrets he naively accepted.

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  18. Background image for One Angry Man
    7.7/10(250 votes)

    #17 - One Angry Man

    S3:E16

    Dre is forced to participate in jury duty after Junior responds to the summons that was thrown away. The case is supposed to be open and shut, but when Dre sees that the defendant is a young African American, he feels a civic responsibility to give him a fair trial. Meanwhile, Bow decides to let the kids swear in the house since they are more open with her that way, but she and Ruby soon regret the decision.

    Director:Unknown
    Writer:Unknown
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  19. Background image for Advance to Go (Collect $200)
    7.7/10(267 votes)

    #18 - Advance to Go (Collect $200)

    S4:E4

    Dre brings everyone together for a rowdy family game night and the competition is fierce. The game of choice is Monopoly and as the night progresses, alliances are formed and some are pushed to their limits. Meanwhile, Bow makes it clear how she feels about Junior’s girlfriend, Megan.

    Director:Anton Cropper
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  20. Background image for First and Last
    7.7/10(239 votes)

    #19 - First and Last

    S4:E6

    Diane experiences a big life event toward becoming a woman and Bow, Ruby, Zoey and Alicia are there to support her. Meanwhile, afraid that he may never be able to beat Junior at basketball again, Dre conducts psychological warfare on Junior before challenging him to a game.

    Director:Linda Mendoza
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  21. Background image for Homegoing
    7.7/10(173 votes)

    #20 - Homegoing

    S8:E13

    As Pops and Ruby prepare to move away, Dre and Bow consider if they should make a big life change as well. Grappling with this idea at work, Dre receives some unexpected advice from Simone Biles, who tells him to follow his heart. The Johnsons prepare for their goodbyes in the series finale.

    Director:Unknown
    Writer:Unknown
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  22. Background image for Crime and Punishment
    7.6/10(471 votes)

    #21 - Crime and Punishment

    S1:E5

    Rainbow and Dre agree they will no longer spank their children.

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  23. Background image for Old Digger
    7.6/10(275 votes)

    #22 - Old Digger

    S2:E12

    Dre has never had a problem with Pops dating, but when it comes to Ruby, he won't let anyone come between them. When Ruby invites Dre and Bow to meet the new man in her life, Dre immediately goes on the defensive and finds any reason to dislike him. Once Pops learns that Ruby's suitor is the real deal, he comes up with a plan to distract her. Meanwhile, Junior meets a girl on a dating site, and Zoey, Jack and Diane convince him he's being scammed, so they devise a plan to meet "the girl" in person.

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  24. Background image for Sink or Swim
    7.6/10(287 votes)

    #23 - Sink or Swim

    S2:E14

    After Dre notices that his neighbor Janine has never invited his family to any of her pool parties, he assumes she is racially stereotyping them as a family that doesn’t swim. The kids are shocked to find out that, in fact, Dre doesn’t know how to swim. At work, Dre shares the story with his colleagues, and Daphne Lido is not convinced it’s a race thing, so Dre confronts Janine directly. Meanwhile, Jack and Diane are a part of the Girls’ and Boys’ Rovers Organization, and they envy each other’s activities.

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  25. Background image for Black Nanny
    7.6/10(271 votes)

    #24 - Black Nanny

    S2:E18

    Dre and Bow start to slip on the kids' activities and chores around the house, so Bow persuades Dre to hire a nanny. After several interviews that don’t go well, they meet Vivian, who impresses them with her desire to take care of the whole family, including Dre and Bow. Dre struggles with the idea of hiring a black nanny, but decides to give her a try. Meanwhile, Diane decides to run for class president, so when the smart and bubbly Susie Kwest becomes her competition, Zoey helps Diane create a smear campaign to win Diane the vote.

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  26. Background image for Daddy Dre-Care
    7.6/10(256 votes)

    #25 - Daddy Dre-Care

    S2:E23

    The flu is going around the Johnson household, and with things in flux at work, Dre tries to avoid catching the bug at all costs. Dre has to step up and take care of the whole family. Ruby is in quarantine with Bow, and she learns a lot about her mother-in-law. Meanwhile, the kids want Bow to take care of them and resist Dre’s help.

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Best Episodes Summary

"If a Black Man Cries in the Woods..." is the best rated episode of "black-ish". It scored 8.5/10 based on 169 votes. Directed by Iona Morris and written by Unknown, it aired on 4/12/2022. This episode scored 0.2 points higher than the second highest rated, "Hope".