The Right Stuff on Disney+ Review: Is it OK for kids?

The Right Stuff - Image from Disney+

If your kids are anything like mine, they love learning about space.  So when The Right Stuff landed on Disney+ the first question on my mind was "Is this something for us to watch as a family?"  My husband and I are also space fans so we decided to watch the first two episodes ourselves before deciding if we were going watch it with our boys - ages 5 and 8.  Let's take a closer look at the show before we answer the question about tuning in with kids.

About The Right Stuff on Disney+ (From Disney+)

The incredible story of the early days of the U.S. space program, based on the iconic bestseller by Tom Wolfe. At the height of the Cold War, newly-formed NASA selects seven of the military’s best test pilots to become astronauts. Competing to be the first in space, these men achieve the extraordinary, inspiring the world to turn towards a new horizon of ambition and hope.

Review of The Right Stuff on Disney+

The Right Stuff is releasing on Disney+ in weekly episodes with the first two episodes dropping October 9th.  While some of the names in the show may be familiar from American history - like John Glenn and Alan Shepard - the show doesn't focus on the flights they make themselves, but on the journey to get there and the families that stood beside them along the way.  While the stories and events are based around a true story, the disclaimer at the beginning of each episode does note that some creative liberties were taken.

The Right Stuff - Image from Disney+

The history teacher in me loves when I feel like I'm learning something in a show and the entertainment writer in me loves a good drama - this show gives you both!  There are a number of stories at play inside the bigger picture of America's goal to put a man into space.  These astronauts have always been portrayed as larger than life American heroes, but what viewers see here is that those stories are carefully crafter PR promotions to gain support for the new and fledgling space program.  Not to take anything away from these men.  They are certainly smart, brave, and pioneering in their efforts to fly with NASA, but, like many of us, they also have flaws. . .and it's the flaws that bring their stories to life and actually make them more interesting, inspiring, and motivating than even before. 

Got kids who love space?  Check out our visit to Kennedy Space Center for details on visiting with young children!

As a whole, the show is well-written and the acting is solid.  I really enjoyed seeing one of my favorites, Colin O'Donoghue (Remember him?  Hook from Once Upon a Time) back in action again!  Patrick J. Adams has a smile that lights up the room as John Glenn and Jake McDorman who plays Alan Shepard plays the cocky flyboy that you can't help but want to be around perfectly.  

Is The Right Stuff on Disney+ Kid Friendly?

While there wasn't anything that I would say was overly offensive for children (well, there was that one shot of Gordon Copper's wife in her undergarments), this show really isn't one for the family to watch together unless your kids are probably middle school aged or up.  The first two episodes have a lot of discussion around infidelity and references to drinking, smoking, and more.  The content of the show also really isn't made for kids.  It's a "behind-the-scenes" look at the men who were a part of the Mercury 7, not a heroic history tale about racing to space.  My husband and I will be tuning in each week to learn more about America's journey to space and the men who worked so hard to get us there, but we'll be doing it after we tuck our boys into bed.

The Right Stuff - Image from Disney+