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#blackAF

METASCORE

Mixed or average reviews based on 18 Critic Reviews

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58

USER SCORE

Mixed or average reviews based on 11 Ratings

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4.4

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4.4	Your Score
4.4	User Score Mixed or average reviews based on 11 Ratings

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Blackaf

Now Playing: Blackaf

#blackAF

Series Details & Credits

Netflix | Release Date: April 17, 2020

Summary: The family comedy loosely based on the life of creator Kenya Barris, with Barris playing a fictionalized version of himself and Rashida Jones as his wife Joya, who raise six children together.

Genre(s): Comedy

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Stream On

Recent Episodes

tbd
S1:E8. i know you may not get this, but the reason we deserve a vacation is... because of slavery
Air Date: April 17, 2020
tbd
S1:E8. i know you may not get this, but the reason we deserve a vacation is... because of slavery
Air Date: April 17, 2020
tbd
S1:E7. i know this is going to sound crazy... but this, too, is because of slavery
Air Date: April 17, 2020

See all Seasons and Episodes

Metascore

58

Positive:

8

Mixed:

6

Negative:

4

Critic Reviews

100

Chicago Sun-Times

Richard Roeper

Apr 15, 2020

Season 1 Review: The cast handles the whip-smart dialogue perfectly. It’s hardly a surprise Barris and Rashida Jones are terrific, but it ain’t easy finding a half-dozen young to very young actors who are so authentic, so skilled at comedic timing, so good at creating original characters who are believable even in his heightened comedic atmosphere. And oh, the subjects “#blackAF” tackles with hilarious, unblinking truth and humor. Read full review

80

Collider Jeff Sneider

Apr 17, 2020

Season 1 Review: On Curb Your Enthusiasm, Larry David makes you feel like the whole world is conspiring against him, whereas with #blackAF, it kind of feels like Kenya is out to stick it to the world. You've gotta have the goods to do that though, and this time, Barris does. Read full review

72

Paste Magazine

LaToya Ferguson

Apr 17, 2020

Season 1 Review: #blackAF isn’t a bad watch. While the episodes are too long, they’re mostly funny and enjoyable, albeit unsettlingly familiar for obvious reasons. Read full review

60

The New York Times

James Poniewozik

Apr 16, 2020

Season 1 Review: “#blackAF” is funny and audacious in many of the same ways [as “black-ish”] — “Curb Your Enthusiasm” to its predecessor’s “Seinfeld.” But there are an awful lot of echoes and repetitions: themes that might have been explored on “black-ish,” story lines and character dynamics that already were explored on “blackish.” “#blackAF” finds its voice immediately. It takes longer to suggest its purpose — that is, what Barris can say here that he couldn’t and hasn’t already. Read full review

40

The New Yorker

Doreen St. Félix

Apr 27, 2020

Season 1 Review: “#blackAF” is a messy show about the mess of making television. ... The other seven episodes blur into one another, lacking story or situation. I couldn’t get enough of Jones as a loving, self-absorbed, rich-bitch mom, and I will never complain about a Nia Long cameo, especially one in which she’s playing a hustler publicist. But “#blackAF” desperately needs fewer riffs and an expanded character universe to leaven its atmosphere of crushing self-indulgence. Read full review

40

CNN

Brian Lowry

Apr 16, 2020

Season 1 Review: Inaugurating "Black-ish" producer Kenya Barris' deal with Netflix, "#blackAF" is as messy as its title -- an unwieldy, self-indulgent show in which Barris, much like Larry David's "Curb Your Enthusiasm," plays a version of himself. It's both a tired concept and an awkwardly constructed one, something that cute hashtags and the occasional clever Hollywood/L.A. reference can't fix. Read full review

10

Variety

Daniel D'Addario

Apr 15, 2020

Season 1 Review: “#blackAF” is the most outright mean-spirited series about family life in memory, and one that seems driven by an impulse toward revealing the worst possible side of Barris’ comic avatar, one that makes the show feel at times cruel to watch. Read full review

SEE ALL 18 REVIEWS

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4.4

User Reviews

10

Lukas02

Jan 17, 2023

With a coherent and an unfailingly continuous storyline and hilarious one liners, #blackAF somehow manages to provide new insight on black experiences for people beginning to listen and learn of black plight and people who are continuing their search for knowledge. All this and surprisinglyWith a coherent and an unfailingly continuous storyline and hilarious one liners, #blackAF somehow manages to provide new insight on black experiences for people beginning to listen and learn of black plight and people who are continuing their search for knowledge. All this and surprisingly stellar cast performances make #blackAF a short, worthwhile television experience. Imagine it as a more comedy-oriented “ The White Lotus”, just if it actually had black people.… Expand

0 of 0 users found this helpful00

7

Indiefilmlover

Jul 5, 2020

As sitcoms go, #blackAF is competently written. The production values are topnotch. It employs the popular pseudo-documentary style that is used by shows such as "The Office," "The Bernie Mac Show," and "Veep," where we follow that characters along throughout the day. Sometimes theAs sitcoms go, #blackAF is competently written. The production values are topnotch. It employs the popular pseudo-documentary style that is used by shows such as "The Office," "The Bernie Mac Show," and "Veep," where we follow that characters along throughout the day. Sometimes the characters seem aware of the cameras shooting them (including when they participate in direct interviews) and other times they do not seem aware that they are being recorded. The question for the potential viewer to ask is whether or not he or she would be interested in following this particular family around for thirty minutes at a time. If the answer is yes, you may find much to enjoy about the show. If the answer is no, you may find the series boring and annoying. The key to your enjoyment (or lack thereof) depends largely on how you feel about the character Kenya's worldview. He's a classic nouveau riche that defines success by the accumulation of things such as designer clothes, fancy cars and the oversized house in the suburbs. In his role as a television showrunner he views himself as more than just a cog in the network wheel, but as an artist. He also doesn't shy away from his support of the black cause du jour and sees himself as some sort of revolutionary that is working within the system. As one will see in the first season, Kenya's vision of himself and the reality are often two very different things. His wife Joya is an ex-corporate lawyer that is struggling to find a purpose to her life beyond motherhood. Fortunately for the viewer, you don't have to watch each episode in sequence to decide if the series is for you. Unlike other streaming shows, it's not heavily serialized. If you're on the fence about watching this series, skip ahead to episode five (entitled, "yo, between you and me... this is because of slavery"). In that particular episode, Kenya is baffled by the enormous amount of acclaim that a new black film is receiving and seeks feedback from fellow black filmmakers (featuring cameos by filmmakers that have achieved either commercial or critical success) about his role as an artist. It is by far the best episode and the essence of what the series is about. If that episode fails to impress, there is no need to continue. On the other hand, if it grabs you, there may be a few nuggets worth discovering in other episodes. Kenya and Joya mean well, but are less than stellar parents. Their six children have their own distinct personalities, but to varying degrees are casualties of their parents skewed priorities. For example, Kenya is more interested in telling his son that he shouldn't mix designers in his sweatsuit than say, the importance of doing well in school or eating healthy. Kenya does an acceptable job essentially playing a version of himself. One would imagine the same is true with the young cast playing the couple's six children. Therefore, Rashida Jones seems to be the only one of the regular cast members that is really playing a character. Once again, a viewer's enjoyment of the series is determined in large part by how interested he or she is in spending time with these people. Ms. Jones may be phenomenal in her role as Joya, but if you aren't interested in the journey of her character, you won't appreciate the skill of her craft. In short, #blackAF is not for everyone. Some will identify with the characters. Others will not. Some will find the situations amusing. Others will find it trite. Others still might not be interested in a show about Hollywood and the people who work "behind the scenes." Some will laugh with the characters and some will laugh at the characters. Others will not laugh at all. Keep you expectations in check and you just might find it worth watching.… Expand

0 of 0 users found this helpful00

6

antososa

Oct 21, 2020

#blackAF tarda un poco en adaptarse, pero en el quinto episodio se impulsa inesperadamente por la toxicidad, autobiográfica o no, de los personajes principales.

0 of 0 users found this helpful00

5

mrmonster

Apr 25, 2020

Perhaps Kenya Barris should stick to producing and leave acting to people who can actually act. Aside from a few good moments from Rashida Jones's characters, blackaf has absolutely nothing to offer.

0 of 1 users found this helpful01

2

DJ98

Jul 13, 2021

My problem with blackAF is it's trying so hard to be the quintessential "black" show. That's impossible because black people are so diverse that it's impossible to represent all of us without falling into stereotypes.

The family's wealth doesn't help with their relatability or politicalMy problem with blackAF is it's trying so hard to be the quintessential "black" show. That's impossible because black people are so diverse that it's impossible to represent all of us without falling into stereotypes.

The family's wealth doesn't help with their relatability or political discussions. That's not to say that shows about rich back people can't be good or relatable. The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air and The Cosby Show are two of the best black sitcoms of all time. The difference between those shows and BlackAF is they focused on characters and story first and race issues second. I know it's important to talk about racism in a show featuring black people. However, if the characters are unlikable and the story is not entertaining, then any message will come off as preaching. It also doesn't help that apart from one episode, the way the writers discuss racism feels like it's from the perspective of rich white people. The movie Green Book had the same problem.

That's not to say that white people can't make a good black sitcom that discusses racism. An example is the sitcom Good Times. Most of the producers and half of the writers were white, but the difference between them and BlackAF is they did their homework. They consulted with the black writers and actors so the show wouldn't be alienating to black people.

Despite being black himself, Kenya Barris demonstrates how living in a bubble has made him forget about the black experience. One example is when in one episode, his character blurts out, "I hate white people." There was no build-up or context to that statement. While there are black people who hate white people, it's usually for fairly justifiable reasons. For instance, black people who were convicts have seen the absolute worst in white people. When Kenya had that outburst, it came off as petty because the audience doesn't know anything about his past or relations with white people that would lead to that statement. Not to mention he's a millionaire. Whatever racism he may have experienced certainly didn't inhibit his ability to make money.

Basically, what I'm trying to say is, BlackAF is a dumbed-down version of Black-ish. Both shows are about a privileged black family living in a predominantly white neighborhood, working and attending school with mostly white people, and figuring out what it means to be black. Balck-ish is better because, like The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air and The Cosby Show, it was a sitcom first and a soapbox second. Also, the title is way better. Black-ish makes sense as a title because it fits the show's theme of black identity and assimilation. BlackAF sounds like the title for a Soul Plane reboot directed by Marlon Wayans. Kenya Barris has a lot in common with Tyler Perry. Both men are wealthy black creators praised for hiring and representing black people in the mainstream media. Their problem is they keep pumping out the same shlock. They both struggle with writing dark-skinned black people since they're either the villains, self-inserts, or just nonexistent in their stories. They try to make relatable content while being oblivious to how their fame and wealth affected their perspective. They both use their blackness as a shield from criticism. They also both have extremely loyal fanbases who are apologetic and blindly praise their content.

I understand why people feel the need to support them. Racism in Hollywood is still prominent, so it's nice seeing black people become professional producers. However, Kenya Barris and Tyler Perry both need to be held to the same standard as any white director because, as black men, they should both know better. They need to know that portraying dark-skinned black people as evil, and black women as crazy harpies that can't be fulfilled without a man is harming the very community they claim to support. They also need to hire better writers.… Expand

0 of 0 users found this helpful00

1

onurcan

Apr 23, 2020

Some video clips of a man being a bad, rude and dumb parent but absolutely not in a funny way, and some other people moving their limbs around and talking cringe. All the modern elements like vertical videos, Instagram posts and stuff about technology are so unnatural. There is no linkSome video clips of a man being a bad, rude and dumb parent but absolutely not in a funny way, and some other people moving their limbs around and talking cringe. All the modern elements like vertical videos, Instagram posts and stuff about technology are so unnatural. There is no link between the stuff we see in the chaotic first 90% of an episode and the very allegedly-wholesome last 10%. Even the names of episodes are trying to hide under the racial inequality which felt like the only spot left to hide for such a terrible work, believeing (rightously) hopefully that the racial inequality is a fact that shouldn't be questioned (again, rightously, don't get me wrong).

Low.… Expand

1 of 3 users found this helpful12

0

TVLovrrr

Apr 21, 2020

Straight up trash! Boring, not smart, dated. This show is poorly done on EVERY level. Kenya Barris is an embarrassment.

1 of 1 users found this helpful10

SEE ALL 8 REVIEWS

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Seasons & Episodes

58

Series Overview
Season 1

58
- Season 1 Overview
  Air Date: April 17, 2020
- tbd
  S1:E8. i know you may not get this, but the reason we deserve a ...
  Air Date: April 17, 2020
- tbd
  S1:E8. i know you may not get this, but the reason we deserve a ...
  Air Date: April 17, 2020
- tbd
  S1:E7. i know this is going to sound crazy... but this, too, is ...
  Air Date: April 17, 2020
- tbd
  S1:E7. i know this is going to sound crazy... but this, too, is ...
  Air Date: April 17, 2020
- tbd
  S1:E6. hard to believe, but still because of slavery
  Air Date: April 17, 2020
- tbd
  S1:E6. hard to believe, but still because of slavery
  Air Date: April 17, 2020
- tbd
  S1:E5. yo, between you and me... this is because of slavery
  Air Date: April 17, 2020
- tbd
  S1:E5. yo, between you and me... this is because of slavery
  Air Date: April 17, 2020
- tbd
  S1:E4. yup, you guessed it. again, this is because of slavery
  Air Date: April 17, 2020
- tbd
  S1:E4. yup, you guessed it. again, this is because of slavery
  Air Date: April 17, 2020
- tbd
  S1:E3. still... because of slavery
  Air Date: April 17, 2020
- tbd
  S1:E3. still... because of slavery
  Air Date: April 17, 2020
- tbd
  S1:E2. because of slavery too
  Air Date: April 17, 2020
- tbd
  S1:E2. because of slavery too
  Air Date: April 17, 2020
- tbd
  S1:E1. because of slavery
  Air Date: April 17, 2020
- tbd
  S1:E1. because of slavery
  Air Date: April 17, 2020