Netflix's 'Raising Dion' is more of a heartwarming family drama than a cheesy superhero origin story
Radioactive spider bites boy. Superhuman baby gets sent to Earth from an alien planet. Amazonian warrior princess, who also happens to be a bloodline of gods, leaves secret island home to protect Earth.
These are the superhero origin stories we are familiar with, but Netflix is introducing us to the birth of a superhero so unassuming and innocent that it doesn't even seem like an origin story.
'Raising Dion' is the story of a young boy and his single mother, who are left to their own devices after the death of Dion's father in a world that hunts superheroes.
Portrayed by Ja'Siah Young, Dion is a curious boy, who wants nothing more than to know the truth about his father, while also trying to understand and control his various powers.
Meanwhile, his mother Nicole (Alisha Wainwright), wants nothing more than to protect her son against forces that would stop short of nothing to exploit his powers.
Scared and cautious, she tries to hide her son from the truth about her scientist husband, who wholeheartedly believed that their son is special. Thankfully she has one friend to help through these difficult waters — her seemingly late husband's best friend.
Jason Ritter's Pat is also a scientist and a confidant to both Nicole and Dion. He wants to make Dion feel safe and welcome but seems to second Nicole's opinion that the truth about his father needs to be hidden from him — at least for now. However, it may not be as simple as they had hoped.
In the recently released trailer for 'Raising Dion', we see that his powers get manifested in public, and the very people Nicole and Pat tried to hide Dion from, find out about him. The crux of all the drama and action is, however, the fierce love of a mother, and that is what will sell the series.
On Friday, October 4, when Netflix adds 'Raising Dion' to its library, we will see how Pat, Nicole, and Dion protect themselves and one another from the world, in what is going to be one of the most heartwarming things you watch on Netflix this year.