Black-ish Review: First and Last (Season 4 Episode 6)

Black-ish Season 4 Episode 6, “First and Last,” nails it yet again, as the show delivers another installment in the lives of the Johnsons. On this episode, Black-ish tackles the often taboo subject of getting your period.

Diane’s already volatile personality gets thrown into more chaos as she goes through the experience of getting her first period. Like many girls first getting their period Diane goes through, shame, anger, embarrassment, disgust and frustration while dealing with what’s happening to her body.

Diane: It’s just unfair, I’m the first one in my class to get my period. It’s embarrassing and gross.

Thankfully, Diane is surrounded by amazing women who are all there to make her feel normal, loved, and celebrated. Bow and Zoey help Diane to get past the embarrassment of her own experience by sharing their own.

Any personal change can be overwhelming if you feel like you’re doing it alone, but hearing from people who’ve been through the same thing can make everything better.

Meanwhile, Ruby and Alicia highlight how far society has come in the last 40+ years. Not that long ago girls were shunned for getting their periods.

Alicia: My mother kept me home from school because my body was dirty.

Ruby: Growing up I was a tomboy, and me and my daddy did everything together, throwing balls, me sitting on his lap, when I got my period a wall went up. I was a woman and that was that.

Periods are perfectly normal and natural, but for some reason they’re still taboo to talk about, which creates a stigma of embarrassment and awkwardness. But as Zoey says, being a woman is awesome, and we shouldn’t be ashamed of any part of it.

Jack tries to help, while also struggling with his own puberty experience. Jack often gets the role of the dummy or the baby, but this time he knows exactly what to do in calling Zoey in to help Diane.

Pops in turn eases Jack’s fears and insecurities about falling behind as Diane matures. One of the great things about this cast/family is that Black-ish can shuffle up the characters and have moving scenes between any of them.

Pops: You’ve got to be patient, girls mature faster than boys…Don’t worry, eventually you’ll catch up to the girls, well not mentally that never happens, but I promise you will grow.

Dre also struggles to come to terms with Junior growing up as well showing change all across the Johnson family. Black-ish Season 4 Episode 6 teaches us that things change overtime and life goes on and there are always new experiences to have as we grow.

OTHER THOUGHTS:

• Dre’s coworkers all pointing out that Rainbow is out of his league is a nice touch that I appreciate.
• Connor trying to kill his dad is becoming a recurring theme, like Charlie’s ongoing nonsensical life, and it’s really hilarious.
• Bow’s mom Alicia is a hoot and a half, I hope they have her around more!
• Black-ish is doing really well with making sure to include little Devante and remaining aware that there is a baby in the family.
• Ruby and Rainbow seem to be on even footing a little more often, which is really nice!

What did you think of this episode of Black-ish? Share your thoughts with us in the comments below!

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Black-ish airs Tuesdays at 9/8c on ABC.

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