The BEST episodes of black-ish

Every episode of black-ish ever, ranked from best to worst by thousands of votes from fans of the show. The best episodes of black-ish!

An upper-middle-class black man struggles to raise his children with a sense of cultural identity despite constant contradictions and obstacles coming from his liberal wife, old-school father and his assimilated, color-blind kids.

Last Updated: 12/27/2023Network: ABC (US)Status: Ended
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Lemons
star
8.09
854 votes

#1 - Lemons

Season 3 - Episode 12 - Aired 1/11/2017

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.

Directors: Kenya Barris
Writer: Kenya Barris
Watch Now:AmazonApple TV
Hope
star
7.94
603 votes

#2 - Hope

Season 2 - Episode 16 - Aired 2/24/2016

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.

Writer: Kenya Barris
Watch Now:AmazonApple TV
Daddy Dre-Care
star
7.88
643 votes

#3 - Daddy Dre-Care

Season 2 - Episode 23 - Aired 5/11/2016

When the flu breaks out in the Johnson household, Dre desperately tries to avoid catching it, while taking care of the whole family.

Directors: Kenya Barris
Watch Now:AmazonApple TV
Sprinkles
star
7.85
727 votes

#4 - Sprinkles

Season 3 - Episode 24 - Aired 5/10/2017

In the Season 3 finale, Dre throws Bow’s baby shower and wants it to be unforgettable, but his plans are put on hold when Bow stops by the OB/GYN with a headache and discovers she is having complications.

Directors: Eva Longoria
Watch Now:AmazonApple TV
Mother Nature
star
7.82
646 votes

#5 - Mother Nature

Season 4 - Episode 2 - Aired 10/10/2017

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.

Directors: Ken Whittingham
Watch Now:AmazonApple TV
One Angry Man
star
7.81
809 votes

#6 - One Angry Man

Season 3 - Episode 16 - Aired 2/22/2017

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.

Directors: John Fortenberry
Writer: Doug Hall
Watch Now:AmazonApple TV
All Groan Up
star
7.81
756 votes

#7 - All Groan Up

Season 3 - Episode 22 - Aired 4/26/2017

When Zoey gets into several colleges around the country, Dre and Bow begin to feel worried and sentimental. They reflect back on memories they’ve had with the family and wonder what life will be like without her around all the time. Pops enlists the twins to try and sway Zoey to go to college in a city they want to visit.

Directors: Kenny Smith
Watch Now:AmazonApple TV
The Word
star
7.80
665 votes

#8 - The Word

Season 2 - Episode 1 - Aired 9/23/2015

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.

Directors: Matt Sohn
Writer: Kenya Barris
Watch Now:AmazonApple TV
The Purge
star
7.79
822 votes

#9 - The Purge

Season 3 - Episode 5 - Aired 10/26/2016

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.

Directors: Matt Sohn
Watch Now:AmazonApple TV
Dream Home
star
7.78
292 votes

#10 - Dream Home

Season 4 - Episode 23 - Aired 5/15/2018

Dre and Bow are living separate lives and switching off with the kids. They start to realize how much they relied on each other and how hard it is being on their own. Dre gets his sleek, ultra-modern dream house in the canyon with all the amenities, and Bow doesn’t think it’s suitable for the kids.

Watch Now:AmazonApple TV
The Prank King
star
7.78
690 votes

#11 - The Prank King

Season 1 - Episode 6 - Aired 10/29/2014

Dre fears his holiday fun will be ruined when the older kids balk at the glorious Johnson Halloween tradition of seeing who can pull the most outlandish pranks on each other.

Directors: Matt Sohn
Watch Now:AmazonApple TV
Black Like Us
star
7.78
250 votes

#12 - Black Like Us

Season 5 - Episode 10 - Aired 1/15/2019

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.

Writer: Peter Saji
Watch Now:AmazonApple TV
Sister, Sister
star
7.77
760 votes

#13 - Sister, Sister

Season 3 - Episode 21 - Aired 4/26/2017

Bow’s sister comes to town after filming a stint on a reality show, and they couldn’t have less in common. Meanwhile, Zoey suggests that Dre spend more time with Junior since she’s leaving for college, and Jack and Diane decide to rebrand themselves.

Directors: Anya Adams
Watch Now:AmazonApple TV
Who's Afraid of the Big Black Man?
star
7.77
825 votes

#14 - Who's Afraid of the Big Black Man?

Season 3 - Episode 4 - Aired 10/12/2016

After a situation arises at work, Dre’s views are confronted regarding how black people are perceived now versus when he grew up. He wants to be more open-minded about being a part of his community, and his first step is joining his Homeowners’ Association. Meanwhile, Bow wants to spend more time with the kids before the new baby arrives and gets advice from Pops on how to make them want to be around her.

Directors: Matt Sohn
Writer: Peter Saji
Watch Now:AmazonApple TV
Elder Scam
star
7.76
576 votes

#15 - Elder Scam

Season 4 - Episode 3 - Aired 10/17/2017

Ruby gets scammed and Dre begins to suspect that she isn’t as sharp as she used to be, particularly because she was the one who used to scam other people. Zoey’s friend Aaron visits and Diane develops an instant crush on him.

Directors: Anton Cropper
Watch Now:AmazonApple TV
The Gift of Hunger
star
7.74
684 votes

#16 - The Gift of Hunger

Season 1 - Episode 7 - Aired 11/12/2014

After the kids turn their collective noses up at Dre’s favorite cheap restaurant in his old ’hood, he decides it’s time to give them a reality check. He insists all of them get jobs. But when Andre Jr. and Zoey start working at his office, he can’t help but interfere, and Jack and Diane’s efforts to make some spare cash leave the neighbors thinking the family has fallen on hard times, much to Bow’s embarrassment.

Writer: Peter Saji
Watch Now:AmazonApple TV
The Nod
star
7.73
798 votes

#17 - The Nod

Season 1 - Episode 3 - Aired 10/8/2014

Dre sets out to expand Andre Jr’s social circle to include more black kids after he discovers Andre Jr. is clueless about “the nod.” Meanwhile, hoping to inspire little Diane to become a doctor, Rainbow takes her to work at the hospital... on what turns out to be the worst day ever.

Directors: James Griffiths
Writer: Kenya Barris
Watch Now:AmazonApple TV
Black Santa/White Christmas
star
7.71
624 votes

#18 - Black Santa/White Christmas

Season 1 - Episode 10 - Aired 12/10/2014

Dre campaigns to be the new Santa at the annual office Christmas party, but when that honor goes to Angelica, the lovely head of HR, he goes to great lengths to unseat her, because he’s convinced Stevens & Lido needs a black Santa. Meanwhile, Bow is tired of competing with Ruby over who cooks the big Christmas Eve dinner.

Directors: Elliot Hegarty
Writer: Gail Lerner
Watch Now:Apple TV
The Name Game
star
7.71
754 votes

#19 - The Name Game

Season 3 - Episode 14 - Aired 2/8/2017

Dre and Bow have a gender reveal party, and Dre is thrilled because it’s his turn to name the baby. He decides on a culturally significant name that Bow and Ruby aren’t a fan of. Meanwhile, Zoey’s plan to have an anti-Valentine’s Day with her friend Shelly is thwarted when Junior asks Shelly out on a date, so Diane tries to fill in as Zoey’s BFF.

Directors: Gail Lerner
Watch Now:AmazonApple TV
Their Eyes Were Watching Screens
star
7.71
792 votes

#20 - Their Eyes Were Watching Screens

Season 3 - Episode 11 - Aired 1/4/2017

When Diane stumbles onto some websites that give her more than she bargained for, Dre and Bow must take action. Concerned that the internet is corrupting their children, Dre and Bow decide to make their home an internet free-zone and deal with the backlash.

Directors: John Fortenberry
Writer: Gail Lerner
Watch Now:AmazonApple TV
Advance to Go (Collect $200)
star
7.71
569 votes

#21 - Advance to Go (Collect $200)

Season 4 - Episode 4 - Aired 10/24/2017

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.

Directors: Anton Cropper
Writer: Gail Lerner
Watch Now:AmazonApple TV
Being Bow-racial
star
7.71
845 votes

#22 - Being Bow-racial

Season 3 - Episode 8 - Aired 11/30/2016

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.

Directors: Kevin Bray
Watch Now:AmazonApple TV
Keeping Up with the Johnsons
star
7.71
548 votes

#23 - Keeping Up with the Johnsons

Season 2 - Episode 13 - Aired 1/20/2016

After a month of heavy spending, Dre and Bow start to question if they are living too large. Dre’s crazy accountant, James Brown, has always been their go-to money guy, but when the topic of finances gets brought up at work, Mr. Stevens refers Dre to his more straight-laced accountant for a second opinion. Dre and Bow realize they need to be more financially responsible and try to prove to each other that they can live without their outrageous expenses. Meanwhile, the kids overhear their parents talking about money and Junior decides to start day trading.

Watch Now:AmazonApple TV
Crime and Punishment
star
7.70
736 votes

#24 - Crime and Punishment

Season 1 - Episode 5 - Aired 10/22/2014

Although Dre and Rainbow agreed they would no longer spank their kids, all bets might be off when Jack disobeys. Now, Zoey, Junior, Diane and a nervous Jack are afraid that their parents will go back on their word.

Directors: Claire Scanlon
Watch Now:AmazonApple TV
Good-ish Times
star
7.70
643 votes

#25 - Good-ish Times

Season 2 - Episode 24 - Aired 5/18/2016

Exhausted from a stressful day at work, Dre falls asleep watching a “Good Times” marathon and dreams of himself and his family as being characters in the series.

Directors: Anton Cropper
Watch Now:AmazonApple TV