Common Sense Media Review
By Emily Ashby
,
based on child development research. How do we rate?
Villain's bullying stands out in so-so toy-inspired series.
Parents Need to Know
Why Age 7+?
Any Positive Content?
Where to Watch
Videos and Photos
Lego Nexo Knights
What's the Story?
Life in the Realm has been peaceful for 100 years, and there's no reason to doubt that the graduation of five new knights from Knights Academy would mark anything but more of the same. But when Jestro's (voiced by Vincent Tong) comedy act bombs at the ceremony and he hides away in the castle, he encounters the scheming Book of Monsters (Mark Oliver) and begins to conjure monsters of all shapes and sizes from the Book's pages. With a steady stream of new villains threatening the Realm, King Halbert (Brian Drummond) calls on the newly christened knights -- Clay (Giles Panton), Lance (Ian Hanlin), Aaron (Alessandro Juliani), Axl (Drummond again), and Princess Macy (Erin Mathews) -- to protect the citizens from the menacing monsters.
Is It Any Good?
This visually appealing series holds its own among the bevy of Lego productions, delivering action, adventure, and a lot of well-placed humor, but it doesn't break any new ground. The knights are a spunky group, and the mix of their very different personalities creates problems in some cases and good examples of teamwork and cooperation in others. It's also notable that the lone female character of any count is Macy, who'd rather be a down-and-dirty knight than a pampered princess. Clearly there's a strong undercurrent of girl power at play within this male-dominated story, and that's always a good thing.
Nexo Knights is entertaining enough that it can stand independent of its commercial ties, but, as with every other Lego presentation, it's important to consider your kids' susceptibility to this kind of subversive advertising before you let them watch.
Talk to Your Kids About ...
Families can talk about how its association with Lego products helps or hurts this story. Would the characters be received differently if they looked like real people instead of toys? Is there a certain inherent comedy that exists in these shows? Does watching this one make you want the matching toys?
Is Macy a strong role model in particular? The show paints her as a hero of sorts for defying her father's desires that she be a princess. Is this kind of behavior always OK? In what areas of your life do you get to make choices? What aspects (school, chores) aren't up for discussion?
Have you ever been subject to or witnessed an incident of bullying? Why is it hard to stand up to a bully? What are some coping techniques you can use if you ever face a situation like this?
TV Details
- Premiere date : December 13, 2015
- Cast : Vincent Tong , Mark Oliver , Brian Drummond
- Network : Cartoon Network
- Genre : Kids' Animation
- Topics : Fantasy
- TV rating :
- Last updated : October 1, 2025
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