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The Best Episodes of black-ish Season 5

Every episode of black-ish Season 5 ranked from best to worst. Discover the Best Episodes of black-ish Season 5!

Binge this in 8h 49m•Peaking at 8.2/10

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
    black-ish Season 5 Episode 1 - Gap Year
    6.9/10(241 votes)

    #1 - Gap Year

    S5:E1

    After dropping Junior off at college, Dre and Bow are beside themselves when they find him back at home announcing his decision to take a gap year. Meanwhile, Jack and Diane begin to question whether they should still be sharing a room.

    Director:Gail Lerner
    Writer:Doug Hall

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  2. black-ish Season 5 Episode 2 - Don't You Be My Neighbor
    7.0/10(236 votes)

    #2 - Don't You Be My Neighbor

    S5:E2

    The neighbors decide to rent their house out for homestays and it's causing problems for the Johnsons. Dre develops a newfound joy of calling the cops over petty neighborhood issues but begins to question the example he is setting for Jack. Meanwhile, Diane develops her first crush and Bow wants to help but lets Zoey take the lead.

    Director:Pete Chatmon
    Writer:Kenny Smith Jr.

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  3. black-ish Season 5 Episode 3 - Scarred for Life
    7.1/10(225 votes)

    #3 - Scarred for Life

    S5:E3

    The twins opt out of the family Halloween costume for fear it will hurt their social status in middle school. Dre and Bow take it upon themselves to protect them from bullies by putting together the best haunted house and invite the whole seventh grade. Meanwhile, Junior starts spending time with a girl from Ruby's choir and Ruby doesn't know how to feel about it.

    Director:Todd Holland
    Writer:Yamara Taylor

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  4. black-ish Season 5 Episode 4 - Purple Rain
    7.6/10(309 votes)

    #4 - Purple Rain

    S5:E4

    The family is shocked to learn that Jack and Diane are not familiar with the iconic music of Prince. One by one, each member of the family works to explain Prince's tremendous impact on their lives through his music.

    Director:Charles Stone III
    Writer:Peter Saji

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  5. black-ish Season 5 Episode 5 - Good Grief
    7.0/10(200 votes)

    #5 - Good Grief

    S5:E5

    Bow's mom, Alicia, visits the family for the first time since the loss of Bow's dad, and she is still heavily grieving. Bow decides to throw a big luau-themed party for what would have been her dad's next birthday. Meanwhile, Mason has an extra ticket to an MMA fight and invites Diane on the same night as the party.

    Director:Todd Holland
    Writer:Gail Lerner

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  6. black-ish Season 5 Episode 6 - Stand Up, Fall Down
    6.9/10(202 votes)

    #6 - Stand Up, Fall Down

    S5:E6

    Junior hasn't been doing much at home during his gap year, so Dre decides to put him to work as an intern at Stevens & Lido. Junior is astonished to see Dre's co-workers say offensive things and Dre letting it slide. Meanwhile, Bow lets Ruby watch Devante after the nanny quits; and Ruby has a hard time following Bow's rules.

    Director:Ryan Case
    Writer:Laura Gutin

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  7. black-ish Season 5 Episode 7 - Friends Without Benefits
    6.8/10(199 votes)

    #7 - Friends Without Benefits

    S5:E7

    Bow makes a new friend at work and Dre thinks she has broken bird syndrome. Meanwhile, Junior transforms his shared room with Jack into a frat house, and Ruby and Diane gang up against them.

    Director:Ken Whittingham
    Writer:Lindsey Shockley

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  8. black-ish Season 5 Episode 8 - Christmas in Theater Eight
    6.8/10(209 votes)

    #8 - Christmas in Theater Eight

    S5:E8

    The Johnsons have a tradition of going to the movies on Christmas and they can never agree on what to see. Dre wants to see an important film about Rosa Parks, but they all want to see the latest action-packed superhero blockbuster. Meanwhile, Junior becomes embarrassed about taking a gap year after he runs into his ex-girlfriend Megan at the theater.

    Director:Jude Weng
    Writer:Courtney Lilly

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  9. black-ish Season 5 Episode 9 - Wilds of Valley Glen
    6.8/10(199 votes)

    #9 - Wilds of Valley Glen

    S5:E9

    Dre must take Jack and Diane on a mandatory camping trip for school and hatches a plan for them to escape to a fancy hotel for some pampering. Meanwhile, Bow gets an award at work, but feels undermined after a colleague is surprised to learn that she went to USC for med school.

    Director:Claire Scanlon
    Writer:Christian Lander

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  10. black-ish Season 5 Episode 10 - Black Like Us
    8.2/10(311 votes)

    #10 - Black Like Us

    S5:E10

    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.

    Director:Salli Richardson-Whitfield
    Writer:Peter Saji

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  11. black-ish Season 5 Episode 11 - Waltz in A Minor
    7.1/10(199 votes)

    #11 - Waltz in A Minor

    S5:E11

    Dre's teenage cousin Kyra needs a place to stay and the Johnsons decide to take her in, but they have different approaches to helping her adjust to suburban life. Meanwhile, Jack and Diane try to vet Kyra on social media to get information on her.

    Director:Pete Chatmon
    Writers:Robb Chavis, Lisa Muse Bryant

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  12. black-ish Season 5 Episode 12 - Dreamgirls and Boys
    7.2/10(186 votes)

    #12 - Dreamgirls and Boys

    S5:E12

    Dre and Bow struggle with the changing times of identity politics and gender neutrality. Diane auditions for the school play and scores the male lead part, but her crush starts spending time with another girl. Meanwhile, Junior's Valentine's Day date goes awry after Dre and Pops have a talk with him about chivalry.

    Director:John Fortenberry
    Writer:Gail Lerner

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  13. black-ish Season 5 Episode 13 - Son of a Pitch
    6.8/10(182 votes)

    #13 - Son of a Pitch

    S5:E13

    Junior is working at Stevens & Lido as an intern and takes some time to find his footing; but when he offers an idea during a pitch meeting, Dre immediately puts him in his place. Meanwhile, Bow has a meeting with one of Kyra's teachers and learns that she has an aptitude for chemistry, but Kyra doesn't want to transfer to a magnet school.

    Director:Eva Longoria
    Writer:Steven White

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  14. black-ish Season 5 Episode 14 - Black History Month
    7.4/10(207 votes)

    #14 - Black History Month

    S5:E14

    Dre is upset after he learns that Jack and Diane are getting the same surface-level education about Black History Month that he got when he was growing up. After taking it up with the twins' teacher, he is asked to present at the assembly and wants to bring Black history to life.

    Director:Tracee Ellis Ross
    Writer:Laura Gutin

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  15. black-ish Season 5 Episode 15 - justakidfromcompton
    6.8/10(190 votes)

    #15 - justakidfromcompton

    S5:E15

    Dre and Bow want to send Kyra to Valley Glen Prep, but after the school treats them like a charity case, they are infuriated. Meanwhile, Junior wants to get a job as Josh's assistant at Stevens & Lido.

    Director:Millicent Shelton
    Writer:Lisa Muse Bryant

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  16. black-ish Season 5 Episode 16 - Enough Is Enough
    6.8/10(178 votes)

    #16 - Enough Is Enough

    S5:E16

    After Kyra's estranged father, Perry, shows up and wants to bring Kyra home to Houston, Dre and Bow work to show him the amazing life they can provide for her. Meanwhile, the kids go on a mission to get her one last chili dog from Larry's.

    Director:Michael Spiller
    Writer:Doug Hall

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  17. black-ish Season 5 Episode 17 - Each One, Teach One
    6.8/10(180 votes)

    #17 - Each One, Teach One

    S5:E17

    Dre feels like he has made a difference with the diversity at Stevens & Lido as the head of the Urban Division, but when Junior tells him that Josh is his mentor, Dre flips out. Meanwhile, Jack and Diane show their friends a video of Bow dancing and now she's become the hot mom.

    Director:Gail Lerner
    Writer:Melanie Boysaw

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  18. black-ish Season 5 Episode 18 - Andre Johnson: Good Person
    6.8/10(192 votes)

    #18 - Andre Johnson: Good Person

    S5:E18

    As they are planning Devante's birthday, Bow wants to be more mindful with all the new child-rearing rules these days, but Dre isn't having it. Junior tells Jack and Diane that they need to be more mindful of the environment and their first order of business is changing Ruby's bad habits.

    Director:Ken Whittingham
    Writer:Esa Lewis

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  19. black-ish Season 5 Episode 19 - Under the Influence
    6.8/10(181 votes)

    #19 - Under the Influence

    S5:E19

    Jack is going through an experimental phase and getting himself into trouble, so Dre chaperones the twins' school dance to keep an eye on him. Meanwhile, Junior fights with his girlfriend, Niecy, after she thinks he spends too much time taking care of Devante.

    Director:Linda Mendoza
    Writer:Christian Lander

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  20. black-ish Season 5 Episode 20 - Good in the ‘Hood
    6.8/10(180 votes)

    #20 - Good in the ‘Hood

    S5:E20

    Dre's sister Rhonda takes Jack and Diane to her part of town in a black neighborhood and claims the twins are scared of their own community. Dre and Rhonda take them to a local diner to show them why it's so special. Meanwhile, Bow becomes the “office mom” at work, and Junior tries to help her break the label.

    Director:Rob Sweeney
    Writer:Courtney Lilly

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  21. black-ish Season 5 Episode 21 - FriDre Night Lights
    7.0/10(185 votes)

    #21 - FriDre Night Lights

    S5:E21

    Dre is thrilled when Jack makes the football team, but Bow is against the idea. Meanwhile, Diane wants Junior to drive her to her first real date with Jalen, but Junior overstays his welcome.

    Director:Charles Stone III
    Writer:Lindsey Shockley

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  22. black-ish Season 5 Episode 22 - Is It Desert or Dessert
    6.8/10(179 votes)

    #22 - Is It Desert or Dessert

    S5:E22

    Dre has concerns about Jack and Diane spending the weekend with their friends' family in the desert. Meanwhile, Pops is forced to come to terms with how he treats women after he helps set Junior up.

    Director:Kenny Smith Jr.
    Writer:Kenny Smith Jr.

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  23. black-ish Season 5 Episode 23 - Relatively Grown Man
    7.1/10(178 votes)

    #23 - Relatively Grown Man

    S5:E23

    After Junior gets an offer for his dream job working with Migos, Dre and Bow are determined to convince him to return to college and get his degree.

    Director:Anthony Anderson
    Writer:Steven White

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Season 5 Ratings Summary

"Gap Year" is the best rated episode of "black-ish" season 5. It scored 6.9/10 based on 241 votes. Directed by Gail Lerner and written by Doug Hall, it aired on 10/16/2018. This episode is rated 0.1 points higher than the second-best, "Don't You Be My Neighbor".