Raising Dion -2019-2019 -

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.

In a genre where parents are usually fridged or sidelined, Nicole is the protagonist. Alisha Wainwright delivered a performance in 2019 that should have earned Emmy chatter. She is terrified, competent, and loving without being saccharine. The show’s thesis is that she is the real superhero for choosing to raise a god. Raising Dion -2019-2019

: The series explores the Brooks family's journey through grief following Denise's death. It portrays how each member copes with loss in their own way, providing a realistic portrayal of the healing process. Where Raising Dion truly excels is in its

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. The series dedicates as much time to her

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).

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