Common Sense Media Review
By Emily Ashby
,
based on child development research. How do we rate?
DreamWorks updates '80s toon in tense but fantastic form.
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Voltron: Legendary Defender
Parent and Kid Reviews
Based on 23 parent reviews
Based on 92 kid reviews
Kids say that while the show is entertaining with great character development and animation, the later seasons, especially the finale, left many viewers disappointed due to poor writing and a heavy focus on violence and romantic content, particularly LGBTQ+ representation. The inappropriate themes and intense subject matter suggest it may not be suitable for younger children, despite its engaging storylines for tweens and teens.
- diverse characters
- character development
- intense themes
- mixed reviews
- suitability for kids
Summarized with AI
Summarized with AI
What's the Story?
VOLTRON: LEGENDARY DEFENDER is set in a future in which a malevolent force named Emperor Zarkan (voiced by Neil Kaplan) has spent 10,000 years extending his dominance over one planet after another and taking prisoners along the way. When three ne'er-do-well students at a pilot-training facility witness a mysterious event and uncover an even more mysterious lion-shaped spacecraft, they're suddenly drawn into an epic battle against evil. Lance (Jeremy Shada), Hunk (Tyler Labine), and Pidge (Bex Taylor-Klaus) are hardly hero material on their own, but alongside the newly liberated Shiro (Josh Keaton) and brooding Keith (Steven Yeun), they must find their inner strength, locate the four remaining lions, and reassemble Voltron, the only weapon powerful enough to defeat Zarkan and save the galaxy.
Is It Any Good?
This exceptional series gives a DreamWorks makeover to an '80s fan favorite, and the result deserves to draw big crowds. The characters are endearingly imperfect, each arriving on the scene with his unique baggage and quirks but devoted to a common cause that unites them and makes you want to root for them. Pidge's self-consciousness, Hunk's body issues (the moment when he measures his girth against his new "hero" suit is especially quaint), Keith's troubled past -- they're all part of what makes them believable and appealing and what injects some levity into the exchanges between good and evil.
And those exchanges? They're pretty tense. As with most cartoons, you feel fairly confident throughout Voltron: Legendary Defender that the good guys will win the day, but you're never quite sure. The baddies are really bad, and they will stop at nothing to get what they want, whereas the good guys' vulnerability is that they're always concerned for each other. And with the violence that's involved, it's hard to say that this is a great pick for kids, but if yours can handle this kind of tense content, there's a lot to like in how these unlikely heroes conduct themselves.
Talk to Your Kids About ...
Families can talk about Voltron: Legendary Defender's characters. Are all the good guys likable? What traits do you find unappealing? Is this reflective of the real world? Are people a combination of good and less-good qualities? Does that make relationships and teamwork difficult?
Many of the heroes are inspired by their backgrounds to fight for peace. What experiences in your life continue to guide you today? Which people have played important roles in who you've become?
Is it OK that violence plays a role in these heroes' success? Are there times when physical violence is the only way to resolve conflict, or can we always expect that there's another option?
How do the characters in Voltron: Legendary Defender demonstrate teamwork? Why is this an important character strength?
TV Details
- Premiere date : June 10, 2016
- Cast : Jeremy Shada , Tyler Labine , Bex Taylor-Klaus
- Network : Netflix
- Genre : Kids' Animation
- Topics : Superheroes , Robots
- Character Strengths : Teamwork
- TV rating :
- Award : Common Sense Selection
- Last updated : October 9, 2025
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