With Black-ish star Yara Shahidi's acceptance into Harvard University being announced last summer, a lot of people wondered what would become of her character Zoey Johnson. Eventually, it was revealed that she would go from being a series regular to a recurring character during the series fourth season. However, it wasn't just because her schedule would be busy due to school, but also that Yara would be starring on the black-ish spinoff called Grown-ish. Initially meant to air on ABC, the show was moved to its younger channel Freeform, where it aired tonight.
'Grown-ish' definitely pulls no punches while exploring college life
Kenya Barris explained during a Hollywood Roundtable discussion that the series was not only a way to keep Yara in the picture, but also give a series to young adults navigating the ups and downs that college students would inevitably experience or witness happening to other people around them. Within the premiere's double episodes, topics such as bisexuality, drug dealing, and college partying are tackled with care. According to an article on Vanity Fair, creator Kenya Barris felt that it was important to capture the angst of what college-age kids go through during an era of Trump as well.
I'm digging all the cultural references, and that breakfast club photo is gold #grownish
— 😎🔥🔥🔥 (@gorgeousReedz) January 4, 2018
If the move from ABC to Freeform discouraged you (a concern that many people shared), you'll be pleasantly surprised to find that the show has fewer restrictions on this platform than you would see on ABC.
In other words, you'll hear the strong language that college students use along with adult scenes and drug usage from time to time. It definitely is geared toward a young adult audience as opposed to a family one.
The 'Grown-ish' cast is phenomenal
Rarely do you see a series where the chemistry of the cast just clicks right from the very beginning.
Yara's friends include Emily Arlook as Nomi Segal, a young girl who is exploring her bisexuality and Jordan Buhat as Vivek Shah, a "street pharmaceutical" that has big aspirations and dreams of a life of luxury. Trevor Jackson is Aaron, a sophomore that Yara's character Zoey absolutely adores. Francia Raisa plays Ana Torres, Zoey's first college friend who ends up in an embarrassing situation.
On the recurring side of the cast are sisters Chloe and Halle Bailey, better known as a popular R&B duo associated with Beyoncé Knowles. They play twins Sky and Jazz, two women who "adjust" their personalities in college in fear of being otherwise being looked down upon for being too "hood." Luka Sabbat is Luca Hall, a relatively chill freshman with an eye for fashion.
The beautiful diversity in the classroom! #grownish
— MookieJ (@MookieFly) January 4, 2018
Without going into too much detail, these characters are all introduced in the first episode and play off of each other well. Each of them provides unique perspectives on the topic at hand, and don't necessarily provide any "right" or "wrong" answers.
It's a formula that will make the show last for many episodes.
It's a series people have been waiting around for since 'A Different World'
An article on The Kansas City Star noted that it had been 25 years since A Different World tackled life as a college student and that the introduction of grown-ish couldn't have come at a better time. The perspective of university life from a young black woman is something that people have been dying to see for a while now, and grown-ish will feed that hunger with ease.
Catch the series every Wednesday night at eight on Freeform.
