I understand your point, but it’s also not fair to deflect criticism of the show’s direction by saying it’s because it makes white people uncomfortable, “that’s all”, as if that’s the only thing it could be.

I’m a white fan of the show, and none of the stand-alone episodes this season have made me uncomfortable because I get what the show is doing.

The show’s portrayal of white people tends to be exaggerated and stereotypical, which is how Black people and other minorities tend to be portrayed in other media. The writers of the show also are being ambitious by taking on complex topics that are worthy of discussion.

With all that said, I still find myself missing the core cast during these standalone episodes. That doesn’t mean I want to avoid the issues that the show is challenging us to confront. It just means that the core cast has a great chemistry, and I enjoy the overarching story of the series. If these episodes tied into the main story, even just a little bit, it would be better. I mean, this episode is set in New York and has absolutely no bearing whatsoever on the main characters and story of the show we’re watching.