About “The Boondocks” in a few words:

The Boondocks is an American animated TV series that aired from 2005 to 2014. The show was created by Aaron McGruder and is based on his comic strip of the same name. The series revolves around the Freeman family, who move from Chicago’s south side to live with their grandfather in the suburbs. The show explores themes of race, politics, and culture through the lens of the Freeman family’s experiences. The Boondocks has been praised for its sharp writing, provocative satire, and social commentary.

Meet the Freeman family members from The Boondocks

Huey

Okay, Huey is the absolute brain of the Freeman crew — like, revolutionary philosopher in a kid’s body, and yes, he’s constantly two steps ahead and judging everything (and you). He’s serious, moody, reads a ton, does kung fu for reasons that are simultaneously honorable and slightly ominous, and will deliver a 20-minute rant that makes you feel both inspired and guilty. He’s the one with the afro and the thousand-yard stare, but also the one who’ll quietly sketch something weird in the margins of a history book (or was it a comic? I forget). He’s principled to a fault and also low-key scary when annoyed, in the best way.

Riley

Riley is the little terror — loud, flashy, thinks he’s a rapper/OG/CEO of mischief, but honestly he’s just a kid with a wild imagination and a flair for disaster. He’s endlessly quotable, wears too many hoodies or chains (or not, sometimes he’s suspiciously into camouflage), and somehow manages to get every scheme into a blaze of chaos. He idolizes the image of “street” life but also gets emotionally wrecked over the dumbest little things, which makes him weirdly lovable. He’s the comic relief and the troublemaker and the one who’ll simultaneously steal your chips and make you laugh till you choke.

Robert

Granddad Robert is the show’s flustered, hustling patriarch — always trying to act young, always worried about money, always falling for the wrong friend or scheme (and then complaining about it for three episodes). He’s exasperating, sentimental in strange ways, loves his TV, and somehow thinks every fad from his youth is coming back next week. He’ll throw a tantrum, cry over an old war story, then hit you with an oddly wholesome piece of advice while messing up everyone’s life. He’s both the heart and the chaos engine of the family, and you can hear him arguing with a chair in the background even when he’s trying to be cool.

Cookie

Cookie (yes, she’s the family spice — think tough-love grandma vibes but with sass and a soft spot hidden somewhere under like fifty aprons) is that comforting, no-nonsense presence who will roast you and then hand you a biscuit. She’s practical, blunt, sweet when she’s not yelling, and has this uncanny ability to know when everyone’s lying (or at least pretend to, which is almost the same thing). Sometimes she’s a fierce matriarch, sometimes she’s bizarrely sentimental about soap operas, and sometimes she’ll surprise you by being the smartest one in the room. Also probably keeps a closet full of Tupperware lids and impossible-to-find cookie recipes — classic.

Jericho

Jericho is the quieter, artsier cousin/relative (depending on continuity, who even keeps track) who’s more into feelings and poetry than into schemes, but don’t be fooled — he’s layered. He can be awkward and deeply sincere, sometimes idealistic to the point of naivety, and other times surprisingly sharp-eyed about people’s hypocrisies. He’s the one who’ll make a soft joke that actually stings, or bring a weird old record to a barbecue and make it work, and I love that low-key weirdo energy. He’s both a sounding board and an oddball wildcard — probably collects vintage action figures and also cries at commercials.

Nique

Nique (Nicole, Nique, whatever you call her) is that cool, sometimes-absent, sometimes-getting-it-together family member who has this mix of toughness and exhaustion from dealing with everybody’s nonsense. She’s smart, sharp-tongued, career-minded-ish (or was that impulse? — either way she’s not letting anyone walk over her), and has this habit of rolling her eyes so hard it’s basically a personality trait. She’ll clap back in five languages and then get sentimental about some tiny stupid thing, which makes her human and unpredictable. Also you can tell she still cares even when she’s pretending she doesn’t, and that duality is the best part.