Ep 1. Sweet Child O' Mine

After premiering in fall 2019 and concluding its first season in May 2020, "Mixed-ish" returned to ABC for season two with a special two-episode premiere.

The first episode is titled "Sweet Child O' Mine," and it picks up where season one left off -- tensions are high between Alicia (Tika Sumpter) and Paul (Mark-Paul Gosselaar) as the family moves from the commune they've lived in for years to a regular house in the suburbs.

In the season one finale, Alicia and Paul had a huge fight over whether or not to accept Paul's promotion at work, which requires them to move away from the commune and into a more traditional home. Alicia was hesitant to leave their unconventional lifestyle, while Paul wanted to provide a more stable life for their family.

Now, in season two, Alicia is still adjusting to the move and trying to make the best of it while also clinging to her ideals and values. Meanwhile, Paul is struggling to adjust to his new job and is feeling the stress of being the sole breadwinner for a family of six.

The episode begins with the kids -- Bow (Arica Himmel), Johan (Ethan William Childress), and Santamonica (Mykal-Michelle Harris) -- starting the first day of school in their new town. Bow is nervous but excited, while Johan is happy to make new friends, and Santamonica is not thrilled about the prospect of starting at a new school.

At home, Alicia is trying to make the house feel more like their old home at the commune by planting a garden and building a chicken coop. However, she quickly realizes that the suburban neighborhood isn't as welcoming to her unconventional practices, and she soon clashes with her neighbor Liz (guest star Christina Anthony) over the chicken coop.

Meanwhile, Paul is struggling at work. He's having a hard time adjusting to the corporate environment and feels like he doesn't fit in with his new coworkers. When his boss offers to take him out for a drink after work, Paul thinks it's a chance to make a good impression and maybe even get a promotion. However, things don't go as planned, and Paul ends up embarrassing himself in front of his boss.

As the family prepares for their first dinner party in their new home, tensions between Alicia and Paul continue to rise. Alicia is unhappy with Paul's behavior at work, and Paul is frustrated with Alicia's unwillingness to adapt to their new circumstances. However, they both realize that they need to work together to make their new life work and that their family is more important than any individual ideals or beliefs.

Overall, "Sweet Child O' Mine" is a heartfelt and relatable episode that explores the struggles of adapting to a new environment while holding on to one's values. The episode also tackles issues of class, race, and privilege in a way that is both humorous and thought-provoking.