Poppa’s House | Season 1 Episode 5 Review: Disciplinarian
This week’s episode of Poppa’s House hit close to home for me, especially with its exploration of father-son relationships. The episode centered on Junior’s struggles with balancing discipline and friendship with his kids, echoing the challenges many of us face as we navigate raising children while reflecting on our own childhoods.
The storyline about Junior and Pops was incredibly relatable. Growing up, Junior resented his father’s strict discipline, feeling he couldn’t connect with him. Pops, in turn, felt it was his responsibility to teach his son life lessons through tough love. It was a powerful moment when Junior, now a father himself, realized he didn’t want to repeat the same mistakes with his own children.
One of the most touching scenes was when Junior stood up for his wife, Nina, after their son Trey disrespected her. The moment felt earned, showing Junior stepping into his role as a firm but loving father, something his own dad had struggled to do. Pops later reinforced this by reminding Junior not to fall into the trap of being “friends” with his kids, stressing the importance of authority and respect.
On a lighter note, the episode also introduced a funny and absurd moment with Pops and Junior’s comedic “Persona” skits, which had me laughing out loud. It was the perfect balance of humor and heart, especially given the more emotional parts of the episode.
Another touching storyline featured Junior’s daughter, Mia, who is a dancer. Her mom, Nah, was pushing her too hard, trying to relive her own dreams through her daughter. It was a great exploration of how parents can unintentionally put pressure on their kids, leading to a great moment of self-reflection when Nah realizes she needs to ease up and let Mia enjoy the experience.
Overall, this episode scored a solid 9 out of 10 for me. The only thing holding it back from a perfect score was the unresolved flirtation between Dr. Reed and Pops, which felt a bit out of place and didn’t get fully addressed. If this storyline continues in later episodes, I’ll gladly bump this episode up to a 10.
Poppa’s House continues to impress, blending humor, heart, and real-life issues into a show that resonates deeply. I’m really looking forward to what comes next.
