The world of television keeps expanding. And the proof is in how much TV Plugged In is reviewing these days.
We probably covered about 300 shows in 2023, tackling everything from preschool series to gritty adult dramas. And a lot of what we saw was—well, pretty problematic. With so many of television’s most popular shows landing on streaming services—services that typically don’t have any content restrictions on them at all—your TV choices aren’t just multiplying: They’re generally coming with more problems than, perhaps, ever before.
But while the TV landscape can look a little discouraging overall, our Plugged In TV reviewers still uncovered some gems for just about every age group. Here are a few of them.
A Wonderful Day with Mabel Maclay
(Bentkey; Rated TV-Y)
The first real offering from Daily Wire’s startup family-friendly streaming service Bentkey, A Wonderful Day with Mabel Maclay feels a bit like Mister Rogers’ Neighborhood did back in the day. Joined by her puppet/dog Jasper, Mabel introduces viewers to a bevy of characters and takes them on interesting outings in a gentle, fun way. It’s almost completely free of problematic content. And because Mabel talks directly to her young fans, the show keeps its attention focused squarely on them. In a world of “look at me!” TV—and shows that often beg for attention for all the wrong reasons—that’s a gratifying direction.
Eva the Owlet
(Apple TV+; TV-Y)
Television has its share of shows that teach kids their ABCs or how to count. But Eva the Owlet is geared toward teaching its young viewers a bit of emotional intelligence. Based on the Scholastic book series Owl Diaries, the show Eva the Owlet focuses on the precocious youngster and her friends as they flap into mild adventures in Treetopington. Eva processes her own thoughts and feelings through diary entries. Those entries, as noted by our reviewer Kennedy Unthank, just might help a “young audience how to process their own feelings, too. … And that just may be worth a hoot and a holler.”
Loki
(Disney+; TV-14)
It’s been a difficult year for the Marvel Cinematic Universe. The Marvelsbombed. Ant-Man and the Wasp: Quantumania underperformed. Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 3 did just fine, but let’s be honest: Disney wants more than “just fine” from its Marvel franchise. But on the small screen, the second season of Loki proved to be far more than fine. The character arc took one of Marvel’s most memorable villains and watched him become one of its most poignant heroes. This show definitely comes with plenty of caveats: It’s violent; it’s filled with gods and magic; and the characters often swear. One of its stars, Jonathan Majors, was recently convicted of domestic violence. And let’s be honest—the show’s time-shifting conceit can get downright puzzling. But for mature audiences who can navigate its issues, Loki offers a satisfying story arc featuring a sinner who finds “glorious purpose” not in cosmic domination, but in sacrifice.
Mech Cadets
(Netflix; TV-Y7)
Stanford Yu has wonted to be a Robo Mech pilot since he was 5 years old—a pilot just like his dad was. But he knows firsthand how hard it can be to become one, and how dangerous it can be once you’re there. Based on a series of graphic novels by Greg Pak and Takeshi Miyazawa, Mech Cadets comes with a Transformers-like vibe, but without many of the content problems that the more recent Transformers shows have had. And while this kid-oriented Netflix show isn’t going to solve our world’s problems, Stanford and his peers do a good job of trying to save theirs. And that’s enough to keep this show flying.
Saturdays
(Disney+, TV-G)
Childhood nostalgia is big in the world of television comedy. Happy Days, from the 1970s, struck gold by looking back to the 1950s. The Wonder Years from 1988 explored the late 1960s and early 1970s. And Disney+’s Saturdays casts a fond glance backward to 1990s roller-skating rinks. But the show isn’t just set in the past: Saturdays proudly embraces the formula that made Disney sitcoms from the 1990s and early 2000s so successful: Precocious teens; engaged adults; important life lessons at the end. While Saturdays isn’t completely free of problems, this Disney+ show reminds us of the good old days—and insists that “good” never goes out of style.
One Response
This year there were 2 stand-out shows for us:
Spy x Family Season 2, which my 10 year old has really enjoyed. While it is a bit more violent than the first season, and significantly shorter since it was only 1 cour, the messages of family unity, friendship, dedication, and sacrifice have never been stronger. Even some of the sillier 1-dimensional characters get some serious moments that deepen their development. And it certainly has us excited for the movie when it comes out.
The other was the Netflix adaptation of One Piece. The series that broke the Live Action anime curse. Despite being geared more for adults than its animated counterpart, the stories and characters we’ve come to know and love over the last 30 years were just as endearing in live action as they were in their hand-drawn forms. And it contained some things that modern Western TV has been missing for sometime: positivity, adventure, and healthy masculine father figures. In a world where most TV shows these days are gritty, nihilistic, politically charged, and anti-anything traditional, it was refreshing to see a show that was just trying to entertain and tell a good story with interesting characters. Only time will tell if they can carry that warmth and adventure over to season 2.