TV Show review
Review basis: 6 seasons, 105 episodes · through May 22, 2024
January 3, 2018 · TV-14 · Ended
Woke Score
Lower is better
Review
Grown-ish follows Zoey Johnson and later her brother Junior as they go to college and deal with friends, parties, and growing up. The show mixes everyday college comedy with storylines about race, police, sexuality, and culture. It has a very diverse group of friends and shows an activist student and a bisexual character with big roles. Some episodes directly address police brutality and other current social issues.
Breakdown
These are the editorial factors and ratings behind our score for grown-ish.
Woke representation / casting
The show centers a visibly diverse friend group with biracial Zoey as lead, explicitly activist Black student Aaron, prominent bisexual Jewish character Nomi, Latina roommate Ana, Indian American Vivek, and Black twins Jazz and Sky. These identities are audience-visible and recurring.
Woke political dialogue
Episodes feature direct talks about police brutality, white fragility, BLM protests, campus activism, and cultural appropriation. Aaron pushes causes openly. Later Junior seasons have lighter social topics.
Identity-driven story themes
The series explores race, sexuality through Nomi's arcs, cultural belonging, and identity in college. These mix with standard party and relationship stories.
Western institutional / cultural critique
Season 4 episodes critique police responses and institutional handling of racial violence. Touches on university investments and social media activism framed through activist views.
Production
Woke character or canon changes
Not relevant.
Anti-woke backlash and complaints
Scattered social media and Reddit posts call the show or characters too woke, mock the activist boyfriend Aaron, and complain about preachy moments. No widespread media firestorm or boycott.
Creator track record context
Kenya Barris has a documented pattern of addressing race and social issues progressively. Yara Shahidi is a public activist. Several writers and directors have worked on socially conscious or diverse projects. Larry Wilmore contributed political comedy.
