(Photo: Craig Sjodin/ABC)
ABC’s “black-ish” returned Wednesday for its seventh season detailing the ups and downs of essential workers, quarantining as a family, dealing with loss, staying hopeful and basic rights of living that now seem unattainable.
Junior (Marcus Scribner) is proud of his doctor mom, Rainbow (Tracee Ellis Ross), for being an essential worker and saving lives. His dad Andre (Anthony Anderson) finds difficulty coming to terms with his non-essential worker status as a senior advertising director.
As one who makes “inspirational advertisements,” Andre tries to convince the family he should be considered essential. He works from home trying to create an effective commercial that will touch people during these “unprecedented and trying times.”
He strikes out on his first two attempts as twins Jack (Miles Brown) and Diane (Marsai Martin) weren’t moved by his message, and grandparents Earl (Laurence Fishburn) and Ruby (Jenifer Lewis) gave it to him straight, no chaser.
Junior is the one who put things into perspective for his father. When Andre asked “What is the world in need of right now?,” Junior said, “A vaccine … universal healthcare … rent forgiveness … universal basic income. … Everything I want is impossible.“
The episode also touched on the risks of visits from friends, the difficulty of not social distancing, “pandemic video dates,” “maskless savages” and drive-by birthday celebrations.
Rainbow drove home the message that because everyone thinks they’re being careful it’s acceptable to not social distance, not wear a mask or hug certain people. She said everyone must do their part and stick to the guidelines for safety.