Cherish the Day

TV review by Melissa Camacho, Common Sense Media
Cherish the Day Poster Image

Common Sense says

age 15+

Romantically flat series has swearing, drinking, sexy stuff.

OWN Drama 2020
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A Lot or a Little?

The parents' guide to what's in this TV show.

What Parents Need to Know

Parents need to know that Cherish The Day is a mature series that explores themes like adult romance, relationships, class differences, and family dysfunction. Each episode spans one day in a five-year-long relationship of the central couple. There are plenty of allusions to sex, including some steamy, skin-revealing bedroom scenes, as well as some drinking (in one case to excess, resulting in illness). There are references to smoking and drugs (but no usage shown) and curses including "damn," "ass," and "s--t." At least one homophobic epithet is used, and classist comments grounded in stereotypes are frequent in some episodes (most of which are challenged). There are also conversations about the beauty, power, and pride of the Black community.

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What's the Story?

From Queen Sugar creator Ava DuVernay comes CHERISH THE DAY, a dramatic series about two twenty-somethings from different socioeconomic backgrounds who forge a long-term romantic relationship. Gently James (Xosha Roquemore) is a charismatic, free-spirited woman from the South side of Los Angeles who works as a home helper to former actress Miss Luma Lee Langston (Cicely Tyson). Evan Fisher (Alano Miller) is a privileged, Stanford-educated young man working for the top tech firm in the city. After a chance meeting in a public library, they spark an undeniable connection, but their different backgrounds have the potential to pull them apart. Over a span of five years they work on their relationship, hoping it leads to forever.

Is It Any Good?

This romantic drama, which is executive produced by Oprah Winfrey, tells the classic story of two people from different worlds who unexpectedly fall in love and try to build a life together. Each episode spans a single day that Gently and Evan spend with each other throughout a five-year period. During this time they work at overcoming the challenges and obstacles they face, which includes bridging their different socioeconomic backgrounds. It may feel a bit like a fairy tale, but the couple lacks the necessary romantic chemistry to make you feel like they belong together. Meanwhile, despite the disapproval of a few members of Evan's family, and a few questions from Gently's attentive foster father (played by Michael Beach), the ability of the couple to cope with their class differences feels too rushed. Within a matter of episodes, that strain on their relationship is significantly diminished. As a result, Cherish The Day lacks some of the excitement that could make this romantic drama more compelling and entertaining.

Talk to Your Kids About ...

  • Families can talk about the way the narrative in Cherish The Day is broken down. How much detail is given about Gently and Evan's lives outside of the time they spend together? Does developing the plot in this way make the story harder to understand or appreciate?

  • There are lots of stereotypes used to describe people from different socioeconomic classes throughout the series. What points are being made through these generalizations? Could these objectives have been met without using them?

  • What are some of the challenges for people of very different socioeconomic backgrounds to have a healthy, long-term relationship?

TV Details

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