Raising Dion -2019-2019 -

Wainwright delivers a grounded, vulnerable performance that anchors the fantastical elements. When Dion accidentally destroys a playground, Nicole doesn't lecture him about heroism; she holds him and whispers, "We're going to figure this out together." That quiet intimacy is the show's secret weapon.

The sci-fi twist arrives gently. Dion begins to manifest incredible abilities: telekinesis, energy projection, and weather manipulation. But unlike Tony Stark or Clark Kent, Dion is a sweet, imaginative, easily distracted 8-year-old who just wants to play with action figures. The show’s genius lies in grounding cosmic power in suburban reality—Dion’s powers flare up when he sneezes, gets angry about homework, or feels lonely.

If you missed it in 2019, Raising Dion is well worth revisiting. Just keep tissues nearby. And don’t watch the last episode alone in the dark—The Crooked Man is genuinely haunting. Raising Dion -2019-2019

Alongside her is Pat (Jason Ritter), Mark’s best friend and Dion’s godfather. Pat steps in as a surrogate father figure and scientific guide, helping Nicole understand the source of Dion’s powers. However, viewers of the first season will note a creeping unease in Ritter’s performance—a warmth that feels just slightly too perfect, hinting at a darkness that pays off in the season’s final, shocking reveal. Released in October 2019, Raising Dion arrived without the blockbuster budget of The Umbrella Academy or Stranger Things . The visual effects are modest but effective. Dion’s powers glow with a purple, nebulous energy, and the action is kept mostly to backyards, school halls, and a single climactic battle in a storm-drenched park.

In the modern golden age of superhero entertainment—dominated by the Marvel Cinematic Universe and the gritty reboots of DC—it takes a unique angle to stand out. Netflix’s Raising Dion did exactly that in 2019. Though its original run spanned only two years (2019-2019 for the first season, with a second season following in 2022), the show’s debut season remains a landmark in family-oriented genre storytelling. It asked a simple, profound question: What happens when a superhero origin story is seen not through the eyes of the hero, but through the terrified, loving eyes of a single mother? The Premise: Grief Meets Galaxies The series, created by Carol Barbee and based on the 2015 comic book by Dennis Liu, begins with a tragedy. Nicole Reese (Alisha Wainwright) is a widow struggling to raise her young son, Dion (newcomer Ja’Siah Young), after the mysterious death of her husband, Mark (Michael B. Jordan, who also serves as an executive producer). If you missed it in 2019, Raising Dion

Ja’Siah Young, as Dion, is a revelation. Child actors often struggle with the weight of supernatural dialogue, but Young imbues Dion with authentic wonder, fear, and mischief. He makes you believe that a kid would absolutely try to use telekinesis to sneak a cookie before dinner. Raising Dion was initially listed as “2019-2019” because it took three years for Netflix to renew it for a second season (which debuted in 2022). For many, that gap solidified the first season as a self-contained gem. It ends on a bittersweet, hopeful note: Nicole choosing to stop running and start fighting, and Dion realizing that being a hero means being kind first.

In an era of grimdark reboots and convoluted multiverses, Raising Dion (2019) remains a refreshing anomaly. It’s a superhero story about holding hands, not throwing punches. It’s a reminder that the greatest power in any universe isn't flight or invisibility—it’s the fierce, unbreakable love between a parent and a child. She’s a grieving

★★★★☆ (4/5) – A heartfelt, visually charming debut that proves the best superhero origin is often a parenting story.

The show wisely prioritizes character over spectacle. The central conflict is not about saving the world from an alien invasion, but about saving a child’s innocence. The villain—known as The Crooked Man (a terrifying motion-capture performance by Sammi Haney)—is a stormy, shadowy entity born from the same energy as Dion’s powers. It’s a brilliant metaphor for grief and trauma: the idea that loss can literally manifest as a monster trying to consume the light left behind. Although Raising Dion ’s first season aired in late 2019—just months before the world shut down—it struck a chord with audiences hungry for hopeful, diverse storytelling. The show features a Black single mother and a biracial son as leads in a genre that rarely centers such perspectives without tragedy being their sole identity. Nicole is strong because she is vulnerable, not because she can punch through walls.

Nicole’s journey becomes the emotional spine of the show. She isn't a trained S.H.I.E.L.D. agent or a billionaire with a suit. She’s a grieving, working-class mother terrified that her son will be taken away by scientists, villains, or social services. Where Raising Dion truly excels is in its refusal to sideline the parent. In most superhero tales, parents are either dead, absent, or mentors. Here, Nicole is the protagonist. The series dedicates as much time to her navigating single motherhood, financial strain, and trust issues as it does to Dion learning to control his powers.