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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!

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

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Episode Rankings

  1. #1 Fan Favorite
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    black-ish Season 2 Episode 16 - Hope
    6.0/10(786 votes)

    #1 - 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.

    Director:Beth McCarthy-Miller
    Writer:Kenya Barris

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  2. black-ish Season 1 Episode 1 - Pilot
    5.9/10(762 votes)

    #2 - Pilot

    S1:E1

    Advertising executive Dre happily anticipates a promotion; Andre Jr. wants to covert to Judaism and have a bar mitzvah like his friends.

    Director:Kenya Barris
    Writer:Kenya Barris

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  3. black-ish Season 1 Episode 3 - The Nod
    5.8/10(550 votes)

    #3 - The Nod

    S1:E3

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

    Director:James Griffiths
    Writer:Kenya Barris

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  4. black-ish Season 1 Episode 4 - Crazy Mom
    5.7/10(451 votes)

    #4 - Crazy Mom

    S1:E4

    When Dre takes over "mom'' duties, the praise he gets from everyone at the school goes to his head.

    Director:James Griffiths
    Writer:Gail Lerner

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  5. black-ish Season 1 Episode 13 - Big Night, Big Fight
    5.6/10(334 votes)

    #5 - Big Night, Big Fight

    S1:E13

    Dre is determined to keep the peace on Valentine's Day. Diane's siblings try to help her be nice.

    Director:Unknown
    Writer:Unknown

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  6. black-ish Season 2 Episode 1 - The Word
    5.6/10(428 votes)

    #6 - 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
    Writer:Kenya Barris

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    7. Trending NowTRENDING NOW

    The 20 WORST Episodes of black-ish

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  7. black-ish Season 2 Episode 12 - Old Digger
    5.6/10(292 votes)

    #7 - 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.

    Director:Linda Mendoza
    Writer:Steven White

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  8. black-ish Season 1 Episode 6 - The Prank King
    5.5/10(450 votes)

    #8 - The Prank King

    S1:E6

    Dre is disappointed when the older kids balk at a family tradition.

    Director:Matt Sohn
    Writer:Lindsey Shockley

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  9. black-ish Season 1 Episode 15 - The Dozens
    5.5/10(372 votes)

    #9 - The Dozens

    S1:E15

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

    Director:Millicent Shelton
    Writer:Unknown

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  10. black-ish Season 1 Episode 17 - 30 Something
    5.5/10(327 votes)

    #10 - 30 Something

    S1:E17

    Dre worries about getting older when he injures himself playing basketball before his 40th birthday.

    Director:Unknown
    Writer:Unknown

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  11. black-ish Season 2 Episode 11 - Plus Two Isn't a Thing
    5.5/10(285 votes)

    #11 - Plus Two Isn't a Thing

    S2:E11

    Dre's childhood best friend Gigi Franklin is in town, and Bow feels like an afterthought whenever the two of them are together. Dre and Gigi are like brother and sister, but it doesn't help that Gigi is an international pop star with model looks. When they get into an argument, Dre turns to Bow, who convinces him that she can fill Gigi's shoes as his best friend and they give it a trial run. Meanwhile, the kids always look forward to a visit from Aunt Gigi and during her stay, they become inspired to film a music video and become Youtube stars.

    Directors:Victor Nelli, Jr.
    Writers:Lisa McQuillan, Njeri Brown

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  12. black-ish Season 2 Episode 13 - Keeping Up with the Johnsons
    5.5/10(280 votes)

    #12 - Keeping Up with the Johnsons

    S2:E13

    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.

    Director:Millicent Shelton
    Writer:Courtney Lilly

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  13. black-ish Season 2 Episode 14 - Sink or Swim
    5.5/10(304 votes)

    #13 - 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.

    Director:Michael Schultz
    Writer:Gail Lerner

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  14. black-ish Season 2 Episode 18 - Black Nanny
    5.5/10(286 votes)

    #14 - 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.

    Director:Anton Cropper
    Writer:Lindsey Shockley

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  15. black-ish Season 3 Episode 8 - Being Bow-racial
    5.5/10(321 votes)

    #15 - 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.

    Director:Kevin Bray
    Writer:Jenifer Rice-Genzuk Henry

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  16. black-ish Season 3 Episode 9 - Nothing but Nepotism
    5.5/10(255 votes)

    #16 - Nothing but Nepotism

    S3:E9

    Bow urges Dre to use his connections and secure Zoey a fellowship, but he doesn't want his daughter relying on nepotism. When Bow finds Zoey a place at the hospital, Dre balks at the idea and successfully pulls some strings at Teen Vogue. Meanwhile, Junior loses his first job at an arcade pizza joint that the twins love after he reports their unclean practices to corporate, and they shut it down.

    Director:Gail Mancuso
    Writer:Yamara Taylor

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  17. black-ish Season 3 Episode 11 - Their Eyes Were Watching Screens
    5.5/10(275 votes)

    #17 - Their Eyes Were Watching Screens

    S3:E11

    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.

    Director:John Fortenberry
    Writer:Gail Lerner

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  18. black-ish Season 2 Episode 15 - Twindependence
    5.4/10(280 votes)

    #18 - Twindependence

    S2:E15

    Jack and Diane are tired of being twins, and after much pleading, Dre and Bow give in to letting them explore their lives as individuals. Meanwhile, Dre buys Zoey her first car, and she is over the moon. But when he shares the news at work, his colleagues bring up all the terrible things teens do with cars, and Dre starts to question whether Zoey is ready for one after all.

    Director:Michael Spiller
    Writer:Peter Saji

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  19. black-ish Season 2 Episode 19 - The Leftovers
    5.4/10(288 votes)

    #19 - 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.

    Director:Linda Mendoza
    Writer:Hale Rothstein

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  20. black-ish Season 1 Episode 2 - The Talk
    5.3/10(570 votes)

    #20 - The Talk

    S1:E2

    When Dre decides to give Andre Jr. the sex talk, he instantly regrets it when his son won't stop asking questions.

    Director:Rebecca Asher
    Writer:Vijal Patel

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  21. black-ish Season 1 Episode 9 - Colored Commentary
    5.3/10(394 votes)

    #21 - Colored Commentary

    S1:E9

    Dre encourages the family to have each other's backs; Zoey and Andre Jr. must babysit the twins.

    Director:Ken Whittingham
    Writer:Yvette Lee Bowser

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  22. black-ish Season 3 Episode 6 - Jack of All Trades
    5.3/10(265 votes)

    #22 - Jack of All Trades

    S3:E6

    When Jack and Diane bring home the results of their career tests, Dre and Bow must come to terms with the fact that Jack may have a blue-collar future. Meanwhile, Ruby is convinced Diane is possessed with a little help from Junior and Zoey.

    Director:Linda Mendoza
    Writer:Gail Lerner

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  23. black-ish Season 3 Episode 10 - Just Christmas, Baby
    5.3/10(255 votes)

    #23 - Just Christmas, Baby

    S3:E10

    Zoey is college-bound, so Dre sets out to create the best family Christmas ever, even having Johan and his best friend, Gigi, over for the celebration. Meanwhile, Bow babysits Gigi's newborn and remembers just how difficult mothering a baby is.

    Director:John Fortenberry
    Writer:Steven White

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  24. black-ish Season 1 Episode 5 - Crime and Punishment
    5.2/10(495 votes)

    #24 - Crime and Punishment

    S1:E5

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

    Director:Claire Scanlon
    Writer:Corey Nickerson

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  25. black-ish Season 1 Episode 7 - The Gift of Hunger
    5.2/10(389 votes)

    #25 - The Gift of Hunger

    S1:E7

    When the kids disapprove of Dre's favorite cheap restaurant, he decides they all need to get jobs.

    Directors:Victor Nelli, Jr.
    Writer:Peter Saji

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Best Episodes Summary

"Hope" is the best rated episode of "black-ish". It scored 6/10 based on 786 votes. Directed by Beth McCarthy-Miller and written by Kenya Barris, it aired on 2/24/2016. This episode scored 0.1 points higher than the second highest rated, "Pilot".