Raven's Home

Premise

Best friends Raven and Chelsea, both divorced single mothers, are now raising their children in an apartment together in Chicago. Their house is turned upside down when they realize that Raven's son Booker has inherited the same psychic abilities as his mother. In the fifth season, Raven and Booker temporarily relocate to Raven's hometown of San Francisco to care for Raven's father Victor after he suffers a mild heart attack. While Raven tries to get her father back in good health, Booker must navigate his mother's old school with the help of some new friends and his younger cousin Alice.

Cast and characters

Raven-Symoné as Raven Baxter, the single mother of twins Nia and Booker, who works as a fashion designer for dogs. It is revealed that prior to the series, Raven had gotten divorced from Devon Carter, an ex-boyfriend from high school, and now lives with Chelsea and her son in Chicago. Raven possesses psychic abilities, able to glimpse 'visions' of the future. She decides not to tell her children about her visions as she believes they would not understand.

However, in 'The Falcon and the Raven – Part Two', she reveals to the children that she is psychic. In the second season, Raven is working as a driver for the transportation business Scüt. Additionally, she starts working on her own fashion line called 'Ravenous Fashion'. Raven-Symoné also portrays Delroy Baxter, the country cousin of Victor, the father of Betty Jane, the grandfather of Alice, and the first cousin of Raven once removed.

Issac Ryan Brown as Booker Baxter-Carter, Raven's son and Nia's twin brother, who has inherited his mother's psychic abilities. After he gets his first vision at school, he decides to keep his newfound powers a secret, especially from his mother as he thinks she would not believe him, unaware that his mother is also psychic. Eventually, Booker tells Levi, Nia and Tess about his psychic abilities and makes them promise to help him keep them a secret.

Also, in 'The Falcon and the Raven – Part One', he reveals to his mother and Chelsea that he has visions. Navia Robinson as Nia Baxter-Carter (seasons 1–4), Raven's daughter and Booker's twin sister. She initially does not believe her brother's psychic abilities, insisting it is one of his made up stories. When her brother has a vision of Nia getting hit by a boxing bag that later becomes true, she realized that her brother was telling the truth and helps keep his power a secret alongside their friends.

After season four, it is revealed that Nia is in Guatemala building homes for the poor. Jason Maybaum as Levi Grayson (seasons 1–4), Chelsea's son. He is very mature for his age and often acts as the parent in his relationship with his mother. Levi is Booker's best friend and is aware of his psychic abilities.

Sky Katz as Tess (seasons 1–4; special guest star season 6), Nia's street-wise best friend who lives in the same building as the rest of the family; her last name is revealed to be O'Malley in 'Oh Father, Where Art Thou?' She is an avid basketball player. Due to previously believing in psychics, Tess quickly believed Booker about being one and vowed to help keep his powers a secret. Anneliese van der Pol as Chelsea Grayson (seasons 1–4; special guest star season 5), Raven's somewhat dim-witted and sweet best friend and the mother of Levi.

It is revealed that prior to the series, Chelsea made a substantial sum of money from an infomercial product she invented called the 'Schmop', but her fortune was stolen by her husband Garrett Grayson. Afterward, Garrett was arrested for tax evasion and ended up having an affair with the federal agent who arrested him. Chelsea subsequently divorced him upon reclaiming some of her money and moved in with Raven. While living with Raven, Chelsea often tries to cook for the family, which goes horribly awry.

In season 2, she builds a vegetable garden on their building's rooftop. In the third season, Chelsea is seen temporarily working on a cruise ship she went on during the second season while becoming a life coach. Mykal-Michelle Harris as Alice Baxter (seasons 5–6), the niece of Raven who lives with Victor in San Francisco to keep him company and to attend a school for geniuses. Felix Avitia as Neil (seasons 5–6), Victor's neighbor and Booker's classmate at Bayside High School.

Emmy Liu-Wang as Ivy (seasons 5–6), Victor's neighbor and Booker's classmate at Bayside High School. Rondell Sheridan as Victor (seasons 5–6; guest season 2), the father of Raven and the maternal grandfather of Booker and Nia. He works as a chef and flies out to Chicago to help Raven while Chelsea is away on a Caribbean cruise. In the fifth season, he has a mild heart attack and Raven returns to San Francisco with Booker to take care of him.

Production

On August 14, 2015, Raven-Symoné and her former co-stars were reunited in an appearance on The View. T'Keyah Crystal Keymáh and Rondell Sheridan were not present, but were mentioned by the cast. A pilot for the series was announced by Disney Channel on October 27, 2016, and Raven-Symoné also announced that she was departing as co-host of The View later in 2016 in order to work on the series full time. On November 14, 2016, it was announced that Anneliese van der Pol would reprise her role of Chelsea Daniels in the series as a divorced mother who is raising a son, Levi, and moves in with Raven.

Disney Channel officially greenlit the series, with the title of Ravens Home, on April 4, 2017. Executive producers Jed Elinoff and Scott Thomas serve as showrunners and head writers, with Raven-Symoné also on the writing team as an executive producer. The series is filmed at Hollywood Center Studios. Disney Channel renewed the series for a second season on October 10, 2017, which began filming in November 2017.

Additionally, starting with the second season, Michael Feldman and Dava Savel replaced Jed Elinoff and Scott Thomas as showrunners. Both Savel and Feldman served as writers and producers on That's So Raven.

Reception

Raven's Home received positive reviews. Georgia Davis of The Post praised the pilot for maintaining the charm and energy of the original series, highlighting the characterizations of Raven and Chelsea and the child actors' performances. Emily Ashby of Common Sense Media described the series as a sharply written sitcom that balances adulting and tween trials, appealing to fans of That's So Raven.