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The Worst Episodes of black-ish

Every episode of black-ish ranked from worst to best. Explore the Worst 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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  1. #1 Worst Episode
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    black-ish Season 5 Episode 11 - Waltz in A Minor
    5.0/10(2 votes)

    #1 - 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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  2. black-ish Season 1 Episode 24 - Pops' Pops' Pops
    5.3/10(3 votes)

    #2 - Pops' Pops' Pops

    S1:E24

    Pops comes to the rescue with the colorful story of how his great-great grandfather, Drexler Johnson, bet the future of the Johnson family against a ruthless gangster, Elroy Savoy, for Jack and Diane's school assignment.

    Director:Unknown
    Writer:Unknown

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  3. black-ish Season 3 Episode 22 - All Groan Up
    5.3/10(3 votes)

    #3 - All Groan Up

    S3:E22

    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.

    Director:Kenny Smith Jr.
    Writer:Hale Rothstein

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  4. black-ish Season 2 Episode 24 - Good-ish Times
    5.5/10(2 votes)

    #4 - Good-ish Times

    S2:E24

    Dre is left exhausted after wrestling with a lot of stress at work and while at home, he drifts to sleep watching a TV marathon of Good Times – cue the dream sequence. The Johnson family goes back in time to the 1970s transforming into the classic TV show's characters.

    Director:Unknown
    Writer:Unknown

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  5. black-ish Season 3 Episode 16 - One Angry Man
    5.5/10(2 votes)

    #5 - One Angry Man

    S3:E16

    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.

    Director:Unknown
    Writer:Unknown

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  6. black-ish Season 3 Episode 17 - ToysRn’tUs
    5.5/10(2 votes)

    #6 - ToysRn’tUs

    S3:E17

    Janine gives Diane a white Girlstory doll for her birthday, and when Bow tries to return it for a black doll, she is shocked by the limited options offered. Dre blames the lack of representation of African Americans in the media, but when confronting this systematic problem, he realizes that he has prejudices of his own. Meanwhile, Ruby enlists the help of Junior to be her Spades partner.

    Director:Oz Scott
    Writer:Jenifer Rice-Genzuk

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  7. black-ish Season 3 Episode 21 - Sister, Sister
    5.5/10(2 votes)

    #7 - Sister, Sister

    S3:E21

    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.

    Director:Anya Adams
    Writer:Yamara Taylor

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  8. black-ish Season 3 Episode 24 - Sprinkles
    5.5/10(2 votes)

    #8 - Sprinkles

    S3:E24

    Initially wary, Dre embraces throwing Bow’s baby shower and wants it to be unforgettable. However, his plans are put on hold when Bow stops by the OB/GYN with a headache and discovers she is having complications.

    Director:Eva Longoria
    Writer:Laura Gutin

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  9. black-ish Season 5 Episode 1 - Gap Year
    5.5/10(2 votes)

    #9 - 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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  10. black-ish Season 5 Episode 2 - Don't You Be My Neighbor
    5.5/10(2 votes)

    #10 - 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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  11. black-ish Season 5 Episode 3 - Scarred for Life
    5.5/10(2 votes)

    #11 - 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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  12. black-ish Season 5 Episode 5 - Good Grief
    5.5/10(2 votes)

    #12 - 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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  13. black-ish Season 5 Episode 6 - Stand Up, Fall Down
    5.5/10(2 votes)

    #13 - 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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  14. black-ish Season 5 Episode 8 - Christmas in Theater Eight
    5.5/10(4 votes)

    #14 - 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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  15. black-ish Season 5 Episode 12 - Dreamgirls and Boys
    5.5/10(2 votes)

    #15 - 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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  16. black-ish Season 5 Episode 13 - Son of a Pitch
    5.5/10(2 votes)

    #16 - 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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  17. black-ish Season 5 Episode 14 - Black History Month
    5.5/10(2 votes)

    #17 - 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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  18. black-ish Season 5 Episode 16 - Enough Is Enough
    5.5/10(2 votes)

    #18 - 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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  19. black-ish Season 5 Episode 17 - Each One, Teach One
    5.5/10(2 votes)

    #19 - 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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  20. black-ish Season 5 Episode 18 - Andre Johnson: Good Person
    5.5/10(2 votes)

    #20 - 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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  21. black-ish Season 3 Episode 3 - 40 Acres and a Vote
    5.6/10(5 votes)

    #21 - 40 Acres and a Vote

    S3:E3

    With Obama leaving office and the upcoming election, Dre finds a new candidate to believe in – Junior. Junior is running for class president and is overqualified for the job, but he just can’t seem to connect with his fellow classmates. Dre becomes his campaign manager and tries to make Junior appeal to the masses. Meanwhile, Pops, Johan and Jack discuss why they’re not voting in the upcoming election, and Bow is worried that Zoey’s college essay is not going to get her into college.

    Director:Ken Whittingham
    Writer:Corey Nickerson

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  22. black-ish Season 3 Episode 15 - I’m a Survivor
    5.7/10(3 votes)

    #22 - I’m a Survivor

    S3:E15

    When Dre goes back to Compton for a funeral, he is reunited with his old crew and struggles with survivor’s remorse for the friends he left behind. Meanwhile, Bow becomes self-conscious when Ruby criticizes her parenting style.

    Director:Ken Whittingham
    Writer:Hale Rothstein

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  23. black-ish Season 3 Episode 18 - Manternity
    5.7/10(3 votes)

    #23 - Manternity

    S3:E18

    Dre considers taking paternity leave after he realizes that Zoey is arguably the best child and their bond developed while he was unemployed when she was born. Meanwhile, Bow tries to hide her pregnancy in order to get a promotion, and Ruby convinces the kids that their nanny, Vivian, is stealing from them.

    Director:Michael Spiller
    Writers:Emily Halpern, Sarah Haskins

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  24. black-ish Season 3 Episode 19 - Richard Youngsta
    5.7/10(3 votes)

    #24 - Richard Youngsta

    S3:E19

    Dre is excited about doing a campaign with a popular rap star but becomes conflicted when Bow and Ruby provide feedback suggesting it plays on stereotypes. Meanwhile, Bow is determined to get the family to stop eating so much take-out food.

    Director:Jude Weng
    Writer:Peter Saji

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  25. black-ish Season 3 Episode 20 - What Lies Beneath
    5.7/10(3 votes)

    #25 - What Lies Beneath

    S3:E20

    Dre’s sister Rhonda is in town, and he feels a little jealous of her close relationship with Pops. Dre and Bow urge Zoey to take Junior to a high school party, and things get out of hand. Meanwhile, the twins feel like they’re soon to be forgotten, so they decide to live life to the fullest.

    Director:Beth McCarthy-Miller
    Writer:Jessica Potter

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Worst Episodes Summary

"Waltz in A Minor" is the worst rated episode of "black-ish". It scored 5/10 based on 2 votes. Directed by Pete Chatmon and written by Robb Chavis, Lisa Muse Bryant, it aired on 1/22/2019. This episode scored 0.3 points lower than the second lowest rated, "Pops' Pops' Pops".