Common Sense Media Review
By Melissa Camacho
,
based on child development research. How do we rate?
Mild spin-off sitcom has race-related humor, life lessons.
Parents Need to Know
Why Age 12+?
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The Paynes
Parent and Kid Reviews
Based on 17 parent reviews
Parents say the show has received overwhelmingly negative feedback, with many reviewers criticizing the acting, boring plot, and lack of genuine humor compared to its predecessor. Viewers express disappointment in character development, particularly noting that the new cast lacks the charm and depth of the original, often wishing for a return to previous storylines and dynamics.
- poor acting
- boring plot
- lack of humor
- missing charm
- original cast desired
Summarized with AI
Summarized with AI
What's the Story?
THE PAYNES is a comedy series that follows the trials and tribulations of the Payne family. The House of Payne spin-off stars LaVan Davis and Cassi Davis as Curtis and Ella Payne respectively, who are ready to enjoy retired life. However, unbeknownst to Ella and their now adult kids, Curtis has already made arrangements to permanently move to Florida. After what was supposed to be a brief road trip to the Sunshine State, Ella suddenly finds herself settling down in the fictitious low-income town of Sun Coast, where Curtis has invested them in a bad real estate deal and committed to a new business. Luckily, they get some unique moral support from their cousin JoAnn (Jackée Harry). Becoming part of a new church, making new friends, and coping with the neighborhood isn't easy, but they soon realize that they can find new purpose in their lives.
Is It Any Good?
This mildly entertaining series, in classic sitcom style, features an array of events designed to generate laughs while highlighting the importance of extended family. The revived characters remain imperfect, and tensions are common, but they are ultimately used to communicate some important life lessons.
As is the case with much of Tyler Perry's work, the show is written to reflect contemporary black culture. While fans will appreciate his comedic style, others may consider the jokes to be stereotypical. Nonetheless, The Paynes is an overall positive viewing experience.
Talk to Your Kids About ...
Families can talk about some of the life lessons offered on The Paynes. Who is primarily responsible for teaching them? How do people in your family learn from each other?
The Paynes brings back characters from a previous show. Why do you think reboots and continuations are so popular?
TV Details
- Premiere date : January 16, 2018
- Cast : Cassi Davis , LaVan Davis , Jackee Harry
- Network : OWN
- Genre : Comedy
- Character Strengths : Compassion , Integrity
- TV rating :
- Last updated : October 9, 2025
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