During the school talent show, Jack delivers a performance of "Gold Digger." A lyric within the song, however, threatens to have serious consequences: potential expulsion. Dre and Bow collaborate to fight for his reinstatement, their effor…

Following a recent break-in in the neighborhood, Dre broached the subject of acquiring a firearm, a suggestion that unsettled Bow deeply. This sparked a lively discussion among them: the myriad paths to safeguarding a family, and the elusiv…

Following his annual check-up, Dre returned home visibly shaken. Pops, observing his son's distress, offered an explanation rooted in the ingrained distrust of healthcare prevalent in his generation, admitting he himself hadn't consulted a …

Following yet another subdued Father’s Day, eclipsed by graduation celebrations and summer escapes, Dre and his colleagues conceived a holiday initiative called “Daddy’s Day”—a celebration of all that Father’s Day is often lacking. His con…

Sunday mornings at the Johnson house are usually consumed by the demands of SAT preparation and athletic practice. So, when the neighbors extend an invitation to church, Dre, a boy accustomed to a reflexive refusal, surprised himself by acc…

Halloween has held a special fascination for Dre since he was young. Now residing in a neighborhood renowned for its generous candy offerings, he finds children from across the city flocking to its porches for trick-or-treating, his own nie…

Dre accompanies Bow and Zoey on a visit to Bow’s alma mater, Brown University, battling his anxiety about flying with the aid of medication. A series of escalating misunderstandings leads to an unexpected babysitting arrangement for Charlie…

As Bow orchestrates the Johnson family's yearly Christmas card portraits, Dre takes Junior and Jack to T.'s Barber Shop for a haircut. T., a fixture in Dre's life, has been their barber for years. When Junior expresses a desire to be cut by…

Dre has always been fiercely protective of the people he’s known his whole life, but Bow suspects he's being taken advantage of when his childhood friend Sha comes to stay with them for a few days. Separately, Daphne Lido, the former wife o…

Dre feels Christmas has devolved into a relentless pursuit of possessions, a sentiment echoed most keenly by his children. Pops and Ruby believe they’ve lost sight of the holiday's essence and devise a plan to simplify gifts, prioritizing s…

Gigi Franklin, Dre’s childhood companion, is visiting, and Bow often feels like an afterthought in their company. Dre and Gigi share a bond like siblings, though Gigi's status as an international pop star with striking looks doesn't ease th…

Dre had always been unconcerned with his father's romantic pursuits, but when it came to Ruby, he was fiercely protective. He wouldn't tolerate anyone interfering in their relationship. So, when Ruby invited Dre and Bow to meet the new man …

Following a month of extravagant spending, Dre and Bow begin to wonder if they've outgrown their lifestyle. James Brown, their habitually flamboyant accountant, has long managed their finances, but when the subject of money arises at work, …

Dre registered a subtle pattern: Janine had never extended an invitation to his family for her pool parties. He concluded, with a disheartening certainty, that she perceived them as a family unsuited to swimming. His children were stunned t…

The weight of their shared identity had grown heavy on Jack and Diane, and after considerable persuasion, Dre and Bow finally conceded to allowing them a measure of independent living. Elsewhere, Dre purchased Zoey her first automobile, a g…

Amidst the intense scrutiny of a widely reported trial concerning alleged police brutality against a young African-American man, Dre and Bow find themselves wrestling with how to answer their children’s difficult questions. Dre, along with …

For school, Jack and Diane are undertaking biographical projects on one another. Diane decides to film a documentary focusing on Jack's emerging basketball talent. A star player in their recreational league, Jack’s world shifts when Dre and…

Dre and Bow find themselves increasingly overwhelmed by the demands of raising their children and managing household responsibilities. Bow convinces Dre that they need assistance, leading them to the decision to hire a nanny. After a series…

The realization struck Dre and Bow with sudden force: they had no legal guardian designated for their children. A shared resolve bloomed in its wake – to identify suitable replacements, should unforeseen circumstances ever separate them fro…

Rhonda, Dre’s sister, is preparing for her wedding to Sharon, and the preparations spark a discussion about tradition. Dre learns that Bow objects to the customary practice of a woman taking her husband's surname, a sentiment he’d never enc…

Dre has long sought to shape his own life to resemble the idealized families he witnessed on television as a child. When rumors begin to circulate about layoffs at Stevens & Lido, he becomes consumed with the fear that his family’s standing…

Dre had long sensed a disconnect between himself and his oldest son. But when he finally encounters Junior's circle of effortlessly cool friends, a warmth spreads through him. A hopeful feeling blossoms – perhaps his son might finally have …

A flu has settled over the Johnson home, and with uncertain times at work, Dre is determined to avoid becoming ill. He finds himself shouldering the responsibility of caring for everyone. Ruby is in isolation with Bow, and through it, she g…

The weight of work and domestic pressures leaves Dre utterly drained. He succumbs to sleep while watching a television marathon of *Good Times*, and the familiar theme song ushers in a dream. In his slumber, the Johnson family journeys back…