Ep 1. Becoming Bow

Becoming Bow is the first episode of the first season of Mixed-ish, a comedy-drama show that premiered on ABC in 2019.

Set in the 1980s, the show follows the life of Bow Johnson, a young biracial girl who, along with her siblings, is forced to adjust to living in the suburbs after their parents move them from their idyllic commune in the countryside. In Becoming Bow, we see how the move affects young Bow as she tries to navigate the culture shock of suburban school and making friends.

The episode opens with a narration by Bow, setting the stage for the story to come. We see Bow and her siblings getting ready to start a new school in a new neighborhood, with their mother, Rainbow, trying to prep them for the "real world" that they haven't yet experienced. Rainbow, played by Tracee Ellis Ross, is trying to get her children to understand that their free-spirited ways won't totally mesh with the society they'll find themselves living in now that they're in the suburbs. But as the children quickly learn, the "real world" is not as simple or straightforward as their mother makes it seem.

As Bow and her siblings begin to attend school, they start facing difficulties they've never encountered before. For Bow, fitting in proves to be particularly challenging due to her mixed-race identity. She finds herself caught between two worlds: not black enough for the other black girls, too black for the white ones. She tries to make sense of her identity by asking her mother questions, but Rainbow doesn't seem to have any answers beyond telling her daughter to "just be yourself".

Throughout the episode, we see Bow struggling to find her place in this new world, feeling both invisible and hyper-visible at the same time. She takes cues from her older brother, Johan, who is determined to fit in and be cool, but ultimately realizes that the way he's presenting himself isn't authentic. Her other brother, Santamonica, is busy trying to be popular and impress her peers, while her father, Paul, is struggling with his new job. In the midst of all this, Bow is trying to figure out who she is and where she belongs.

As the episode progresses, we see Bow becoming more and more frustrated at not being able to fit in anywhere. She speaks to her mother again, telling her that she's tired of people constantly asking her what she is. Rainbow comforts her daughter, telling her that she understands what it's like to be different, but that over time, things will get easier. We see Bow starting to come into her own, embracing her differences and even using them as a way to connect with others.

Becoming Bow is a heartwarming and relatable episode that deals with issues of identity, fitting in, and finding oneself. The show's cast, which includes Mark-Paul Gosselaar as Bow's father, Tika Sumpter as Bow's mother, and Arica Himmel as Bow, is excellent, delivering nuanced and authentic performances. The dialogue is well-written and captures the struggles of being a minority in a largely homogeneous society. The episode's themes are universal, and viewers of any background will be able to relate to Bow's journey.

Overall, Becoming Bow is a strong start to the first season of Mixed-ish, setting the stage for what looks to be a compelling and entertaining show. The episode offers a sweet and funny take on a very real problem and will have viewers rooting for Bow as she finds her place in the world. Things may not be perfect, but as Rainbow tells her daughter, as long as she stays true to herself, everything will fall into place.