Billy Dilley's Super-Duper Subterranean Summer

TV review by Emily Ashby, Common Sense Media
Billy Dilley's Super-Duper Subterranean Summer Poster Image

Common Sense says

age 7+

Bizarre characters, wacky humor in underground adventures.

Disney XD Kids' Animation 2017
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Parents say

age 2+

Based on 2 reviews

Kids say

age 6+

Based on 4 reviews

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  • Billy Dilley's Super-Duper Subterranean Summer TV Show: Scene #1
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A Lot or a Little?

The parents' guide to what's in this TV show.

What Parents Need to Know

Parents need to know that Billy Dilley's Super-Duper Subterranean Summer is a fast-paced animated series about three friends who discover an underground world inhabited by strange creatures and eccentric humans. It's imaginative and visually engaging, thanks to the animation style and colorful characters, but there's little substance to the bizarre plots. Expect some potty humor (body noises, nasal discharge, and drooling, for instance), a lot of dramatics from the female character especially, and some moments of mild peril. Billy's interest in science stands out in some of the stories, inspiring his inventions and creative problem-solving skills, but it's not going to teach kids much about the subjects.

Community Reviews

Kanemori
Kanemori Adult
July 1, 2017
age 2+

Forgettable.

I think the premise of this show largely killed it. The main characters are at the center of the earth and you have the good old rule of three at work, but I think at some point they realized they didn't have enough to answer the question of why the viewer should care. Interaction would largely have to be removed in a setting like this and there's only so much you can do with three characters. An effort was made to remedy this and as a result you get a host of wacky, random characters that pop up out of nowhere. There's no explanation of how they have survived Earth's molten temperatures (Especially the Plant Girl, Judy) No explanation for why they speak perfect English, No origin stories and no consistency. What really makes me believe that they were just winging it was the ending. It ends with Billy and his hosts of friends being attacked by aliens and fighting to save Subterrainiatania. Ok. So everyone ON earth didn't notice their planet being attacked or approached and only the people IN Earth know about it? How does that make any sense? What's worse is that the leader of the Aliens is a doppelganger of Billy ......that turns out to be a robot.... that turns out to be a giant larvae that vomits all over itself and dies before turning into flowers. Do we ever get ANY kind of explanation as to why this is? No. Not a hint. Not a clue. If you do decide to watch this show be prepared for a forgettable mass of loose ends with no explanations for anything, no well-rounded characters and no educational value. It's about as bare-bones as you can get when it comes to creating a Cartoon. I have to wonder if they just stuck an unfinished product on TV and thought we wouldn't notice.
Rj K.
Rj K. Adult
June 15, 2017
age 2+

NOT GOOD

I hate it it' always messes up other programs for my child and she cries when this ABOMINATION comes on the screen and it's super annoying Billy Dilleys voice is so high pitched. I feel like Disney channel now focuses on being idiotic because of its "younger viewers" but this show is plain out stupid and it shouldn't have been made in the first place. And if the creator of this so called "show" is reading this then you should take it down for the people's sake's
See all 2 parent reviews

What's the Story?

Best friends Billy Dilley (voiced by Aaron Springer), Marsha (Catherine Wayne), and Zeke (Tom Kenny) have an unexpectedly adventurous summer when they find themselves stranded in an underground world in BILLY DILLEY'S SUPER-DUPER SUBTERRANEAN SUMMER. It's a land of rock people, furry round monsters, and bizarre humans with odd backstories, and it's a place where just about anything can (and will) happen. For science fan Billy, this means lots of opportunities to invent solutions to his many zany predicaments.

Is It Any Good?

With adventure around every corner, this new world of Billy's appeals to kids' sense of imagination, even if it does so with more nonsense than anything else. The show is visually pleasing, boasts a talented voice cast, and is filled with nonstop action and laughs plus a fair dose of the bathroom humor that's such a hit with grade schoolers (if not so much their parents). What grown-ups will like are Billy's unfailing optimism and unwillingness to shirk a challenge of any size or shape.

Though only slightly prominent in the plot, Billy's fascination with science does cast a positive light on basic concepts such as inventing as they relate to the stories. There's no attempt to teach anything tangible or present Billy's creative problem-solving tactics in any realistic manner, but the fact that he's interested in designing machines and using science in other practical ways could be a positive influence on viewers.

Talk to Your Kids About ...

  • Families can talk about visiting new places. Do your kids enjoy new adventures, or are there some worries that accompany them? How are we influenced by where we live and the people around us? Does Billy Dilley's Super-Duper Subterranean Summer make you want to visit a new place?

  • Kids: Do you like this show's frantic pace and odd characters? Are any characters positive role models? What are the benefits of having an active imagination? How do you express your creativity?

  • What scientific topics most interest you? How does science improve our health? Our ability to communicate? Our lifestyles?

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