Common Sense Media Review
By Marty Brown
,
based on child development research. How do we rate?
Promising basketball drama highlights community issues.
Parents Need to Know
Why Age 13+?
Any Positive Content?
Where to Watch
Videos and Photos
Swagger
Parent and Kid Reviews
What's the Story?
SWAGGER follows 8th grader and aspiring basketball player Jace Carson (Isaiah Hill) as he strives to make it through youth basketball and ultimately get to the NBA. Jace links up with former college star (now coach) Ike Edwards (O'Shea Jackson Jr.), who is trying to make a career for himself after failing to make it to the pros. In order to make a name for himself, Jace must rise above the competition and added scrutiny of being a young prodigy.
Is It Any Good?
Jace's story -- the promising athlete with the underdog team and has-been coach -- resembles a ton of other sports dramas; this show's uniqueness shows up in the details, beginning with its depiction of a Black community. Swagger uses the familiar outline to support more than a few ambitious subplots: The specific pressures placed on young, Black athletes; the biases that persist even within the Black community itself; and the specter of police brutality all play into the drama. Plus, the basketball sequences themselves are intricate, fun, and compelling. Even when it seems obvious what will come out of Swagger's playbook next, the way it gets drawn up is often surprisingly satisfying.
Talk to Your Kids About ...
Families can talk about basketball. What do you imagine athletes' lives are like before they reach the pros? How does Swagger's depiction of basketball compare to your impression? What obstacles do young athletes face, even before reaching high school or college?
How is the Washington D.C. area depicted in Swagger? How is Jace's community depicted? Do characters behave in ways that are unique or surprising? Does the show depict or break any stereotypes?
How do the basketball leagues work in Swagger? Why does the series focus as much on the coaches' lives as it does Jace's? Why is it important to see the coaches' motivations and how they may or may not be working for the benefit of their players?
TV Details
- Premiere date : October 29, 2021
- Cast : Isaiah Hill , O'Shea Jackson Jr. , Quvenzhane Wallis
- Network : Apple TV
- Genre : Drama
- Topics : Family Stories ( Siblings ) , School ( Middle School )
- TV rating :
- Last updated : September 30, 2025
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