“The Upshaws” is a Netflix TV series about an African American family living in Indiana and struggling to get by. The series is six seasons long and the characters go through ups and downs together as a family.
The series is not bad. The concept of it is very stereotypical and not that original, particularly when the dad cheats on the mom and has a baby with another woman, then begs to come back. This is very stereotypical of how black families are portrayed. On the other hand, the execution is amazing. The actors capture emotions perfectly. The storyline is super easy to follow.
Lucretia is the aunt. She is funny and does not put up with most things, while Regina is a strict mom who’s working to get a better job. Regina has three kids, Bernard, Aaliyah and Maya. Bernard is the oldest who still lives at home. It is not specifically stated how old he is, but online sources state he is in his late 20s and early 30s. Aaliyah is the middle child who is popularity-obsessed and phone-obsessed. Maya is the youngest child and is very sassy and rude. Bennie is the deadbeat father who cheats on Regina with another woman, having a son called Kelvin. Later, he begs to be taken back. Kelvin starts going to school with Aaliyah, and he quickly became popular, much to Aaliyah’s disdain.
The characters all go through emotional journeys in the show. They get closer and viewers really learn a lot about the characters as the show progresses. Overall, this show is very good at showing the struggles of the working class. This series perfectly executes comedic timing as well as dramatic scenes. The show is an overall seven out of ten stars.
