The Thundermans: Undercover
Once capitalising on the growing popularity of the 2010s superhero-focused storytelling, Jed Spingarn’s The Thundermans grew to prominence within the children’s television space during its original run from 2013 to 2018. Starring Jack Griffo and Kira Kosarin, it followed a covert superhero family and all the misadventures that came with powers, villains and teenage self-discovery. Its success yielded four seasons of over 100 episodes, a film, and now – a spin-off series: The Thundermans: Undercover. This new instalment to the over-a-decade-long franchise circles back to the secret identity aspect popularised by the genre, with twin siblings Max and Phoebe being sent undercover to the town of Secret Shores. Their mission: investigate the mysterious villain Mastermind and stop his plot to gather all the bad guys into a new league of villains. On top of saving the world, they also take on the responsibility of training and parenting their younger sister, Chloe. Chloe, uncertain of who her genuine friends are at home, joins them at Secret Shores to have a taste of normalcy. Fun and energetic, this new release is a vibrant and pun-filled adventure featuring high-stakes action and playful dynamics.
As far as children’s television goes, The Thundermans: Undercover is thoroughly entertaining with genuinely clever one-liners and wordplay. Despite its larger-than-life premise of powers and supervillains, the characters’ plights – specifically Chloe and her journey through school and assimilating into a new and unfamiliar environment – are stories that viewers of all ages can relate to. Their struggles extend beyond the superhero hook, focusing heavily on family and relationship dynamics. Not every episode has action or even features a villain. It’s still entertaining, nonetheless, with over-the-top shenanigans and solutions to everyday problems. Max and Phoebe’s contrasting approach to taking care of Chloe and Chloe’s exasperation towards her siblings creates this “teenagers acting like adults; adults acting like teenagers” effect that’s amusing to watch.
An extension to the original, The Thundermans: Undercover stands well on its own. Max and Phoebe’s presence maintains that connection to the earlier show, but Chloe taking the lead and the new setting allows contemporary viewers to experience the story without feeling like they’ve lost important context. Production is also a significant element that aids in this. Contrasting heavily with the drab and overly dark tone of recent superhero films, Spingarn’s work remains colourful and electric. His experience with animation shines through the vibrant set pieces and robust costumes. He captures the look and feel of 2000s animated superhero series like Teen Titans and X-Men: Evolution. Nostalgic fans will also enjoy seeing familiar faces of other previous teen stars like Ryan Ochoa of iCarly and Pair of Kings, and Audrey Whitby of So Random! and Austin and Ally. Meanwhile, Dr. Colosso’s side stories add another layer of fun alongside the introductions to Thunderford, Jinx and Kombucha.
The Thundermans: Undercover serves a balance of wild action and misadventures alongside grounded storytelling of family, coming-of-age and building relationships. It’s not just a revival of a familiar franchise; it’s a celebration of 2010s children’s television. Unlike iCarly, which forcibly reworked a children’s classic into a mature and adult-focused narrative, The Thundermans: Undercover, with its bright colours and over-top scenarios, embraces its childish roots and makes something everyone – families, individuals of all ages, old fans and new viewers – can unabashedly enjoy.
Mae Trumata
The Thundermans: Undercover is released on Paramount+ on 17th February 2025.
Watch the trailer for The Thundermans: Undercover here:
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