So I'll start by saying this is definitely worth watching. I love the fact that it dealt with real-world problems and real people problems in a superhero origin story.
The show does have a few issues:
1. The main characters age is super unclear. I don't mean that they don't tell you what age he is (they tell you that he's 8, almost 9, and younger than most of the kids in his class because of school age cutoffs, etc.) I mean that the writing/directing is kind of all over the map in how he acts and speaks and how that portrays his age. I think that's the problem a lot of people are having with the acting.
2. The final twist is a little too abrupt. I know there are only 9 episodes to the series, but the final spin and reveal doesn't really start until halfway through the 8th episode, and brings about a very severe attitude change in one of the characters. There are some hints and inconsistencies that give you clues before this, but the abrupt attitude change is definitely jarring and makes you feel a little bit like they're trying to hit you over the head with the moral of the story (which wasn't really the moral of the story for the first 7 and 1/2 episodes). I think it's great to put some moral and ethical messages into family-friendly TV shows, and it's a large part of what makes the superhero genre so appealing to me, but I don't think they did the best job with it. I agree with the moral they present. And I even appreciate the fact that although you end up agreeing with the message completely, you still see a little bit of that gray area that you need in a good superhero story to make the villains relatable as well. They just don't spend enough time on it. I think this could have benefited from another one or two episodes to draw out that change and that finale a little more naturally.
3. The family relationships are underdeveloped. You're walking into a group of people who have all known each other for many years and therefore should have set dynamics, but you really can't tell who trusts whom and what the nature of each relationship is, and you kind of feel like they're starting all of these longstanding relationships from scratch. For a while I thought maybe everybody was just shaken up because the dad had just recently died, but I was never even really clear about how long ago that had happened. And even if that was the case, you think that maybe they would be leaning on each other more, not having these weird tense relationships they're all having.
4. The super power use is inconsistent. It's nitpicky, but it bothers me when somebody could solve their problems with powers they have established, and then they don't, and no reason is given. This happens at least once or twice in the show.
Despite all this, I still think the show is worth watching. Here are some reasons why:
1. The number one reason above all else is Sammi Haney. She is absolutely adorable, lovable, strong, and 100% necessary on TV right now. I love the fact that the main girl in a male superhero's life is not "miss teen perfect and popular", but the smart, witty, disabled girl. I love the fact that they actually have a little girl with disabilities playing her, and not somebody who is of typical health and body type sitting in a wheelchair. I say this as somebody who is disabled and uses a wheelchair some of the time myself. We need more representation in TV shows. And not just characters who are looked down on and pitied, but characters who are fully rounded individuals and actually have something to offer. We need people with disabilities normalized for both children and adults. I only hope they develop her character more in future seasons, and give her more to contribute to the actual plot, as opposed to just being a likeable character, who is a good influence on Dion.
2. Real world problems. As I said in the beginning the show deals with real-world problems, which I really appreciate. So many of our superheroes are so distanced from society it makes them hard to relate to. This family deals with financial struggles, racism, bullying, complex family relationships, etc. These struggles add to the development of the characters, and helps you see where the positive traits and relationships that will make Dion a superhero (instead of a supervillain) are coming from. This is not well done in a lot of shows, but it's really well done in this one.
3. Something for everybody. This isn't really a show for little kids (maybe ages 9+ depending on the kid?), but I think it would be great for older kids through adults. I like the fact that it weaves in a family show with a superhero show. The struggles of the mom are relatable, the struggles of the kids are relatable, and each segment of the family really gets enough screen time and plot to let you get fully engaged in what they're going through.
4. First season struggles aren't rare and they don't mean the show won't end up being good. A lot of really good shows, specifically fantasy shows, struggled to figure out what they are and where they are headed in the first season. I kind of get that feeling from this. I hope that Netflix gets a lot of good feedback on this, takes it to heart, and comes back with a second season that has more solid footing. I will definitely be watching for it, and if they release the second season I will definitely be excited to see what they do with it.
5. It's a lot of fun. All the pros and cons that we can analyze won't change the fact that we watch TV for entertainment. With the effects of the villain, and the dancing scenes, and the little kid discovering his powers, the show is just a lot of fun to watch. Isn't that the point?
Review of Raising Dion
