Ep 9. University of Dre

In the "University of Dre" episode of the acclaimed sitcom Black-ish, we see the Johnson family struggle with the anxieties and pressures of applying to college. Specifically, patriarch Dre (played by Anthony Anderson) becomes fixated on getting his eldest son Andre Jr. (Marcus Scribner) into his alma mater, the prestigious Howard University.

As the countdown to application deadlines begins, Dre becomes more and more obsessive about every detail of Andre Jr.'s application, from his essays to his extracurricular activities. Meanwhile, mother Bow (Tracee Ellis Ross) is worried about the emotional impact of the process on their high-achieving son, who seems to have lost some of his passion for learning amid the stress.

The episode also explores the theme of legacy in college admissions, as Dre grapples with the question of whether his own privilege and connections are the only reasons he was able to attend Howard. He seeks guidance from his own father, a veteran who never got the chance to go to college.

Along the way, we see the Johnsons interacting with a range of other college-bound characters, including Dre's coworker Charlie (Deon Cole), who is applying to business school, and Dre's twins Jack and Diane, who are anxiously preparing for a school science fair.

As always, Black-ish deftly balances humor with heart in its exploration of timely social issues. "University of Dre" is a must-see for anyone who has ever felt the pressure to excel in school, or who has experienced the complicated dynamics of parental expectations.