Last week Netflix debuted brand new sitcom Family Reunion on its streaming platform.
The show follows the McKellan family who come to visit Georgia during a family reunion and stay in the house of the lovingly ferocious M’Dear (Played by Loretta Devine). While staying for all the family fun, they miss the smalltown feel so much that they decide to make the visit permanent.
In an interesting twist, each episode contains a dedication to someone just before the credits roll. For example, at the end of episode 1, it states, “Dedicated to my brother from another mother, Michael Ajakwe Jr.”
But what is the purpose behind the Family Reunion dedications? Monsters and Critics exclusively found out the reason for these tributes on every episode.
Why are there Family Reunion dedications every episode?
The explanation for the dedications makes them all the more touching. Monsters & Critics reached out to Netflix about the tributes, and a spokeswoman revealed that each writer used on the show was given the chance to offer a dedication at the end of their episode to “a family member of someone important to them”.
“Each Family Reunion writer was given the opportunity to dedicate their episode to a family member or someone important to them, living or deceased. The first episode is dedicated to the late writer Michael Ajakwe. The last episode is dedicated to Meg’s godchild Nicole, who died last year at the age of 22.”
The “Meg” being referenced is none other than Meg DeLoatch, the show’s creator. She has also worked on classic sitcoms such as Malcolm & Eddie, Family Matters, and the Netflix reboot of Fuller House.
It was already meaningful to have tributes for each episode but having the context adds to the poignancy.
Emotional tributes aside, the series — one of the few shows right now that has put together a writers room made up solely of African American talent — is wholesome fun for families seeking something to enjoy on Netflix during the Summer break. This show is an enjoyable comedy for teens as well as adults alike.
All 10 episodes of Family Reunion are streaming on Netflix now.
I hope this show stays around for along time. I am recommending this to everyone. Good fun
I love this show!! Because it is based on Georgia, where I am from. I live in Denver, CO. Forv24 years now. I love the culture, the history shared and I.love the dedications. I Google it to find out about them. That is so cool. And having an all African Ametican writing team is so great. I love this show. I knowvI said that already. Way to go y’all.
I am also from Atlanta and moved away to Colorado after I graduated from high school. I just discovered this show and binge watching all the seasons
I like this show. It shows the world what is happening in the African American community. The episode where the boys are being arrested for just trying to get into their own home was powerful! Now the prejudice cop is after the dad & mom for standing up for their rights! Real life situations! #BLACK LIVES MATTER is true. In my thoughts ALL LIVES MATTER. We are all human beings and should be treated as such!
If this was a program with all white people, what would you have to say??? I like this show don’t get me wrong, but the blacks would yell racism because there weren’t any people of color! They say we are privileged but the shoe is on the other foot! There is also an all-black Tv station, BET! So, my point is quit calling the kettle black!
I watched FRIENDS and in a huge city no people of color until the end. A character dated a Black woman. I could go down the list but you already know the shows and the line up. And have you EVER been to Columbus GA? LOL the show is on point with the racial make up of schools and neighborhoods
Really! We been whitewashed for years. We get some shows because our money spends too, and the powers that be finally realized that.
As a black person we’ve always had to fight for equality and we still have not arrived. So to have a few shows that reflect our culture out of so many that don’t is a right. They didn’t want to include us so we did the next best thing and made our own. We only played by the rules of the game our white counterparts started.
The show is simply fantastic
There needs to be a lot more episodes, I love this show