Episode Ratings Grid

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Episode Power Rankings

The peaks and the valleys. Find the essential episodes — and the ones to skip.

#1
S8E12 8.6
If a Black Man Cries in the Woods...

Pops, Dre and Junior go on a "man trip" to heal old wounds. Meanwhile, Diane and Jack contemplate their futures as they look at their college wish lists.

#2
S2E16 8.4
Hope

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.

#3
S5E10 8.3
Black Like Us

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.

#4 Lemons S3E12 8.1
#5 The Word S2E1 8.0
#6 Mother Nature S4E2 8.0
#7 Please, Baby, Please S4E24 8.0
#8 Being Bow-Racial S3E8 7.9
#9 R-E-S-P-E-C-T S4E14 7.9
#10 The (Almost) Last Dance S8E11 7.9

Lowlights

#176 S3E19 Richard Youngsta 5.9

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.

#175 Sneakers by the Dozen S8E7 6.3
#174 Election Special: Part 2 S7E2 6.5
#173 Ashy to Classy S8E5 6.6
#172 What About Gary? S7E10 6.6

The Quality Arc

Each point is an episode, plotted in order. Colored bands mark season boundaries. Look for the rise, the plateau, or the decline.

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Episode Engagement

High votes + high rating = beloved classic. High votes + low rating = notorious stinker. Low votes + high rating = hidden gem.

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Series Trajectory

One point per season. Smooths out the episode-to-episode noise to reveal the bigger arc.

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Season Momentum

Did each season build or fizzle? Green means the finale outscored the premiere. Red means the opposite. Longer arrows, bigger swings.

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Season Consistency

How steady is each season? Tightly clustered dots mean reliable quality. Scattered dots mean a wild ride.

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