'My Dad the Bounty Hunter' Review: Surprisingly Refreshingly Fun for the Entire Family

Criminal Aliens, A Space Hero Dad and two curious kids... sounds like a recipe for disaster but somehow this upcoming Netflix show makes it a blast to watch!

Stories that push the envelope cannot prosper without the stories that have never been told. When inclusivity and Black voices merge opportunities of representation flourish. A Black-led voice-over cast followed by the premise of Black kids in space is a show I never knew I wanted until it dawned on me that I had never seen a show with a Black family in space.

Priah Ferguson as Lisa and JeCobi Swan as Sean in ‘My Dad the Bounty Hunter', depict their faces after finding out they're in space and may be there for awhile. Photo courtesy: Netflix © 2022

My Dad the Bounty Hunter is a wonderfully, funny animated Netflix series that follows two kid siblings, Lisa and Sean, who are rocketed to space after hiding in their father's car. Not only do they find out that their dad's job is not about truck driving. Instead, in a cosmic turn of events he thwarts and captures criminal aliens as an intergalactic space hero! This action-adventure takes your average "Bring Your Kids to Work" day out of this world and into a family-driven quest for their lives against galactic enemies.

Audiences will gravitate towards this series for its' wholesome family dynamic storyline, paired with imagery of wonder and adventure. It should also be noted that the effect of parental separation, from their father, impacts the emotional and mental warfare of Lisa and Sean. Stories like this lead the way for discussions to be had about kids longing for both parents when in the process of change involving family custodianship dynamics.

Laz Alonso as Dad with Lisa and Sean in the upcoming series 'My Dad the Bounty Hunter'. Photo courtesy of NETFLIX © 2022

Created and executive produced by Everett Downing Jr. (Hair Love) and Patrick Harpin (Clarence), the representation that exudes off the screen gives kids and adolescents of color another way to see themselves in a broader atmosphere. This ten-part animated series features the voices of Laz Alonso (The Boys) as the space hero dad Sabo Brok, Priah Ferguson (Stranger Things) as Lisa, Jecobi Swain (Home Economics) as Sean, and Yvonne Orji (Insecure) as mom. The cast also extends its talent by having Yvette Nicole Brown (Community), Leslie Uggams (Deadpool), Rob Riggle (The Hangover), and Jim Rash (Community) in the bunch. Dwarf Animation Studios animated the series with its forward CGI animation.

Overall, it is a pretty solid show that is reminiscent of my Saturday morning cartoon show lineup. The series creates a space for families to be included in the fun alongside their children. Adding the parental element allows a lesson for parents who may be too busy for their kids to take time out of their day to give their kids a piece of adventure. If the build can continue in the rest of the series with alien action and the possibility that the kids could never return home (you'll find out why) this is well on its way to a second season.

Watch the trailer and be ready to tune into My Dad the Bounty Hunter on February 9th only on Netflix.