Parents' Guide to Mr. Plankton

TV Netflix Drama 2024
Mr. Plankton: TV Image, a man and woman of Korean descent stand next to each other looking in different directions.

Common Sense Media Review

Joly Herman By Joly Herman , based on child development research. How do we rate?

age 15+

Compelling K-drama caper has language, gang violence.

Parents Need to Know

Why Age 15+?

Any Positive Content?

Parent and Kid Reviews

age 15+

Based on 1 parent review

age 14+

Based on 2 kid reviews

What's the Story?

In MR. PLANKTON, Hae Jo (Woo Do-Hwan) runs an errand business that doesn't always stay on the right side of the law. His landlady wants him out of the loft he calls an office, and his business partner is running side hustles. After a wedding heist goes wrong, Hae Jo finds himself in the hospital. Not only does he receive and unexpected diagnosis, but he crosses paths with someone he once loved. Now, he's got to decide his next move.

Is It Any Good?

Our review:
Parents say ( 1 ):
Kids say ( 2 ):

Emotionally charged situations intersect wildly in this spirited, transfixing drama. Mr. Plankton is part madcap caper, part gangster movie, and part love story. The plot has an unstoppable momentum, which the actors play with aplomb. Chemistry bubbles between the characters in an unforced, refreshing way; dialogue pops and sparks fly. Families with older teens can enjoy this gripping show, which has plenty of language, but lots of heart.

Talk to Your Kids About ...

  • Families can talk about courage in Mr. Plankton. How difficult is it to face the truth about family history? Is it better to face the truth, or let things lie?

  • The main character discovers that his former girlfriend is dealing with a medical condition that affects her engagement. Does he actually have empathy for her? Or is he serving himself?

  • Characters lie to each other for selfish reasons, but they lie to protect others from disappointment too. When does communication help people? When does it hurt?

TV Details

Did we miss something on diversity?

Research shows a connection between kids' healthy self-esteem and positive portrayals in media. That's why we've added a new "Diverse Representations" section to our reviews that will be rolling out on an ongoing basis. You can help us help kids by

Mr. Plankton: TV Image, a man and woman of Korean descent stand next to each other looking in different directions.

What to Watch Next

Common Sense Media's unbiased ratings are created by expert reviewers and aren't influenced by the product's creators or by any of our funders, affiliates, or partners.

See how we rate