Who knew a “U Up?” text would turn into this?

Grown-ish got straight into the messy this week. The comedy got considerably funnier and we think it’s only going to get better! Zoey (Yara Shahidi) and Aaron (Trevor Jackson)are not just circling around each other anymore. After the “U Up?” text from Aaron in last week’s episode, Aaron and Zoey have apparently been hooking up – depending on what your definition of hooking up means. Zoey gets another text from Aaron after the girls get back from a party that night. She calls in the gang – because no decisions can be made without letting the squad weigh in on it. After it takes them an hour and a half to get around to what hooking up actually means, Zoey decides to not text back. Aaron freaked out for a little bit, but as boys do – he got over it and played some 2K.

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Zoey decides to play a power move but it backfires on her when Aaron goes out with another girl. She then gets the courage to text him her own “U Up?” text, but then she gets nervous and sends out a series of texts that take a turn for the worst. We wanted to snatch her phone and throw it out the window, as he tells her to stop with the texts. After being deterred for a little while she hops back into it by going out with Luca (Luka Sabbat). Didn’t see that coming, right? Once their night is over, Aaron hops back into the ring and Zoey starts hanging with him again. When she tries to be a player, it quickly goes downhill fast and she ends up getting caught on Facetime with both boys. After that fiasco, Zoey has a talk with Dean Parker (Chris Parnell) and decides that it’s time to take a break from boys and only hang out with her girls from now on, or not. It was a whirlwind of an episode, so let’s get into the discussion!

Here to discuss the messiness that is Zoey’s college life is our lovely roundtable!

Jeria (@jereyea) – Student, Stan, and Tweeter

Miya (@MsMiya_) – Writer, Film Enthusiast, Singer.

Ryan (@legendarylevy) – child actor, TV & movie buff

Chi (@polyhansen) – college student, free writer, pop media enthusiast, practice in promotion and sales.

Aima (@ASAPAIMA) – Music lover and poetry trash

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1. The girls had a chat about hooking up. What did you think about their definitions of ‘hooking up’ and thoughts on the ‘U Up’ texts?

Jeria (@jereyea): I think the twins had a spot on definition to hooking up. Hooking up means sex, and a “U UP” text that late is summoning you for sex, pretty much. I thought it was funny how sheltered Ana was, and how she thought ‘hooking up’ meant hanging out.

Miya (@MsMiya_): I think that had some interesting perspectives about hooking up. For me, hooking up means sex, I think if you’re just making out and what not then you can call it messing around. Personally, I have never gotten a “U Up” text so I can’t truly comment, but I know friends who have and it’s driven some of them crazy.

Ryan (@legendarylevy): I thought the definitions of hooking up by the characters was hilarious. Great breakdown of how something can mean different things to different people. U Up texts are funny, I would rather the person be a little more romantic.

Chi (@polyhansen): Since there is no clear definition of “hooking up” and no clear interpretation of “U Up?”, I think the girls interpret based on their experiences so really all of their answers can be valid, except Anas’. Hers was a little off.

Aima (@ASAPAIMA): I think hooking up is sex. Poor Zoey was so oblivious and “U Up” is definitely a booty call.

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2. Zoey came right out the gate showing us how she is handling boys in college. She had a major freak-out moment too. What did you think of the cluster of cringe texts that Zoey sent out to Aaron?

Jeria: I thought Zoey was nuts for texting Aaron back to back that many times. It made her seem desperate and too available, but I also know how it is when you see the texting bubbles, and they just disappear. Being an overthinker, it’s easy to draw a million different conclusions.

Miya: I have actually been in that situation where you send multiple text messages, & then instantly regret them. I normally try to play it off as a joke or sorry that was an accident, but those things never worked

Ryan: That was harsh, she turned into a stage 5 clinger that would scare me as a guy. Very humorous though.

Chi: Those text were so unnecessary, I actually couldn’t believe she pressed send on that. I know college girls that have been there though, Zoey was just on the extreme scale.

Aima: She messed up! Ugh, Zoey.

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3. Are we or are we not surprised that Aaron still wanted to hang out with Zoey after all those texts?

Jeria: I was extremely shocked that he wanted to hang out after those texts, but maybe it was because he genuinely started to like her.

Miya: I am surprised that he still messaged her again, but not surprised because guys tend to take a break and then go right back to getting what they want again.

Ryan: Not too surprised, thought it was odd there was no conversation between them about all the texts but it seems like they got past it.

Chi: I am surprised he wanted to still hang out after he was fooling with that knock off Zoey.

Aima: I’m surprised she acted like a crazed stalker who was obsessed with him, probably because he really does like her.

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4. Zoey and Luca? Their little late night date was kind of cute, right? Did you think them being together would come up so quickly?

Jeria: I thought this week’s episode would pick up where the last episode left off. I would have liked to see some buildup of chemistry between her and Luca before they started to “talk”.

Miya: I was taken aback by the Zoey & Luca thing because there was no indication of them ever becoming a couple. So although they are cute, I’m not sure if I’m on board with them quite yet

Ryan: I was hoping they would connect, and the date night was so cute and cool, who wouldn’t like a concert. In college going to concerts randomly does happen schools put on concerts or your friend has tickets to see someone.

Chi: I saw it coming honestly, it was cute that he took her to see Kid Ink. No shade, but Aaron would never.

Aima: ZUCA, I ship them so much. It was so cute unexpected but I love them together. Bye bye Aaron.

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5. It didn’t last long, but how do you think Zoey handled being a “player”?

Jeria: I think Zoey handled being a player horribly. She made herself too available for both of them, and she got too cocky with it. In the beginning, she was juggling them both pretty well, but it all got to her head.

Miya: I think she handled it very poorly and got really in over her head but that’s life ya know.

Ryan: Her special ringtone for each was clever, and being at a school having them run into each other would be really hard to avoid she put in a lot of work being a player but in the end, she dropped the ball. She tried to juggle them both but in the end, couldn’t keep it going. Probable for the best.

Chi: She took all the right precautions, but sometimes, things just happen. That’s facts.

Aima: She handled it well, the girl really planned it out.

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6. Do you think Luca and Aaron are truly and completely done with trying to get with Zoey, or do you think these relationships will be revisited?

Jeria: I think both relationships will be revisited, especially Aaron. He couldn’t get mad because he was seeing another girl while texting Zoey “U Up” at all hours of the night, but like a guy, his ego is hurt when she did the same thing.

Miya: I believe Luca will end up genuinely wanted Zoey back but I’m not so sure about Aaron because it’s unclear what his intentions are.

Ryan: It’s not over yet, I think we will see more of them both. This can be a common issue with dating when you are just “hooking up” people can get jealous. I felt the hate between Luca and Aaron this episode it was funny so I doubt it is the last we will see of Zoey and Luca or Zoey and Aaron.

Chi: These relationships will definitely be revisited because they’re all friends, I know Aaron for sure is not done. Back to that knock off Zoey, that was just weird.

Aima: They are definitely going to try and get her back to her man.

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7. Zoey got some clarity on her situation at the end, even if she did go back to her same tendencies two seconds later. Do you think Zoey is right about your college friends lasting a lifetime?

Jeria: I think college friends last a lifetime because unlike your high school friends, they see you at your absolute worst, and continue to stick around.

Miya: Realistically, no. It’s a small percentage of people who leave college and still have the same friends they met on their first day.

Ryan: College is a big time for people as some are on there own for the first time. It is a time to find yourself and grow as a person. Part of that is finding friends and through the times shared in college can lead to friendships lasting a lifetime. You may have friends, best friends, but there are always those college friends! It also points out that chasing a guy/girl may not last the lifetime but your friendships will.

Chi: College friends can definitely last a lifetime if you have the right ones; I think Zoey has a good bunch.

Aima: Yes, honestly, I think friends from any period of school will last a lifetime.

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Boys are not all you need.

So Zoey really liked the two boys she was hanging out with this week, but that didn’t stop her from playing them both and getting caught up in it all. We all thought she went a little crazy stalker girl on Aaron but we guess he realized that she was just a little upset about him taking out another girl and decided to not leave her hanging. Although Zoey seems clingy at first, she quickly starts to learn that she’s doing this all the wrong way.

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We really loved this episode! It had a lot of hilarious moments – especially the Facetime scene when Zoey gets caught and the boys proceed to argue across screens. They really cannot stand each other and it’s a nice aspect to add to their relationship without it being too much. We would have loved to see more of a development between Luca and Zoey but nonetheless, we like them together. Not to say that we don’t like Aaron, he’s just a bit complicated to define at the moment.

What are we looking forward to next? Do we care to watch next week? We’re excited to see next week’s episode! The writers have shown us that they can do great things with a script and we’re confident they’ll continue to do just that in future episodes.

grown-ish returns next Wednesday, January 17th at 8/7c on Freeform.