BLACK-ISH: IF A MAN CRIES IN THE WOODS (TV)
Summary
One in this comedy series about an affluent black family and their attempts to maintain their cultural identity.
In this episode, Pops declares that the success of a black man is measured by his children's material success. Subsequently seeing Dre faking a sick day and Junior mooning over Olivia, he declares that the three of them will take a "man trip" to his cabin in the woods for the weekend. After the threesome travel by motorcycle to their lodging, Rainbow helps Diane and Jack with their college lists and subtly suggests that they apply to different colleges. They both balk, until Jack reconsiders. Diane is hurt by his change of attitude and later takes her mother to task for her actions. Rainbow explains that the twins will always be close, despite any distance between them. Diane and Jack then reconcile and decide to make the most of their time together before college starts.
Back in the woods, Junior tries chopping wood, but quickly breaks down when he can't get past having broken up with Olivia. Pops is disappointed when seeing Junior "go soft," and sends Dre to counsel his son. Dre tells Junior that black men aren't allowed to cry, be scared, or feel vulnerable. When Junior questions why, Dre can't explain. Junior then stares into his father's eyes, and the two end up hugging, much to the disgust of Pops. Dre then details his innermost fears to Junior, bringing the two closer.
Later, after the threesome are hunting for their dinner, Dre lowers his rifle and tries an eye-to-eye connection with Pops. Not surprisingly, Pops refuses to let down his guard and stalks away. However, when the three gather around a fire that night, Pops admits that he only saw his father cry at his brother's funeral. Pops then apologizes to Dre for "not having been there" when he should have been. Becoming emotional, he says that he is ashamed of himself. The three then opt to forget the weekend's "living off the land" pledge and go to a diner for supper.
The next morning, Dre, Junior, and Pops prepare to depart. Before they do, the three have a group hug and promise to repeat a trip to the woods the following year. Pops swears not to put up any more "walls" and concludes that the success of a black man is determined by having the love of his family. Commercials deleted.
Details
- NETWORK: ABC
- DATE: 9:00 PM
- RUNNING TIME: 0:21:31
- COLOR/B&W: Color
- CATALOG ID: 144896
- GENRE: Comedy
- SUBJECT HEADING: African-American Collection - Comedy; Comedy; Families
- SERIES RUN: ABC - TV series, 2014-2022
- COMMERCIALS: N/A
CREDITS
- Kenya Barris … Executive Producer, Created by
- Anthony Anderson … Executive Producer
- Laurence Fishburne … Executive Producer
- Helen Sugland … Executive Producer
- E. Brian Dobbins … Executive Producer
- Michael Petok … Executive Producer
- Courtney Lilly … Executive Producer
- Laura Gutin Peterson … Executive Producer
- Robb Chavis … Co-Executive Producer, Writer
- Christian Lander … Co-Executive Producer
- Steven White … Co-Executive Producer
- Tracee Ellis Ross … Producer
- Heidi G. McGowen … Producer
- Tom Ragazzo … Producer
- Isaiah Lester … Producer
- Esa Lewis … Producer
- Melanie Boysaw … Producer
- Aida Kattan … Co-Producer
- Jonathan Groff … Consulting Producer
- Peter Saji … Consulting Producer
- Iona Morris Jackson … Director
- Transcenders … Music by
- Anthony Anderson … Cast, Andre 'Dre' Johnson
- Tracee Ellis Ross … Cast, Rainbow Johnson
- Marcus Scribner … Cast, Andre Johnson Jr.
- Miles Brown … Cast, Jack Johnson
- Marsai Martin … Cast, Diane Johnson
- Laurence Fishburne … Cast, Pops Johnson
- Jenifer Lewis … Cast, Ruby Johnson
- Deon Cole … Cast, Charlie Telphy
- Katlyn Nichol … Cast, Olivia Lockhart
- Peter Mackenzie … Cast, Mr. Stevens
- Jeff Meacham … Cast, Josh