Grown-ish Review: You Beat Me to the Punch (Season 4 Episode 9)

An extremely anticlimactic summer season finale filled with a number of throwaway storylines, Grown-ish Season 4 Episode 9, “You Beat Me to the Punch,” leaves many relationships in a state of limbo. 

The biggest relationship currently on the chopping block is Aaron and Zoey. While they are still recovering from their previous fight, their makeup sex can only bandage their real issues for so long.

This entire jealousy storyline between Aaron, Zoey, and Luca came out of nowhere. It feels like the writers had to scrounge up some drama or hindrance in their relationship. 

As Zoey is trying to figure out how to make up her one-credit internship, Aaron goes to Charlie to try and get him to sign off on Zoey’s requirement. 

But, Luca beats Aaron to the punch when he offers Zoey an opportunity at his “Little Litty Luau,”– which by the way is incredibly decorated, top-notch planned, and I, for one, love alliteration. 

First of all, Aaron, it’s just a job offer, not a bed offer? Besides, Luca seems to respect boundaries, and he doesn’t overtly push himself onto Zoey. However, once again, extreme alpha energy is clouding Aaron’s judgment.

Up until these episodes, Luca’s storyline has been pretty scarce. Yet, this is the best storyline they can produce?

Is it naive to believe that Luca and Zoey could totally be friends without any romantic leftovers between the two?

Apparently not, because as Kiela’s icing Luca’s bruised chin, she provides him third-party insight about his attempts to keep Zoey in his orbit. 

They were friends beforehand, so it doesn’t seem unusual that they would stay friends, especially since they’re in the same friend group.

Continuing along the ex theme, Jazz is once again looking at Doug. Again, they already moved past this storyline, so I’m confused why they’re bringing it back again. 

Originally, Jazz’s issue with Dez is his defiance of gender norms, but her apprehension shifts to unresolved feelings for Doug. Which feels like an easy cop-out.

Just as Jazz is about to tell Dez she’s no longer interested, she sees Doug and Kiela kissing. And in a flurry of emotions, she walks up to Dez and kisses him instead. 

Fashion fluidity for a masculine male character is certainly a concept that I haven’t really seen on any other TV show before, so I hope it’s further addressed. 

As if the friend group isn’t riddled with enough drama, Ana and Vivek sleep together. Didn’t they get the memo that intermingling in the same friend group never ends well? Just ask Doug, Jazz, Zoey, and Luca. 

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

Stray Musings:

• Luca’s crib is simply magnificent. They need to film there more often, please. 
• Whenever Aaron calls Zoey “freshman” my heart melts!
• They’re hardly ever shown in classes anymore, I completely forgot what everyone is studying. Since when did Nomi and Ana announce they were on track to become lawyers?
• Sorry Vivek, but anyone who has to specifically state how confident they are in their heterosexuality is overcompensating.

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Grown-ish airs Thursdays at 8/7c on Freeform.

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