Common Sense Media Review
By Ashley Moulton
,
based on child development research. How do we rate?
Sci-fi space comedy is fun, has not-so-stellar role models.
Parents Need to Know
Why Age 9+?
Any Positive Content?
Where to Watch
Videos and Photos
Dogs in Space
What's the Story?
In the futuristic world of Dogs in Space, humans have destroyed Earth and sent their canine companions on a mission to find a suitable replacement planet. Captain Garbage (Haley Joel Osment) leads an underdog crew of canines trying to find a planet before the other dog teams living aboard the M-Bark space colony. He's paired with tactical officer Stella (Sarah Chalke), pilot Nomi (Komiko Glenn), ambassador Ed, medical/technical officer Chonies, and surveillance officer Loaf (William Jackson Harper). Overly optimistic Captain Garbage has an act-first, think-later approach, and consequently his team is often getting into trouble. When they land on a new planet they're exploring, they might end up in a perilous fight with its alien inhabitants or lured into a trap. Can Captain Garbage's hapless team work together to find their humans a new planet to live on, before it's too late?
Is It Any Good?
This entertaining series has lots of action, the plot twists are engaging, and it's funny. The premise is fun (though clearly ripped off from Wall-E) and there are some great voice performances. Grown-ups, however, will likely not appreciate some of the poor role-modeling in the show. Ed, one of the main characters, is a kleptomaniac that never faces consequences for stealing. More disappointingly, a lot of the humor happens at the expense of other characters. Surveillance officer Loaf's perpetual anxiety is played for laughs, and Captain Garbage's good-humor means he's often the punching bag for other characters' jokes. The dogs on Garbage's team are often insulting each other, and they're supposed to be teammates and friends. While the show's humor and violence is toned down for kids, the overall feel of the show has a slightlly edgy vibe. Dogs in Space's animation company also produces The Last Kids on Earth, which has some of the same violence but is redeemed by great role models. Dogs in Space is fun, but there are better choices for kids who like funny sci-fi adventures.
Talk to Your Kids About ...
Families can talk about the violence in Dogs in Space. Do you think it's good for kids to see fighting in TV shows, even if it's kind of silly violence against pretend aliens?
A lot of the dogs on Captain Garbage's team are not very nice to him or other dogs. How could they be better friends to each other?
TV Details
- Premiere date : November 18, 2021
- Cast : Haley Joel Osment , Sarah Chalke , Kimiko Glenn , William Jackson Harper
- Network : Netflix
- Genre : Kids' Animation
- Topics : Animals
- TV rating :
- Last updated : September 30, 2025
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