Jessie
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| ♥ | This article is dedicated to Cameron Boyce (May 28, 1999-July 6, 2019), from a seizure and sudden unexpected death in epilepsy at age 20). May he rest in peace. |
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Jessie is an American comedy television series created by Pamela Eells O'Connell that aired on Disney Channel from September 30, 2011 to October 16, 2015. The series stars Debby Ryan, Peyton List, Cameron Boyce, Karan Brar, Skai Jackson, and Kevin Chamberlin.
Plot
A young woman named Jessie Prescott moves from Texas to New York City to pursue her acting career but ends up being the nanny to a wealthy family's four rambunctious children.
Why It Feels Like a Party Everyday
- It was one of the best live-action Disney Channel sitcoms during the 2010s.
- Each and every one of the characters are memorable and likable in their own way, especially the main characters Jessie, Emma, Luke, Ravi, Zuri, and Bertram.
- Jessie is kind-hearted, ambitious, and resourceful. She often acts as a mentor and friend to the Ross children, balancing her own dreams with her responsibilities.
- Emma is stylish, confident, and caring. She often takes on a big-sister role, offering advice and support to her younger siblings.
- Luke is adventurous, playful, and sometimes a troublemaker. He has a close bond with Jessie and often involves her in his schemes.
- Ravi is earnest, curious, and endearing. His quirky behavior and scientific experiments often lead to humorous situations.
- Zuri is smart, sassy, and loves to play pranks. She forms a strong bond with Jessie and often seeks her attention and guidance.
- Bertram is gruff yet caring, with a dry sense of humor. He has a soft spot for the Ross children and provides comic relief throughout the series.
- The chemistry/bonding between Jessie, the Ross kids, and Bertram is very touching and one of the best parts of the show.
- The theme song is awesome, very catchy, and well sung by Debby Ryan.
- Debby Ryan and (the late) Cameron Boyce also do some amazing singing and dancing, respectively, throughout the series.
- It tends to use the canned laughter soundtrack very well, which can’t be said for most Disney Channel live-action shows.
- It is one of the few Disney Channel shows to hit 4 seasons since most Disney Channel shows have a maximum of 3 seasons, until Bunk'd and Raven's Home broke that limit (with Bunk'd having 7 seasons, and Raven's Home having 6 seasons).
- It had crossover episodes with Austin & Ally, Good Luck Charlie, Liv & Maddie, and Ultimate Spider-Man.
- The acting is spectacular, especially from Debby Ryan as the main character, Jessie Prescott.
- Memorable guest stars such as:
- Mrs. Obama
- Maia Mitchell
- Laini Kazam
- Spencer Boldman
- Sierra McCormick
- Adam Sandler
- Chris Bosh
- Some great character development, like how Luke started off messy and obnoxious but started to slowly mature as the seasons continued or how Zuri went from an imaginative little girl to a sassy mouthed pre-teen.
- It spawned an Indian adaptation called Oye Jassie.
- Tony and Brooks are good love interests for Jessie.
- Mrs. Kipling, originally Mr. Kipling, is an interesting pet.
- The show has it’s a couple of occasions where it can be very heartwarming.
- Some funny running gags, like Jessie’s failed attempts at auditions, Luke’s mischief, Bertram’s laziness or Ms. Chesterfield’s constant hitting on Bertram.
- Bertram himself and his comebacks can be pretty funny most of the time.
- Many, MANY hilarious and memorable moments throughout the show.
- The final episode where Jessie says goodbye to the Ross family to achieve her dreams in Hollywood is very emotional and well-executed.
- With that said, the series finale, "Jessie Goes to Hollywood", was an awesome way to end the show.
- In 2015, it had a spin-off called Bunk’d, which is just as good and hilarious.
- In 2020, the Jessie cast had a virtual reunion to celebrate the 10-year anniversary of the show.
- Speaking of which, they pay a tribute to Cameron Boyce.
Bad Qualities
- Arguably, the series should have ended earlier because the Ross kids didn't really need Jessie to be their nanny anymore around Season 3.
- The acting can be cringeworthy, especially during season 1.
- Seasons 2-4 are still enjoyable but for different reasons than season 1.
- Some of the characters have stereotypical personalities. For instance, Emma is the dumb blonde stereotype, Zuri is the sassy black girl, and Ravi is the nerdy South Asian kid.
- Ravi often faces mistreatment and teasing from his siblings, particularly Luke. Throughout the series, but especially in the later seasons, Luke constantly makes fun of Ravi's nerdy personality, accent, and cultural differences. This teasing becomes a major part of their dynamic, with Luke regularly mocking Ravi's intelligence or physical abilities, calling him names, or dismissing his ideas. While Ravi is intelligent and kind-hearted, Luke sees him as an easy target because of his awkwardness and love for science.
- In the Jessie episode "Are You Cooler Than a 5th Grader?" Luke is initially portrayed as unlikable due to his behavior towards Ravi. He's excluding Ravi from his group of friends and is embarrassed by him, reflecting poorly on his character. This behavior creates a rift between the siblings, especially since Ravi's attempts to fit in and his awkwardness unintentionally embarrass Luke. However, by the end of the episode, Luke redeems himself by standing up for Ravi, showing growth and a deeper sense of brotherly support. This resolution helps to mend their relationship and underscores Luke’s capacity for understanding and loyalty.
- Although their behavior is often presented humorously, it highlights how Ravi struggles to be taken seriously by his family, which affects his confidence. The dynamic showcases a common sibling rivalry, but the lack of respect from his siblings, particularly Luke, reinforces Ravi's feeling of isolation in certain situations.
- Christina and Morgan Ross frequently neglect their four children—Emma, Luke, Ravi, and Zuri—due to their demanding careers as a supermodel and film director. Even after adopting three kids from different parts of the world, they remain largely absent, leaving Jessie, the nanny, and Bertram, the butler, to raise them. Jessie takes on the role of both caregiver and emotional support, guiding the children through life’s challenges, while Bertram manages the household. Despite Christina and Morgan's wealth and resources, they rarely spend quality time with their kids, creating a significant emotional distance and leaving Jessie and Bertram to fill the parental void.
- Contains sexual jokes for a show aimed at children, which got the show censored in Malaysia and Kenya.
- Some unlikable characters, such as Agatha, Mrs. Chesterfield, Christina Ross, Luke, and Zuri (sometimes).
- The original version of the episode "Quitting Cold Koala" was pulled from its original airdate on May 17, 2013, due to a controversial scene involving the Ross Kids making fun of Stuart Wooten's food allergies to gluten. However, it was later revised with the controversial scene and other references to gluten allergies being removed and finally aired on July 5, 2013.
- Luke is not part of the main cast in Bunk'd due to Cameron Boyce filming the live-action Disney XD sitcom "Gamer's Guide to Pretty Much Everything" at the time. However, he does guest star in a couple of episodes.
- Jessie never appeared in Bunk'd.
Reception
Jessie received mixed to positive reception from critics and audiences alike. It has a 6.1/10 on IMDb
Trivia
- Cameron Boyce (portrayer of Luke Ross) sadly and unexpectedly passed away on July 6, 2019.
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