Ep 14. Andre from Marseille

Andre from Marseille is the fourteenth episode of the first season of the hit TV show Black-ish. The episode airs on February 4th, 2015 on ABC. This episode focuses on Andre, the protagonist of the show, as he meets a Frenchman named Phillipe, who claims to have grown up alongside Andre in Marseille. As Andre gets closer to Phillipe, he finds himself questioning his own cultural identity and whether he might be more French than American.

The episode begins with Andre holding a meeting with his colleagues at work. However, the meeting is quickly interrupted by a man named Phillipe, who barges into the room claiming to know Andre from their childhood in Marseille. While Andre is initially skeptical, Phillipe quickly convinces him that they did indeed grow up together and that he has many memories of their time together.

As Andre spends more time with Phillipe, he finds himself becoming increasingly drawn to the man's French culture and way of life. He revels in the opportunity to speak French and samples the man's gourmet cuisine with relish. However, his family back in America are less than impressed with his newfound French obsession. They warn him of falling into cultural appropriation and advise him to be more mindful of his African American heritage.

Throughout the episode, the family dynamic is explored in more detail. While Andre's wife Rainbow is supportive of his newfound interest in French culture, his father Pops and sister-in-law Ruby are less sympathetic. They feel that Andre is trying too hard to distance himself from his African American roots and warn him of the potential issues he will face if he is seen as "too French."

As the episode draws to a close, Andre is forced to confront the conflicting aspects of his identity head-on. He realizes that he cannot simply ignore his African American heritage and that he must find a way to reconcile both his French and American identities. The episode ends on a hopeful note, with Andre resolving to embrace his cultural heritage on his own terms.

In conclusion, Andre from Marseille is an engaging, thought-provoking episode that explores themes of identity, cultural appropriation, and family dynamics in a thoughtful and nuanced way. The episode is bolstered by strong performances from the cast, particularly Anthony Anderson as Andre, and is sure to resonate with audiences of all backgrounds.