Raising Dion

After her husband dies, Nicole Warren tries to keep life normal for her young son Dion, until strange powers start to appear. As Dion's abilities grow unpredictable, Nicole becomes determined to learn how they work and who might exploit them. She juggles school, secrecy, and mounting threats while trying to protect her son from outsiders who would study or weaponize him. Friends and neighbors become unlikely allies, and small domestic moments sit alongside tense set pieces. The series keeps personal stakes front and center, focusing on how a family copes with loss and the strain of hiding something that could change everything.

Released on Netflix in 2019, the show was created by Carol Barbee with Dennis Liu attached, and it’s adapted from Dennis Liu’s original comic and short film. The series stars Alisha Wainwright and Ja'Siah Young.

Raising Dion arrived at a moment when audiences wanted superhero stories with heart, and it contributed to conversations about representation. Centering a Black single mother and her son gave a different face to the genre, and the inclusion of characters like Esperanza broadened on-screen visibility for disability. Fans often note the show’s family-first tone and how it mixes neighborhood drama with sci-fi ideas.

Audience ratings have been solid, the show holding a 7.54/10 average from 465 votes, with many viewers praising the performances, especially Ja'Siah Young and Alisha Wainwright. Reviewers and fans pointed to themes of grief, parental responsibility, identity, and the ethics of power. Some criticism targeted pacing and visual effects at times, but most responses appreciated the emotional core and the focus on a child’s perspective within a superhero framework.

The series didn’t sweep major industry awards, yet it built a dedicated following and sparked online discussion about parenting, race, and power in genre TV. Its mix of family drama and speculative elements kept viewers invested enough for multiple seasons and ongoing fan interest.