My journey with Grown-ish has ebbed and flowed. I enjoyed the first season immensely, seeing a college-set half-hour comedy for the first time in ages work so well. However, Freeform’s lackadaisical scheduling always left me confused as to when new episodes were airing and to what season they belonged. (This was the breaking point for me and The Fosters, as well.) I was able to jump back in for season 3’s delayed second half and was pleasantly surprised to find myself not at a loss. I understood all the inner workings of every character’s relationships and was immediately back on board.
After watching the first two episodes of Grown-ish’s fourth season, the group’s senior year, I’m a little at a loss for why they started in this direction. The gang has begun their senior year by taking a group trip to Mexico, and from there, mostly everything implodes. Relationships become heated, the stakes to keep the group intact couldn’t be higher, and everyone is making truly awful decisions (Aaron and Zoey being at the forefront of that one).
Even the timeline is all over the place, with Sky at the Tokyo Olympics (aka filming The Little Mermaid), but a certain virus becoming a part of the conversation now. Yet, the characters still remain relatable and comforting that I can’t help but keep watching with glee.
Grown-ish is the definition of comfort food. You can pay attention to it, have it on in the background while doing another activity, or take long breaks between marathon sessions. It’s always there, it’s always good, it’s always reliable. It becomes a tad frustrating, however, when the show goes to take risks or create intriguing plotlines, only to get rid of them within 40 total minutes. The comedy is at its best when the characters are allowed to sit with ramifications or successes for many episodes.
Season 4 begins not allowing any new decision to stick to the wall like last season. I’m hopeful that this is just a fluke and as the school year starts for the crew, the plotlines allow for more growth and circumstance as they say goodbye to their college careers. Since it is their senior year and many on the cast have had success outside of the parameters of the show, I’m also curious to see if this season tries to finish with a bow, just in case this becomes the series’ swan song.
Regardless, I’m looking to give Grown-ish the benefit of the doubt. They are such a reliable figure for Freeform and in the world of single camera comedies that my hope for Season 4 remains. But, if this becomes just “the-COVID-season,” someone better be ready to fight.