Common Sense Media Review
By Emily Ashby
,
based on child development research. How do we rate?
Comedy, magic, tutorials make for refreshingly unique show.
Parents Need to Know
Why Age 7+?
Any Positive Content?
Where to Watch
Videos and Photos
Junk Drawer Magical Adventures
Parent and Kid Reviews
What's the Story?
In JUNK DRAWER MAGICAL ADVENTURES, best friends Walker (Walker Satterwhite) and Akira (Akira Sky) share a passion for magic, and that makes for some unusual happenings in their lives. Sometimes it's a ghost they reawaken and befriend, other times it's a quirky character they bring to life and instantly regret. In every case, though, magic is the trick to getting things back to normal ... and to having a little fun along the way. They share their talent for magic with the audience in tutorials that teach some of their tricks.
Is It Any Good?
Houdinis-in-training Walker and Akira expand on their Junk Drawer Magic success in this scripted series that sees them taking their magic beyond the walls of the kitchen. The parlor tricks are fairly hokey -- Akira enchants eyes on the back of her head, Walker turns into a ghost, etc. -- and there's little reason to fear any actual scares. Even the supernatural creatures that appear look like they're costumed for a middle school play and not a terribly scary kids show. There's a refreshing innocence to the series, even if it does trend toward the campy.
The unique format in Junk Drawer Magical Adventures blends a traditional comedy series with the magic tutorials for which Walker and Akira have become known on YouTube. Some of the tricks of the trade they share are repeats from Junk Drawer Magic, but all of them are simultaneously impressive and surprisingly simple to replicate. This innocuous series is a fun pick for kids that's a welcome departure from the routine TV lineup.
Talk to Your Kids About ...
Families can talk about Junk Drawer Magical Adventures' unique format. Does the mix of magic lessons and traditional sitcom work well, or do the two qualities distract from each other? What is the goal of this show: entertainment or instruction?
How do Walker and Akira demonstrate strong problem-solving skills? Even though it's a fantasy series, can you learn anything from how they work together to undo the mishaps they cause? Should entertainment always teach us something, too?
Kids: What hobbies do you enjoy? How do our extracurricular interests challenge us in different ways than more traditional learning does? Does this show inspire an interest in magic?
TV Details
- Premiere date: March 1, 2019
- Cast: Akira Sky , Walker Satterwhite , Justin Reager
- Network: Universal Kids
- Genre: Comedy
- Topics: Magic and Fantasy , Adventures , Monsters, Ghosts, and Vampires
- TV rating: TV-Y7
- Last updated: October 1, 2022
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