If you missed it in 2019, Raising Dion is well worth revisiting. Just keep tissues nearby. And don’t watch the last episode alone in the dark—The Crooked Man is genuinely haunting.
Alongside her is Pat (Jason Ritter), Mark’s best friend and Dion’s godfather. Pat steps in as a surrogate father figure and scientific guide, helping Nicole understand the source of Dion’s powers. However, viewers of the first season will note a creeping unease in Ritter’s performance—a warmth that feels just slightly too perfect, hinting at a darkness that pays off in the season’s final, shocking reveal. Released in October 2019, Raising Dion arrived without the blockbuster budget of The Umbrella Academy or Stranger Things . The visual effects are modest but effective. Dion’s powers glow with a purple, nebulous energy, and the action is kept mostly to backyards, school halls, and a single climactic battle in a storm-drenched park. Raising Dion -2019-2019
Nicole’s journey becomes the emotional spine of the show. She isn't a trained S.H.I.E.L.D. agent or a billionaire with a suit. She’s a grieving, working-class mother terrified that her son will be taken away by scientists, villains, or social services. Where Raising Dion truly excels is in its refusal to sideline the parent. In most superhero tales, parents are either dead, absent, or mentors. Here, Nicole is the protagonist. The series dedicates as much time to her navigating single motherhood, financial strain, and trust issues as it does to Dion learning to control his powers. If you missed it in 2019, Raising Dion
Ja’Siah Young, as Dion, is a revelation. Child actors often struggle with the weight of supernatural dialogue, but Young imbues Dion with authentic wonder, fear, and mischief. He makes you believe that a kid would absolutely try to use telekinesis to sneak a cookie before dinner. Raising Dion was initially listed as “2019-2019” because it took three years for Netflix to renew it for a second season (which debuted in 2022). For many, that gap solidified the first season as a self-contained gem. It ends on a bittersweet, hopeful note: Nicole choosing to stop running and start fighting, and Dion realizing that being a hero means being kind first. Alongside her is Pat (Jason Ritter), Mark’s best
Wainwright delivers a grounded, vulnerable performance that anchors the fantastical elements. When Dion accidentally destroys a playground, Nicole doesn't lecture him about heroism; she holds him and whispers, "We're going to figure this out together." That quiet intimacy is the show's secret weapon.
In an era of grimdark reboots and convoluted multiverses, Raising Dion (2019) remains a refreshing anomaly. It’s a superhero story about holding hands, not throwing punches. It’s a reminder that the greatest power in any universe isn't flight or invisibility—it’s the fierce, unbreakable love between a parent and a child.