Boondocks Returns for Fourth and Final Season

THIS ARTICLE CONTAINS SPOILERS

Fans of The Boondocks can finally rejoice, as the log-running comedy debuted its fourth season last night. The fourth and final season was announced back in 2011 and was originally scheduled to air back in January of 2014, but the date was pushed back to April 21 and was produced without the involvement of series creator, Aaron McGruder. McGruder announced his departure from the show on his Facebook page on March 27, publically stating, "As the world now knows, The Boondocks will be returning for a fourth season, but I will not be returning with it. I'd like to extend my gratitude to Sony and Adult Swim for three great seasons."

The Boondocksis an animated show on Adult Swim based on McGruder's long-running comic strip of the same name. Set in the fictional suburb of Woodcrest, Maryland, the show features young Riley and Huey Freeman, newcomers to suburban life from Chicago who stay with their grandfather, Robert 'Grandad' Freeman, a former civil rights activist. The Boondocks is a comedic portrayal of contemporary African American culture, the "Civil Rights-era" culture and the power-struggle that ensues to preserve the latter.

The first episode in the new season, entitled "Pretty Boy Flizzy", spoofed R&B singer Chris Brown and the myriad of ongoing legal problems he has faced since the beating of ex-girlfriend Rihanna back in 2009.

Brown (voiced by Michael B. Jordan), who was portrayed as a lascivious pop star that writes songs about sleeping with another man's wife and making her moan, holds up a liquor store and enlists attorney Thomas Dubouis (voiced by Cedric Yarbrough) to represent him. This episode was very similar to episode 102, "The Trial of R. Kelly",in which Tom's wife, Sarah portrays herself as crazy and rejected, telling Tom how she wants a man who isn't afraid to make his own decisions and be a dominant husband.

Tom and Sarah get in a heated argument, in which Sarah demands, "You're the man, Tom! If I'm out of line, put me in check!" and Tom, seemingly powerless, consistently apologizes. The underlining commentary of this episode revolves around Brown's fans who continually support the singer, despite the abundance of legal issues he continues finding himself in.

Overall, the episode did a very good job of portraying and spoofing Chris Brown, as well as prominently featuring central protagonists, Huey and Riley Freeman, a rebel and an activist, respectively. Their prominence in the series was a concern a lot of viewers initially had after the announced departure of McGruder.