Un ami aux petits soins

THE HEALING POWERS OF DUDE: NETFLIX 8 Episodes: Middle school is tough enough as it is and having a social anxiety disorder further complicates 11 year old Noah Ferris' life who's been home schooled up till now. Dude, who failed to make the grade at service dog school is now Noah's support dog and as such, is allowed to accompany Noah to school, much to the dissatisfaction of the school principal, who besides being somewhat of a dick to begin with, is also a cat person who has it out for Dude and he becomes Noah's nemesis, sort of like the Jane Lynch character from Glee. Dude is a bit of a scamp and we're given privy to his thoughts via voice over and the little fella is really trying his best, he just isn't very good at it. Giving all their support to Noah is Mom, Dad, kid sister, and a couple of 'outsider' kids he meets on the first day of school. Even tho the kids have short resumes, you'd never know it because they turn in very credible and funny performances with great comic timing. Through some very clever special effects, we get to see and hear what's really going on in Noah's mind, allowing us to experience what he's feeling in stressful moments. I have inside info that the show is based on real characters. It reminds me of The Wonder Years and is a show for the whole family. It's heartwarming, with smart dialogue and delightful characters. Score: 9. Watch it! ... even if you don't have kids. In the spirit of transparency, I may be only a little biased, because Noah's sister, Embry is played by my granddaughter, Laurel Emory. 1/18/20

I have a huge crush on Larisa Oleynik since back in her "Alex Mack" days. So, I decided to check out this show.

I liked it. I thought it was a cute sitcom for kids with very relatable situations. I realize the controversy it created with confusing the difference between service animals and emotional support animals. It is valid but I think people need to lighten up a little and realize this is FICTION. It is not supposed to be realistic and accurate. It is a far more plausible premise than, say, a kid being doused with a mysterious chemical that gave him super powers. (Not that I am knocking ALEX MACK; that's a classic)

I did like how the three of the kids are misfits who nevertheless form their own little friendship. It is cool seeing an actual handicapped actress playing a character that doesn't try to illicit sympathy for her disability.

The kids definitely make the show. The adults on the other hand act kind of goofy on the show. Karen and Marvin feel like clones of the parents from Modern Family. Marvin is sweet but He comes off as an overgrown man child. The character of Karen is ok but kind of grating. You feel She's trying too hard to be Superwoman. It should be noted in real life Larisa Oleynik doesn't have children and it shows.

The dog is cute. The fact that the dogs talk and are slightly anthropomorphized is quirky and kind of out of place in a fairly grounded sitcom. In the pilot the dog is revealed to have been a slacker at his training and thus needs to prove his "worth" as an emotional support dog. There are scenes where He's talking to his friends. Kind of like in HOMEWARD BOUND or WISHBONE.

The fantasy sequences that illustrate Noah's fears are pretty cool. I loved how in the second episode they had Noah morph into a puddle using special effects that looked a lot better in 2020 than 1994. It was a nice tribute to ALEX MACK.

If one can get past the "controversies" surrounding accurate representation of social anxiety as well as service dogs you would like the show

The show only aired 8 episodes and it's been 3 years which means it is probably been cancelled by the notoriously fickle Netflix.

Watch the show! We had the most incredible time creating this series. Everyone from the producers, to the camera operators, to the directors, to the background actors, to the actors- everyone involved. We all worked so hard to create a story that would speak to the viewers and address a hard subject in a sensitive and uplifting way. We hope you love watching the show as much as we loved creating it for you.

I loved it! I also have social anxiety, not to the extent the character has but I really related to it. The way they portray this disorder might be exaggerated, but I actually liked that, because anxiety is overwhelming and you can see that through the exaggeration. It made me laugh and it also made me tear up. I really liked how they integrated the dog, how he could understand Noah and see what Noah was imagining. I found it to be a great show! I'm waiting for season two now!!

I really love this show - It is REALLY cute but also very funny. How refreshing it is to watch a family show & remain engaged with the story - EXCELLENT writing with very talented young stars. I love the diverse cast - & especially that it includes a handicapped character who is so witty. The voice of the little dog - Dude - is soooo perfect & hysterical! The dog is a terrific actor as well. Very enjoyable, wholesome entertainment. Thank you!