I randomly stumbled upon this show on Xfinity one night. A black a couple, a white and other race couple... Zach from the Save by the Bell, Tone Bell, 2 beautiful women who look familiar... I HAD to give it a go!
I'll admit - the first episode got off to a rocky start, not rocky, by just not as smooth... I saw what they were doing - black couple + white and ethnically ambiguous couple intertwining race issues with humor and storyline for the show... but it just, idk, let's just say wasn't as smooth, funny and cool, just not as smooth. BUT with each episode this show is getting better and better, the latest episode is an example. Race was in there, but in a funny way.
WHY WE NEED THIS: As a millennial, this show is a MUST. While our parents generation were able to get by with only having same race friends, and even some of our older siblings (late 30s), it's pretty darn unacceptable for us and we know it... we know we have to have actual friends of different races b/c it will only help us to broaden our perspective and not be, well, racist... or as racist anyway. However, its new territory for many of us. Yea, we had the friends in school, and we hang during certain classes or before/after a team we may be on, but its easy for it to stop there.
This show offers us one of the FIRST thoughtful examples of different race couples being BEST friends. It does away with the usual token black friend, but gives us FULL OUT intimate best friends who are essentially family.
THE CASTING: I LOVE that the black couple is, well, a black couple. Not two mixed raced people, not a dark skin husband with a light skin almost white wife, but a straightup real-world, everyday attractive black couple, with a gorgeous fit/in-shape brown-colored wife (this was vitally important). Whoever casted this - good job!
I LOVE that the non-black couple is a white guy and an ethnically ambiguous wife. Super clever... here's how, the wife, isn't black but can very easily relate to some of the experiences of the black couple being that she's, well, not white. It also brings a certain comfort level when bringing up race issues b/c its not just black vs white thing. Although the wife isn't white her character is though, if that makes sense... like she does what we generally think the stereotypical white stay-at-home mom from the suburbs does and she has the same issues - be it planning a party that all the other moms like, picking the nanny, etc. (not that there is actually a difference in the doings and issues of any race stay at home mom b/c its not, but you get what I'm saying).
The point is --- casting, complexion/color and race wise is perfect. It's setup wisely. Seriously - I love it, its just very thoughtful to me.
BTW, would love to see more of the Jewish couple across the street eventually. They were the perfect new set of neighbors to include being that they're white but a different type of white if you know what I mean.
RATING: I actually give this show a 8.5/10. I only have it at 10/10 because of the haters... I actually decided to even write this because of the rating and current comments I could tell they didn't get it. This is a show that I will continue to watch because it's doing EXACTLY what needs to be done by WAY MORE shows. The use of tokens is still pretty rampant... its actually a little cray. The only shows that thoughtfully include several races, and different genders from those races are ones that are written and directed by people of color - Scandal, Grey's Anatomy, Blackish, The Mindy Project, etc. Until "Truth Be Told", good job and smart move.
SUMMARY: I know everyone isn't going to like this show... I don't really expect everyone to especially if they're narrow minded and aren't aware of the inherit "privilege" that they have . This show is good though and everyone should give it a chance. You can see the synergy between the actors and even amongst the writers really growing and evolving because each episode is more natural the last. I'm excited to see how this show grows!
A PERSONAL VIEW: I'm in my late 20s about to be in my 30s and for me this show is perfect timing. I'll likely be married within a year or two, so I love this example. I'm a woman of color, or to simplify I'm a black woman. The current guy I'm dating is white, we often talk about family marriage kids etc b/c he wants us to get married and start a family. So for me this show resonates with me as someone who is currently in a mixed race relationship (white male and non-white woman). At the SAME TIME I have most of my dating experience being in a same race relationship and I can just as easily end up marrying a black guy so this show also resonates with me there. I see myself in the shoes of both Tracy and Angie.
(Although I do wish Angie was a little more Olivia Pope from Scandal sometimes opposed to Denise Hemphill or even Zayday Williams from Scream Queens. Basically exuding more class and intelligence and giving us less "attitude and religion". MJ (Mary Jane) from Being Mary Jane may be a good example as well. Of course Claire Huxtable is the perfect example. But as I write this, I'm thinking scratch that... with each episode you guys have been doing better with all the characters.)
