‘The Family Business’ Season 6 Episode 1 Recap: Welcome Back to the Duncan Chaos

By Erica Vain | October 24, 2025

This Article was updated on November 21, 2025 by Erica Vain

Y’all, I have missed the Duncans so much! After disappearing on you with The Family Business: New Orleans coverage (yeah, I left y’all hanging on that one), I’m back for the original series, and let me tell you—this season 6 premiere gave exactly what it needed to give. Was it the explosive start I anticipated? Not quite. But after being gone for over a year since season 5 dropped in July, I needed this catch-up episode to remember where everyone stands in the Duncan family drama.

We pick up exactly where we left off. Roman is there, looking uncomfortable as hell. Paris comes back from her little dalliance with her two men, only to discover that Niles isn’t dead—he’s alive and she’s in danger. The moment she sees Roman, she immediately pulls out her weapon because trust? We don’t know her. Paris doesn’t trust this man, and honestly, I don’t blame her for the skepticism.

The DNA Test That Should’ve Happened

Here’s where I have issues with Chippy’s decision-making. She decides they’re not doing a DNA test, and I get the logic—you don’t want to make Roman feel like you don’t believe him. But baby, that DNA test would silence every single person questioning this situation, including Paris. More importantly, it would help Roman himself feel solidified in this family.

We watch Roman throughout this episode, and he’s clearly not feeling at home with the Duncans. He sneaks out at 1 a.m. and goes back to Brooklyn because he doesn’t belong there yet. A DNA test would give him that concrete proof that yes, this is your family, these are your people. Instead, he’s running back to Miss Margaret—his adoptive mother who stole him from the hospital—because he needs answers that the Duncans can’t give him yet.

When L.C. confronts Margaret, I genuinely thought he was about to put his hands around that woman’s neck and squeeze. I was ready for Miss Margaret to exit this Earth right then and there. But then I remembered—we’re not dealing with crazy, switch-flipped L.C. right now. That version of him from two seasons ago is dormant, and I was watching him real closely to see if that switch would activate. It didn’t, and I think that’s because L.C. registers that Margaret is the only person Roman has known as family. Killing her would destroy any chance of moving forward with his son.

Junior Duncan: Still a Whole Entire Fool

Junior, baby. JUNIOR. I need to stretch right now because the way I’m about to put belt to ass when it comes to this man’s storyline. He’s still following behind Antonio and Enzo like a lost puppy, and these people are literally lining him up for slaughter. They’re plotting behind his back, talking big cash about taking him out, and he’s allowing Donna to continue walking him into this stupid arrangement.

Donna’s out here giving him affirmations like they’re in some kind of wish-fulfillment fantasy. “You’re doing great, Junior! This alliance is working!” Girl, on what planet? In what timeline? What part of the multiverse are you operating in where any of this makes sense? The way they pander to his simple-minded behind has me screaming at my screen.

This man literally robbed his father—I think it was $200 million or something equally insane—to hand over to people who are ready to kill him at a moment’s notice. These are the same people who took out Brother Minister without hesitation (rest in peace to him, by the way). And Junior thinks he’s safe? He thinks he’s building something?

Brother Elijah Enters the Chat

Speaking of Brother Minister, when Brother Elijah brought his grieving behind on screen to start this episode, I said “absolutely yes.” The Family Business started strong by showing us exactly where Elijah’s head is at—he’s coming for blood, and he’s coming for Junior specifically.

L.C. gives him three days to honor Brother Minister, to get him in the ground properly. But after that? Junior better watch his back because Brother Elijah is coming for him. And honestly? Junior deserves whatever Elijah has planned. Sonya is over there trying to plead with this boy, begging him not to harm his family because it’s their child’s family too. But I need Sonya to full-court press this man, to work overtime to deactivate the clown that Donna activated in his head.

Your so-called partners are trying to kill you. Brother Elijah is coming for you. You keep making stupid decision after stupid decision, all because you’re hurt. And I get it, baby—you’re hurt. But you need to go get a therapist, not go start a rival crime organization with white supremacists and people who want you dead.

The Vegas and Roman Connection

One of my favorite moments in this episode was watching Vegas take Roman out on a mission instead of Orlando. We got a little Mortal Kombat moment (because Michael Jai White stays giving us martial arts excellence), and Vegas teaches his little brother to always watch his six. That bonding moment felt authentic and necessary.

But it also raised questions about Orlando’s acceptance of Roman. Besides Paris, Orlando seems most skeptical that Roman is actually their brother. When they discover Roman snuck out to go back to Brooklyn, Orlando is stuffing his face at breakfast, letting Chippy cuss out security, not saying a word about watching Roman leave. That “good riddance” energy was palpable, and I’m wondering—is Orlando about to beef with Chippy over this? Is he going to try to DNA test Roman behind everyone’s backs?

The Niles and Paris Toxicity

I shouldn’t even be watching The Family Business because it activates my toxic tendencies. Why am I sitting here rooting for Niles and Paris to reconcile when she literally tried to kill him and he set her up with that raggedy boxer? This is toxic as hell, but when Niles professed his love for Paris to Bobby—basically telling his cousin to stay away from her or else—I was here for every bit of it.

Niles gets on a plane to go somewhere mysterious, talking about “imagine what I would do to protect her.” But sir, you’re leaving again. You disappeared before, and now you’re disappearing again while claiming you love this girl? Make it make sense. Are you coming back? Is this a mission? Because this hot-and-cold routine is exactly why their relationship is so messy.

Setting Up the Season

This premiere episode of The Family Business really just touched base with everyone—showing us where they are and where we’re headed. Roman’s struggling to assimilate. Junior’s still making catastrophically stupid decisions. Brother Elijah is preparing for war. Paris is processing that Niles is alive. And the alliance is plotting the Duncans’ downfall.

Nevada is still giving us that jaw-clenching, cheekbone-emphasizing character work that lets me know we’re back in business. London is distracted, sniffing behind LoJack instead of paying attention to her family’s crisis. And L.C. and Chippy are trying to hold this family together while Junior actively works to tear it apart.

The stage is set for what promises to be an explosive season. Brother Elijah has three days before he comes for Junior’s head. The alliance is moving against the Duncans. And Roman is caught between two worlds—the family he never knew and the only mother he’s ever known, even if she stole him.

I’m here for all of it. Two episodes dropped on BET Plus, so I’m about to dive into episode two. Drop your thoughts in the comments—are y’all as frustrated with Junior as I am? Do you think Roman is really a Duncan? And can we please get that DNA test?

We’re back, baby. The Family Business returns every Thursday on BET Plus, and you know I’m going to be talking about every single episode.