Heartwarming, diverse coming-of-age story best for tweens.
Parents Need to Know
Why Age 10+?
Any Positive Content?
Violence & Scariness
very little
A teen verbally encourages a group of his friends to shoot watermelons with a gun he steals from his parents. The gun isn't shown on-screen and is described as being in a bag. Another teen voices strong concerns and eventually reports the weapon.
Did you know you can flag iffy content? Adjust limits for Violence & Scariness in your kid's entertainment guide.
A teen's crush often dominates her thoughts. All major teen characters have healthy romantic arcs that make them grow as individuals, while on-screen intimacy never goes beyond holding hands and occasional kissing. The story doesn't directly raise the topic of unplanned pregnancy, but a major plot point suggests the matter, which could prompt questions.
Did you know you can flag iffy content? Adjust limits for Sex, Romance & Nudity in your kid's entertainment guide.
This coming-of-age story addresses big emotions and issues with honesty and a lot of heart. It also encourages communication. Family isn't always perfect, but loyalty means everything and helps family members overcome difficult times. Making mistakes isn't inherently bad so long as you learn from them, and forgiveness is essential to relationships. Acceptance is also a recurring theme, from accepting a change in family structure to supporting a friend through their coming-out process.
Positive Role Models
a lot
Andi is a contemplative and self-assured middle schooler who asserts herself in small ways against her overprotective mother's rigid rules. She longs for adventures and finds a kindred spirit in her open-minded older sister, Bex, who harbors secrets from Andi but loves her fiercely. Andi, Bex, and their loyal friends and family support one another. Among them, Cyrus demonstrates courage by embarking on a journey of self-discovery.
Diverse Representations
a lot
Created by female showrunner Terry Minsky, Andi Mack has a diverse cast. It's led by Andi (biracial actor Peyton Elizabeth Lee), whose parents are Jewish American and British Chinese. Andi's sister, Bex (biracial actor Lilan Bowden, born to a Taiwanese mother and a White father) is artistic and resilient, facing challenges as a single mother. Andi and Bex have a healthy relationship marked by honesty and open communication. Andi's athletic best friend, Buffy (Sofia Wylie, who's multiracial), takes on leadership roles. Their other best friend, Cyrus, is played by openly bisexual actor Joshua Rush. Interracial and queer romantic arcs are featured throughout the series, and supporting characters of color are depicted as warm and intelligent.
Parents need to know that Andi Mack is a heartwarming coming-of-age story from the creator of Lizzie McGuire about a young teen whose world turns upside-down when her older sister moves back home. Characters have romantic story arcs and hold hands, occasionally kissing. An unplanned pregnancy is implied. Main character Andi (Peyton Elizabeth Lee) is being raised by a single mom; they have a healthy relationship that relies on open communication. Racially and socioeconomically diverse characters demonstrate various character strengths including integrity, compassion, empathy, courage, and communication. Girls and women are intelligent, strong, and supportive of one another. The series has one of the Disney Channel's first openly gay characters.
Nothing wrong with it, and other parents need to STOP being homophobic
Fellow comments on here talk about how “ my child’s too young to here about what sex a boy is liking.” It’s the same as if the same boy liked a girl. The parents who say things like that shouldn’t because your kid might end up having those same feelings that he did. I don’t think it’s bad Disney is taking a step and adding teen pregnancy, homosexuality, etc... because everyone knows about those types of things, and if your child is like 5-9 you shouldn’t show them that in the first place because they wouldn’t understand or handle it well. This show is for people who know what homosexuality is and panic attacks are, and what teen pregnancy is. I’m not saying there’s anything wrong with the show, it’s just if a child is like 5 the parent should not show it to them in the first place. Because they probably won’t understand it, and honestly too young to handle those subjects. This show is simply beautiful in its way to show the kids who have feelings towards a member of the same sex, are not alone. Other people feel it and there’s nothing wrong with you. Parents need to think about the example they set for there children when they say, “ you cannot watch this show because it’s not good” what if they ask why. Unless your a lier your probably going to tell your child that there is a homosexual subject involved and you might say it’s wrong. That’s the wrong message to send.
This show is fine, I don’t get what you parents are going on about. I watched the show with my two daughters recently and I liked it. They liked it as well, mostly the oldest child of my kids. What’s wrong with Cyrus having a crush on another male character? By that logic it would also be wrong if Cyrus had a crush on a female character. The show seems good, the plot keeps you interested, and it’s got nice, relatable characters.
What's the Story?
When her nomadic big sister, Bex (Lilian Bowden), arrives unannounced on the eve of ANDI MACK's (Peyton Elizabeth Lee) 13th birthday and says she's moving back home, Andi is thrilled at the prospect of having a free spirit around. For every one of their mother's rigid rules, Bex has a method for bending it, and just having her there inspires Andi to step out of her comfort zone in the best ways. But when Bex reveals a long-held secret that turns Andi's world upside-down, it launches a new path of self-discovery for the introspective teen. Throughout it all, Andi and her close friends Cyrus (Joshua Rush) and Buffy (Sofia Wylie) help each other out through thick and thin, including crushes, school drama, and big feelings.
This refreshing series doesn't shy away from emotion or meaningful issues in how Andi (and Bex, to a lesser degree) carries on after the world as she knows it takes a hit. In an organic way, Andi Mack affirms that while the process of growing up can be trying and uncomfortable, strong relationships and family are our most reliable sources of strength. The show tackles both big and small issues in this newly minted teen's life with humor and charm, appealing to audiences who enjoy experiencing the fun and the common woes of the teen years.
Throughout the shows, Andi's family encourages her self-awareness, self-expression, and self-confidence. Her friendships with Buffy and Cyrus are also a delight to watch, as they support one another and grow up together through the thick-and-thin of their adolescence -- including Buffy standing up to bullies and Cyrus coming out as gay. That said, the show introduces some fairly mature concepts, especially for the Disney series' preteen crowd. For example, while the references aren't overt, audiences will likely pick up on hints at teen pregnancy. But this speaks to how groundbreaking this series is, refusing to shy away from sensitive yet important issues.
Talk to Your Kids About ...
Families can talk about the everyday issues Andi and her friends Cyrus and Buffy face in Andi Mack. How does having one another make it easier to cope? How do they treat one another with empathy and compassion through all their personal challenges? Do any of their experiences resonate with you?
How does this series present relationships? Secrets? Andi, Cyrus, and Bex have each shared secrets over the course of the series. How did it go for each of them?
How does Cyrus demonstrate courage in his journey of self-discovery? Are there any aspects of his journey that you relate to? How do Andi and Bex support him?
Does Andi feel pressure to look or act a certain way to fit in among her peers? Is peer pressure something that weighs on your mind? Is popularity important to you?
How does Andi use her communication skills to get through tough times and stay close with her family and friends? What other character strengths are important to develop during your teenage years?
Research shows a connection between kids' healthy self-esteem and positive portrayals in media. That's why we've added a new "Diverse Representations" section to our reviews that will be rolling out on an ongoing basis. You can help us help kids by
suggesting a diversity update.
Common Sense Media's unbiased ratings are created by expert reviewers and aren't influenced by the product's creators or by any of our funders, affiliates, or partners.
By Emily Ashby
,
based on child development research. How do we rate?
