Top Wing

This show has basic elements of what kids shows usually have, bright and exciting animation, fun characters, easy to follow yet still entertaining plot. Since people tend to shove this show as a 'rip-off', I will compare this show with other available shows too. It falls into the category of rescue team like a lot of other shows (like Save-Ums, Octonauts and yes, Paw Patrol). But it adds the layer of Top Wing as an academy/ school and the cadets are students. They are still learning and the show portrays them as such. They make mistakes, they do wrong things and learn the consequences of actions. It shows kids that it's okay to make mistakes and it's important to learn from it. They are also guided by two responsible adults aka their teachers, which makes a more realistic story than kids having a weirdly mature attitude with a sole big responsibility (ahem, Paw Patrol). The world-building is definitely more coherent and interesting. There are less apparent lessons (compared to shows like Bluey or Sesame Street, in my opinion) but this show promotes teamwork and resilience well enough. It's a fun show with positive messages overall. The characters are lovable in their own way. I don't think it's fair for other reviews to critic the female characters so much and then call it sexist, especially when it's wrong. The male to female ratio isn't as large (4 males, 2 females) when other popular shows have way worse (namely Paw Patrol and Octonauts, but there are a ton of others) It's frustrating when they could've make it equal without changing anything in the story, but it's a widespread problem in animation and the entertainment industry in general, not just this show in particular. Both female characters play an important role in the team, and it's proven in the show that without them, the team can't function. One of the teachers is a chief mechanic, and she has a lovable personality just as much as the other teacher. The girl cadet has shown to be the most reliable, and just because she makes mistakes doesn't mean the show promotes "girls are weak and need help from the boys". "All the boy characters in the show make mistakes and that's fine, but if the girl character makes mistakes it means the show is saying she is incompetent"? That seems more of a sexist opinion from the reviewer, not the show. The show doesn't rely on gender roles, and people who do say that might be projecting their internalized views on it. Plus, non-bird characters have shown to have a chance in being 'cadets', so it is not exclusive to one species. The animals are not portrayed as any definitive particular race. Some designs are inspired by such, and that's all there is. It's not a perfect kids show. It's a decent show if your kids love it. But it does not deserve to be hated and simply labelled as a 'rip-off' just because it has similar traits, since it has executed some ideas better than the popular 'original' shows. Plus, the music is pretty cool too.

Don't know why they still show this show when it's been canceled. Any undesirable bird/animal character is almost always a stereotype of some race like the female rhino and condor character. Stereotypes based off the places/people in the world the character's species is located. The attractive or smart birds or animals are portrayed as male white heterosexual heros. The sexist undertones is what irks me the most, they try to fool it as female impowerment like in rusty rivets and other kid's shows when it's no better than female leads in comics. They can't do it on her own, depending on the other male characters. Insecure, and weird for liking "boy stuff." Not really valued for the skills or personality in the show but goes along with everything in the plots and saves the day a lot with out real acknowledgment. Needs attention for other people especially other male characters. A lot of Nick Jr. stuff is blantly sexist and racist even if they aren't human characters. Letting your boys watch this kind of crap is what's wrong with guys today. Promotes male entitlement and white privilege.