Ep 9. Nothing But Nepotism

In season 3 episode 9 of Black-ish, titled "Nothing But Nepotism," the Johnson family finds themselves grappling with the complicated issue of favoritism and entitlement in the workplace.

The episode opens with Dre (Anthony Anderson) as he prepares for his interview to become the new head of Urban Division at Stevens & Lido. He goes through a nerve-wracking, ritualistic routine with his family to ease his nerves. The family seems confident in Dre's abilities for the role, but he's not sure if he'll get the job.

That is, until his colleague, Daphne (Wanda Sykes), who is interviewing him, drops a bombshell: the company's CEO, Mr. Stevens (Peter Mackenzie), wants to promote his own nephew to the role, despite Dre being a more qualified candidate. In fact, all the top positions in the company are filled with the CEO's family and friends.

Dre is understandably frustrated and angry at the situation, especially since he has worked tirelessly for the company for years. He knows he's qualified for the promotion, and not getting the job due to nepotism feels like a slap in the face.

Meanwhile, Bow (Tracee Ellis Ross) is dealing with her own frustration at work. She's a doctor, and a new patient, who happens to be a celebrity, comes in with a long list of unreasonable demands. Despite Bow's best efforts, the patient's needs are put above the needs of other patients, causing Bow to feel like she's not being taken seriously as a doctor.

The theme of entitlement and personal connections over merit continues throughout the episode, as the Johnson children deal with their own struggles. Junior (Marcus Scribner) is having difficulty getting into college, despite his high grades and impressive résumé. His friends, who have connections with Ivy League schools due to their wealthy and influential parents, get accepted easily. Junior feels like he's being overlooked because he doesn't have the same connections.

Meanwhile, Zoey (Yara Shahidi) and Diane (Marsai Martin) observe the nepotism around them at school. Zoey's friend, Milly, gets a lead part in the school play, despite being a terrible actress, because her dad is a famous actor. Diane, who is exceptional at math, doesn't get an invitation to the advanced math program because the teacher's son is also in the program and the teacher doesn't want to give up her son's spot.

As the episode progresses, the Johnsons must navigate these situations and confront the unfairness of nepotism. They must weigh their own desire for success against their ethics and values, grappling with the idea that sometimes doing the right thing means sacrificing personal gain.

In the end, "Nothing But Nepotism" is a thought-provoking episode that explores issues of privilege, entitlement, and the importance of merit. It does so in a humorous and relatable way that will resonate with viewers of all ages and backgrounds.