Who does jade from Family Reunion end up with?

So my nieces wanted to watch a show on Netflix this past weekend. I said sure and found the show they wanted to watch called “Family Reunion.” It stars Tia Mowry-Hardrict, Anthony Alabi, and Loretta Devine as part of an ensemble cast of this show that explores not only family dynamics but also other social issues that affect families today.

My nieces were already on season two. So I’m now going back and watching season one right now. However, an episode that stood out to me was episode four of season two. I’ll be honest. I wasn’t expecting anything more than your typical sitcom show. However, I was surprised at how head on it tackles some fairly serious issues and does so in some really subversive ways.

The episode titled “ Remember When Jade Was Down With The Swirl.” It tackled the issue of interracial relationships and how they are perceived within the African-American community. Frankly, it’s an issue that isn’t talked about as much as it should be.

When we talk about race relations, the impact of interracial dating and marriage gets glossed over. In 1967, The Supreme Court of the United States ruled that laws banning interracial marriage were unconstitutional and that such laws violated the equal protection clause. The same clause that helped to make same sex marriage legal.

I feel that in both white and black culture it’s an issue that is still fairly controversial. For example, the Loretta Devine character Amelia ‘M’Dear’ McKellan says some rather derogatory things about the fact that her granddaughter Jade has a crush on a boy who is white. This becomes an even bigger issue later in the episode because Jade is waiting for this boy to ask her out to the school dance. In fact, I would put this right up there with the Family Matters episode I wrote about last year.

The Most Important Episode Of Family Matters.

Why Sitcoms Matter

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I know I’m skirting on some fairly thin ice here. However, I think that in black culture interracial dating is still rather frowned upon. In fact, an exchange between Jade’s mother, father, and grandmother showcases the different views within the black community about the subject. I find it interesting how head on they addressed this issue. I can understand why a black woman dating a white man could be an issue. With the recent resurgence of white supremacy groups like the KKK and other white nationalists. It could be dangerous for someone to date outside of their race.

The conversation that happens around Jade wanting to date a boy who is white. Shows that we as a society haven’t made as much progress as we should have made by now. The fact that interracial couples are still fairly controversial means that we still have a lot of work ahead of us.

Another small thing that happens in this episode is how they mention that segregation only ended 55 years ago. This comes up because Jade was talking with her high school friend and when asked how her friend knew when it ended. Jade’s friend mentions that it was on the citizenship test. It’s an interesting comment on how Americans view their own history and the importance of it.

The episode really does a great job at how perception can affect people. Jade, although she really wanted the boy to ask her out. Tells him that she can’t go out with him. Because of the social and peer pressure she faces, Jade makes a choice that she ends up regretting. She tries to fix her mistake, but it’s too late. They don’t give her a happy ending, and I think that’s the best choice the writers made for this episode. They didn’t do the classic sitcom trope of having everything workout.

As I’ve been watching this show. I’ve been really impressed with the how it addresses the cultural issues that affect the black community. For example, in the first episode, they contrast how different generations view how to raise children. They also address the social and political aspects of the black community.

The fact that they mention the Black Panther party and Huey Newton in the first episode really sets the tone for the whole series. They don’t shy away from big issues, and they take the time they have to do deep dives. Family dynamics is the core of this show. However, addressing the issues that affect the black community is also a primary driver for the show.

This show is well written, and it isn’t your typical sitcom, they aren’t playing everything for laughs. It talks about the importance of family and the importance of a person’s culture. This is the sitcom we need to have right now in this current climate. Family Reunion should be on network TV. This show should be seen by as many people as they can get to watch it.

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Family Reunion is a show based in Columbus, Georgia about a famous football player, Moz McKellan, (played by an actual retired football player, Anthony Alabi) whose family moved from Seattle, Washington to be more community-oriented. McKellen’s family works to respond to the day-to-day challenges of different sets of circumstances. Instead of having a mansion and going to parties, they now live with Moz’s parents and go to church. At least they still have the cars. Each episode ends with a dedication to someone close to the writers, finishing off the formula for a textbook ‘family feels’ genre of a show. While this show is good-hearted and full of laughter, it doesn’t authentically address or portray serious events.

One word of caution: lookout for some brief mature scenes including cursing. There was also a scene with roleplay that had everybody shivering. The adult humor may be difficult for children to understand. 

At the end of season 2, Jade portrayed by Talia Jackson, the daughter of football player, Moz,  and his wife Cocoa (Tia Mowry-Hardrict) run away from her 15th birthday party with her unapproved boyfriend because he was kicked out of the party. It also ends with a second cliff-hanger, where the family is bankrupt from overspending. Darn, just as they were gonna buy their own house too! 

The family’s finances made the cut for a huge return in Part 3, but Jade’s running away doesn’t. The first episode jumps over the subject, as it’s revealed in the second episode that she was grounded for three months. It skips over the general excitement that viewers had been waiting to see for months. 

But this show has a history for that. At the end of Part 1, a police officer racially profiled two of the young black main characters, leaving one of the parents wanting to move back to Seattle. But instead of showing the struggle, Part 2 kicked off with a celebration after the cop was fired and indicted. It skips the struggle of the firing like it bypassed finding Jade. Strangely, the writers decided to give it five minutes in an episode before cutting it off. There was a later episode about not trusting Jade after she ran off, but it’s dismissed once the episode ends. 

The show approaches difficult topics, ripe with emotion: grief, black history, bullying, and debt, but the storylines fail to fully take advantage of them. Storylines are often repetitive and viewers can safely assume that if something serious occurs, it won’t be long before laughter returns. Undoubtedly, viewers appreciate heartfelt shows, but Family Reunion writers too often take the easy road and follow with jokes. 

With this, there’s little excitement left in the show.  At its onset, the episodes were exciting and suspenseful. Now in its second season, topics are predictable and boring and scenes feel forced. 

While Family Reunion brings a lighthearted touch to heavy topics, it needs something more. The show would rediscover its initial success if it followed through with its original intentions in providing a strong and emotional, more serious show. 

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