Ep 18. Black Nanny

In season 2, episode 18 of Black-ish, entitled "Black Nanny," the Johnson family faces an unexpected dilemma when their long-time nanny, Vivian, announces that she has accepted a job out of state. With Dre and Bow working full-time and struggling to balance their careers and raising their four children, they realize they need to find a replacement nanny quickly.

Enter Gigi, an older, no-nonsense woman recommended by Vivian. Initially apprehensive about hiring an older nanny, Dre and Bow soon realize that Gigi is a perfect fit for their family. She's firm but fair with the kids, has a knack for cooking up delicious meals, and even manages to get Dre and Bow to sit down for a proper family dinner.

However, things start to get complicated when Dre begins to suspect that Gigi may be a little too perfect. He starts to notice that she seems to be taking over their household, making decisions without their input and even giving the kids nicknames that they don't like. Bow is initially dismissive of Dre's concerns, but soon starts to see what he's talking about.

Meanwhile, the rest of the family is dealing with their own issues. Junior struggles to come up with an idea for his school's Black History Month project, while Zoey is dealing with a crush on her Spanish tutor. And Jack and Diane are busy trying to prove to Gigi that they're not babies anymore, much to Dre and Bow's chagrin.

As Dre and Bow struggle to regain control of their household, they come to realize that Gigi has been dealing with her own personal issues. At the heart of it all is a generational divide between Gigi and the kids, and a desire to be seen as more than just a nanny. In the end, the Johnson family learns to appreciate Gigi for who she is and everything she's done for their family.

"Black Nanny" is a heartwarming episode of Black-ish that explores the challenges of balancing work and family while also touching on issues of ageism and the importance of valuing the contributions of those who work in traditionally undervalued roles. It's a timely reminder that sometimes the best solutions come in unexpected packages, and that family is about more than just blood relations.