Watch out world, I'm grown now!
All I can say is I'm obsessed.
From the moment Yara Shahidi's beautiful curls entranced the screen, I was hooked. Ever since it premiered, I've literally watched the two only available episodes like five times a day. All I can say is I'm so looking forward to Wednesday at 8 p.m. this week!
"Grown-ish" is a comical spinoff of the popular TV series, "Black-ish," specifically aimed toward a primarily younger audience. Set in Los Angeles, California (My dream city, which makes it all the more better!) on the California University of Liberal Arts Los Angeles Campus, "Grown-ish" centers on the collegiate journey of the beautiful Zoey Johnson (Yara Shahidi).
Both hysterically uplifting as well as intensely relatable, Zoey Johnson is the Carrie Bradshaw of her generation. She gives a voice to the common teenage girl who pretends she does, but truly, has absolutely no idea what she is doing and is simply trying to navigate the waves and loops of life to make it through.
She doesn't really know who she is-because, of course, college is her first ever time truly being on her own. And, well, when you're alone is when you really discover exactly who you are.
The first episode follows Zoey's battle as she describes her first time truly making a decision on her own, and how she failed to choose the right decision, leading her into a downward spiral of despair and discomfort with who she's becoming. She's then comforted by six surrounding students that she never thought she'd talk to, let alone, become extremely close with, and later call some of the closest friends of her life.
Zoey Johnson has such a relatable voice and personality that it's super hard not to put yourself into her shoes as she navigates her first couple days of college, no matter how seemingly bad or unjustified some of her actions are. You imagine what it's like to be her, and how you would respond to a situation.
Being in a new environment entirely on your own without the reliance and support of others, especially your family, can be really difficult and it's especially not such a breeze when you already have an enemy, for the first episode, at least.
The first episode of "Grown-ish" follows a "Breakfast Club"-like series of events, bringing together a group of unlikely strangers in the same unruly midnight digital media class, who end up pouring their hearts out to each other, thus earning each others trust and reliability.
Also, for my music lovers, might I add that "Grown-ish" features a couple of songs that I had to Shazam right upon hearing them. Cough, "Waves" by Natalie Major, cough.
The best thing about "Grown-ish" thus far is the air of similarity to "The Office" in this major component; The narrator speaking directly to the inevitably, watching through the screen audience - you, the watcher.
Zoey Johnson pauses frequently in her endeavors to shoot a deadpan quick side comment to the viewer, whether it be to inform them, persuade them, and/ or to make them laugh- and I love it. It makes you feel like you're right in the situation with her. I got your back, Zoey.
California University, or Cal U, features a collection of stunningly bright, talented, intelligent, and well, really attractive, students. (Aaron, of course.) Much like my absolute dream school, The University of Southern California, Cal U is the perfect University.
It's everything you would look for in a college, and funnily enough, the creator of the show, Kenya Barris, has a daughter who attends USC, who she claims is very much like Zoey. I can't lie, I was so totally excited to discover this fact, and the correlation between my brand new favorite show and my favorite University excites me and makes me even more excited for my very own college journey!
If you happen to be on the search for your next TV show obsession, stop where you are, because I've led you to your goal. It's not too late to catch up, either, because "Grown-ish" premiered last Wednesday, and it will follow-up with a new episode this Wednesday at 8 P.M. Eastern.
And trust me, I'll be counting down the days until Wednesday!