Parents' Guide to

The Other Kingdom

By Emily Ashby, Common Sense Media Reviewer

age 6+

Friendship, self-identity muddled by iffy social behavior.

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A Lot or a Little?

What you will—and won't—find in this TV show.

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Is It Any Good?

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Kids say (7):

Anyone familiar with The Little Mermaid will note that this show's concept isn't exactly original, but there's always something endearing about a magical being's fish-out-of-water journey to the human world. Astral doesn't disappoint as an oddity among her new peers, and it's comical to watch her learn how to be a "normal" teen, all the while dogged by her diminutive but outspoken chaperone from home, Oswald (Jeff Douglas). What's less comical is how she uses her fairy powers to affect not only her experience but also her friends', forcing attraction where she deems it necessary and inciting amnesia to give her a do-over when she's taken a wrong step.

On the other hand, The Other Kingdom puts Astral in the middle of situations that may resonate with kids, including fitting in in a new place, coping with complex social relationships, and finding your unique identity. On these counts, Astral does well for viewers, and her experiences with her closest friends are heartening. Sadly, though, there's too much of the other stuff -- peer pressure, desperate romantic endeavors, and Astral's naïveté in particular -- for the show's positives to truly stand out.

TV Details

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