In Black-ish’s spin-off series Grown-ish, we follow Zoey to college. Watching her grow, make mistakes, and overall find herself, audiences get to see a different side of her that we never got to experience in the prequel.
However, taking the critically-acclaimed show and adapting it to a different demographic comes with its growing pains. Seeing that the average rating for the season is between 6 and 7, it shows that this spinoff will take time to find its feet. Let’s see where IMDb users viewed this pilot season.
Worst: Bitch, Don’t Kill My Vibe (Season 1, Episode 2) - Rating 6.7
While adjusting to her new schedule and her new roommate, Zoey parties with her friends to blow off some steam. Unfortunately for her doing so results in oversleeping and missing class.
Over time her work starts to pile up and Zoey doesn’t know what to do, but the college dealer, Vivek, helps Zoey out by giving her Adderall. Throughout the episode we see her using the unprescribed pills to get work done in an exponentially fast manor. Audiences see Zoey continue to struggle to find her balance without the help of pills.
Before the episode closes, Zoey gets a late-night text from Aaron, and Zoey reacts by, you guessed it, taking another Adderall.
Best: C.R.E.A.M (Cash Rules Everything Around Me) (Season 1, Episode 5) - Rating 6.8
As Cal U’s new it couple Zoey and Cash start to get a lot of attention. Unfortunately, Zoey doesn’t like all the attention that Cash is getting. Eventually, things get worse when Zoey and the new couple start to get hate online.
In an attempt to defend Zoey, Cash responds to a troll letting everyone online know that she’s a virgin. The fact that Cash did it on purpose to make himself and his brand look good, makes it even worse. Like the humiliation wasn’t bad enough, the incident goes viral and the hashtag, #TheVirginZoey starts trending, making her humiliation infamous.
Worst: If You’re Reading This It’s Too Late (Season 1, Episode 3) - Rating 6.5
Thinking things are going well with her crush, Zoey receives a, “U up?” text from Aaron and she is left confused about what he wants. Not knowing what to say or do, Zoey and Louis enlist the help of her girls.
The episode is then spent hearing their perspective on what Zoey should do and how she’ll be perceived based on her response. Knowing that Zoey wants a relationship she must leave the right impression. After deliberating with her friends, she realizes that she might have taken too long to reply.
Best: Back and Forth (Season 1, Episode 10) - Rating 7.1
In the series’ first season finale, we follow Zoey and her friends trying to figure out which guy she should choose: her first love Cash, her artistic and chill friend Luca, or her first friend in college, Aaron.
Throughout the episode we see each of her friends voice their opinion about who she should pick and why. The twins are team Cash because he is thinking about waiting to go into the NBA draft for her. Ana is team Aaron after talking to him in the cafeteria. While Nomi is team Luca because he’s the only one that Zoey never complained about.
In the end, after taking everyone’s input and taking some time to herself, Zoey goes and talks to Aaron and Cash about her decision before telling Luca she wants to be with him.
Worst: Late Registration (Season 1, Episode 1) - Rating 6.5
In the series premiere, we meet Zoey and a few other students who happened to be taking a class at midnight. Throughout the episode we see how they all ended up registering for classes late whether it be hooking up in a bathroom (Nomi), taking classes specifically taught by clack professors (Aaron), or trying to close a drug deal (Vivek).
Outside of the classroom we also see Zoey become friends with a girl named Anna, but after getting sloppy drunk Zoey decided to leave her behind in a puddle of her own vomit. This makes things exponentially more uncomfortable when it is revealed that she is Zoey’s new roommate.
Best: Crew Love (Season 1, Episode 12) - Rating 7.2
Even though the group is preparing for freshman formal, no one could prep Zoey for the decision that she would have to make. During the dance, Aaron and Luca confess their feelings for Zoey and she is forced to decide between the pair.
Meanwhile, the group plays ‘Never Have I Ever’, in which Ana realizes that she is the “tamest” member of the group, prompting her to want to be more adventurous. Throughout her pursuit, she tries to kiss Nomi. After failed attempts and one drunken dance later, Nomi gives Ana a pity kiss at the end of the night.
Worst: Starboy (Season 1, Episode 4) - Rating 6.4
In this episode, we see Zoey signed up to be a tutor and ends up getting Cal U’s star basketball player, Cash Mooney, as her first student. From the start, their relationship is rocky when Cash shows up an hour late to their first study session. Over time they bond through their college war stories.
Meanwhile, Nomi deals with people telling her that bisexuality is not as valid as being gay or straight. When talking about this her current boyfriend mentions that he’s bi and her tone to him completely changes. This plotline, though hypocritical of Nomi, shines a light on bi stereotypes and assumptions.
Best: Cashin’ Out (Season 1, Episode 6) - Rating 7.3
Oh, love, it’s a crazy thing. Actually, it made Zoey crazy and this episode. After losing her virginity to Cash she admits that she’s in love with him. With her newfound love, she has been solely focused on Cash and ignoring her mom, resulting in an unexpected visit from Rainbow. Giving her a reality check, Bow wonders whether or not Zoey’s priorities are in check.
Throughout the episode, we see Zoey battle with whether or not she wants to follow Cash while he follows his dreams and put hers on the back burner.
Worst: Erase Your Social (Season 1, Episode 8) - Rating 6.4
After landing the fellowship of her dreams at Teen Vogue, things go awry for Zoey. In the midst of this important moment in her career, she decides to post countless photos of her in every situation at Teen Vogue. Resulting in her getting a coveted checkmark next to her name.
Eventually, her luck ran out when she decided to take an end of the day selfie to show off her hard work and accidentally leaked an upcoming collection in the process. Despite not getting fired, Zoey learned what not to do because her one photo not only ruined a launch but also an advertising relationship that Teen Vogue had.
Best: It’s Hard Out Here For a Pimp (Season 1, Episode 10) - Rating 7.3
Throughout the series, it’s known that Zoe is the narrator, but in this episode, the perspective is mainly focused on Jazz and Sky.
Focusing on dating biases, the twins decide to share their knowledge with stats to back it up. Explaining to their other friends how, regardless of race, there is always a negative comparison when it comes to black women. Outside of their quick lesson, the girls also point out Aaron’s preferences, showing that he definitely has a type. Trying to refute their claims, he tries to date outside of his given type but things don’t go particularly well.
At the end of this episode we see Jazz and newcomer Doug hit it off, hinting at a new budding romance.
