Family Reunion (TV series)

Family Reunion is an American sitcom created by Meg DeLoatch that was released via streaming on Netflix on July 10, 2019. In September 2019, the series was renewed for a second season which premiered on April 5, 2021. Part 4 was released on August 26, 2021. In October 2021, the series was renewed for a third and final season, Part 5, which premiered on October 27, 2022.

Premise

A family of six from Seattle, Washington, visit Columbus, Georgia, to attend a family reunion. They decide to relocate there to be closer to their family.

Cast and characters

Main

• Tia Mowry as Nicole "Cocoa" Joie McKellan, a mother of five (as of Season 3) who believes in new-age parenting and sometimes is very sassy but still loves her kids.
• Anthony Alabi as Moses "Moz" Deuteronomy McKellan, Cocoa's husband and a former Seahawks tight end. Although a strict person at times, he only does so because he cares about his children.
• Talia Jackson as Jade McKellan, Cocoa and Moz's eldest daughter who is boy-crazy and a little rebellious.
• Isaiah Russell-Bailey as Shaka McKellan (seasons 1–2); Cocoa and Moz's older son. He is shown to be a very intelligent and academically inclined. In season 3 (also known as Part 5) he attends an elite boarding school and does not appear in the show.
• Cameron J. Wright as Mazzi McKellan, Cocoa and Moz's younger son who has a passion for singing and composing music.
• Jordyn Raya James as Amelia "Ami" Nicole McKellan, Cocoa and Moz's youngest daughter.
• Loretta Devine as Amelia Louise "M'Dear" McKellan, Moz's Deep Southern old-fashioned churchgoing mother.

Recurring

• Richard Roundtree as Grandpa, M'Dear's husband for 43 years and Moz's father who is also a pastor. He is a survivor of prostate cancer.
• Warren Burke as Daniel, Moz's childish brother
• Lexi Underwood as Ava (season 1), Jade's friend from church
• Naomi Grace as Genevieve, Jade's friend from school who speaks with a British accent.
• Mark Curry as Principal Glass (seasons 1–2), the principal of Maya Angelou Magnet School
• Lindsey Da Sylveira as Mikayla, Jade's nemesis who is a black activist and mocks Jade for not being “black enough”.
• Telma Hopkins as Maybelle, M'Dear's sister who got married 4 times (5 times including her marriage to Tony in Season 3)
• Lance Alexander as Elvis, a family friend of the McKellan family who also has a crush on Jade
• Journey Carter as Renee, one of Jade's friends
• Jasun Jabbar Wardlaw, Jr. as Tyson (season 3), Moz and Cocoa's nephew and Maureen's son whose behavior is troublesome due to his father's passing but shapes up with the support of his family in Columbus.
• Legend and Legacy Jordan as Skye McKellan, Cocoa and Moz's lastborn son, Jade, Shaka, Mazzi and Ami's youngest sibling, Daniel and Grace's nephew and M'Dear and Grandpa's fifth grandchild

Guest stars

• Erica Ash as Grace, Moz and Daniel's younger sister
• Charlie Wilson as Himself
• Tyler Cole as Royale (season 1), Jade's ex-boyfriend
• Amanda Detmer as Haven Sheeks
• Jaleel White as Eric
• Tempestt Bledsoe as Katrina
• Noah Alexander Gerry as Drew (season 1), Jade's crush
• DeLon Shaw as Missy, Jade's friend at school
• Jackée Harry as Aunt Dot (seasons 1, 3), M'Dear and Maybelle's sister
• Rome Flynn as Tony Olsen (seasons 1, 3)
• Peri Gilpin as Daphne (season 2), Cocoa's mother
• Kenya Moore as Herself (season 2)
• Candiace Dillard Bassett as Sunita Chanel (season 2)
• Brandi Glanville as Heidi (season 2)
• Akira Akbar as Brooke (season 2), Shaka's friend at school
• Bruce Bruce as Brother Davis (season 2)
• Nicco Annan as Barron (season 2), Moz's cousin and Shaka's godfather who is gay
• Willie Gault as Himself (season 2)
• Anika Noni Rose as Miss Karen (season 2), Mazzi's piano teacher
• Tahj Mowry as Mr. Dean (season 2)
• Bella Podaras as Kelly-Ann (season 2)
• Monique Coleman as Ebony (season 2)
• Jadah Marie as Morgan (season 2), Shaka's girlfriend
• Ariel Martin as Jinji Starr (season 2)
• Essence Atkins as Aunt Maureen (season 3), Cocoa's paternal half-sister
• Lela Rochon as Dr. Turner (season 3)
• Rachel True as Cheryl (season 3), Cocoa's cousin
• Wendy Raquel Robinson as Joyce (season 3), Tony's mother and Maybelle's mother-in-law
• Robert Ri'chard as Vic (season 3)

Episodes

Series overview

Season 1 (2019–20)

Season 2 (2021)

Season 3 (2022)

Production

Development

On October 17, 2018, it was announced that Netflix had given the production a straight-to-series order for a first season consisting of twenty episodes. The series was created by Meg DeLoatch who was also expected to executive produce. Production began in Los Angeles. The first part was released on July 10, 2019. On September 17, 2019, Netflix renewed the series for a second season consisting of sixteen episodes. It was also announced that there will be a holiday special that was released on December 9, 2019, and the nine extra season 1 episodes were released on January 20, 2020. The second season premiered on April 5, 2021. Part 4 was released on August 26, 2021. On October 18, 2021, Netflix renewed the series for a 10-episode third and final season. The third season premiered on October 27, 2022.

Casting

Alongside the initial series announcement, it was reported that Tia Mowry, Loretta Devine, Anthony Alabi, Talia Jackson, Isaiah Russell-Bailey, Cameron J. Wright, and Jordyn James had been cast in series regular roles.

Reception

Critical response

The review aggregation website Rotten Tomatoes reported a 67% approval rating for the series, based on 6 reviews, with an average rating of 5/10.

Awards and Nominations

The series received numerous awards and nominations, it won NAACP Image Awards for Outstanding Children's Program in 2020, 2021 and 2022. As well as an Art Directors Guild Award for Excellence in Production Design for a Multi-Camera Series in 2022 and a Primetime Emmy Award nomination for Outstanding Cinematography for a Multi-Camera Series in 2020.

References

External links

• Family Reunion on Netflix
• Family Reunion at IMDb