Common Sense Media Review
By Betsy Wallace , based on child development research. How do we rate?
Clairvoyant teen will have kids seeing Raven!
Parents Need to Know
Why Age 8+?
Any Positive Content?
Where to Watch
Parent and Kid Reviews
Based on 10 parent reviews
What's the Story?
THAT'S SO RAVEN centers on a clairvoyant teen whose visions of the future usually spur a very unpredictable chain of events. Raven (Raven-Symone) is an energetic, expressive teen, who successfully exaggerates comedy. Along with sidekicks Chelsea (Anneliese van der Pol) and Eddie (Orlando Brown), Raven always seems to be running in and out of trouble -- and learning a valuable lesson. Issues surrounding friendship, jealousy, crushes, sibling rivalry and parents are commonplace.
Is It Any Good?
Disney loves the formula of giving a normal kid something extraordinary or magical to contend with. And That's So Raven successfully fits the mold. The writers and actors aren't quite up to the demands of drama, though, and -- as virtually every story tries to weave Raven's dreams into the stuff that family and friendships are made of -- the series often gets too basic for its intended preteen audience.
Naturally, conflicts are swiftly resolved and everyone comes out the wiser. Trite as the show may be, Raven, her mischievous little brother, and her parents are all good role models and comedians who can shine when given good material.
Talk to Your Kids About ...
Families can talk about Raven's psychic powers. The series treats her ability to see the future as quite plausible -- as opposed to make-believe -- and younger kids may be confused. How do kids think they'd cope with a similar ability? Would it be fun or problematic? Families might also talk about what makes Raven such a positive role model.
TV Details
- Premiere date: January 17, 2003
- Cast: Kyle Massey , Orlando Brown , Raven Symone
- Network: Disney Channel
- Genre: Comedy
- Topics: Magic and Fantasy , Friendship
- TV rating: TV-G
- Last updated: February 17, 2023
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