Common Sense Media Review
By Emily Ashby
,
based on child development research. How do we rate?
Girl power, friendship, diversity in Aussie sports comedy.
Parents Need to Know
Why Age 9+?
Any Positive Content?
Where to Watch
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Mighty Mustangs
Parent and Kid Reviews
Based on 1 parent review
What's the Story?
MIGHTY MUSTANGS centers on Marnie (Emmanuelle Mattana), a soccer enthusiast who fields a misfit team and wrangles a coach into leading them in an effort to compete in the local league. Marnie has big dreams on the soccer pitch, but when she ages out of playing with the boys and the snobbish Wildcats give her an ultimatum she simply can't agree to, she and her best friend, Liv (Ashleigh Marshall), must recruit players on their own. They wind up with a ragtag team including high-strung Anusha (Gemma Chua-Tran), reclusive Bella (Molly Broadstock), and talented Ruby (Celine Ajobong). At the same time, Marnie balances a new family dynamic when her mom's boyfriend, Kev (Stephen Hall), moves in with his daughter, Lara (Monique Heath).
Is It Any Good?
Girl power reigns supreme in this funny and heartwarming Aussie comedy about friendships that defy all kinds of differences. The Mustangs are a veritable cross-section of modern society, with various ethnicities, personality types, and yes, even physical sizes represented among the athletes. But rather than gloss over this aspect of the character pool, Mighty Mustangs brings it to the forefront and presents it in positive ways. This is especially true in the case of Liv, who acknowledges that her weight makes her different from her friends but never lets herself be defined by it. This proactive and honest content is a breath of fresh air in kids and tween programming.
The interference the Mustangs face from all directions feels a bit overblown at times, but it serves the valuable purpose of inspiring the characters' actions, which are full of great illustrations of perseverance and self-belief. Expect a fair amount of meanness on the part of the story's bullies, but overall a great presentation of positive teen relationships and the unifying impact of sports.
Talk to Your Kids About ...
Families can talk about how different female characters are cast in Mighty Mustangs. Is there value in presenting some as bullies? Which girls stand out as positive role models? What character traits do you most admire in them? Teamwork? Compassion?
Did the level of discrimination the Mustangs faced surprise you? In what ways has gender equality improved of late? Are there areas in which there's still progress to be made?
In what ways does Mighty Mustangs suggest that there's strength to be found in diversity? How does seeing characters of different colors, ethnicities, and body types affect your perception of what is the "right" look? Why is it important to have a positive self-image?
TV Details
- Premiere date: June 8, 2018
- Cast: Emmanuelle Mattana , Ashleigh Marshall , Gemma Chua-Tran
- Network: Universal Kids
- Genre: Comedy
- Topics: Friendship , Great Girl Role Models
- Character Strengths: Perseverance , Teamwork
- TV rating: NR
- Last updated: February 27, 2022
Did we miss something on diversity?
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