Diary of a Future President
Diary of a Future President is a Disney+ comedy-drama series that chronicles the adolescent life of Elena Cañero-Reed as she navigates middle school, with flash-forwards showing her as the future President of the United States. The show explores typical coming-of-age themes through Elena's diary entries, focusing on her experiences with friendships, family dynamics, and personal growth. It also delves into the lives of her brother Bobby and their mother Gabi, addressing topics such as puberty, identity, and evolving family structures. Geared towards a pre-teen and early teen audience, the series aims to be an inspiring and relatable story about self-discovery and ambition.
Concerns
LGBTQ & Gender Identity
HighThe series features prominent LGBTQ+ representation through multiple characters, with storyline development across both seasons. This includes a main character's coming-out arc and a recurring same-sex couple, with discussions around identity and acceptance.
Elena's older brother, Bobby Cañero-Reed, struggles with his sexuality throughout Season 1, ultimately coming out as gay in Season 2 to his sister Elena, stating, 'I don't want to date a girl. I want to date a guy. Because... I'm gay.'. He subsequently begins a relationship with another boy, CJ, and they share a kiss. Additionally, Gabi's friend and co-worker, Camila, is in a lesbian relationship and mentions her parents are 'homophobic' regarding her same-sex love interest. Camila and her girlfriend are also shown kissing, and Camila makes plans to propose to her girlfriend in Season 2.
Romance and Sexual Content
MediumThe show addresses typical adolescent romantic themes, including first crushes and kisses, and discussions around puberty and early sexual concepts, but without explicit visual content.
Elena experiences her first kiss with Joey at his Bar Mitzvah, and a sleepover scene reveals her friends have also had their first kisses. Bobby and his friends discuss 'Miami second base' and are shown trying to 'practice' with a pillow, leading to an off-screen 'sex talk' between Bobby and his mother, Gabi. The series also features middle school girls openly discussing menstrual cycles, periods, tampons, and pads, and two young girls go bra shopping against their parents' wishes.
Disrespect & Rebellion
MediumThe series portrays typical adolescent disrespect and minor acts of rebellion, consistent with middle school behavior, but not extreme or glorified.
Middle school girls are shown making fun of Elena, using phrases like calling her a 'creep' and 'nerd' and telling her to 'shut up'. In another instance, two young girls engage in bra shopping 'against their parents' wishes', demonstrating a mild act of defiance. Bobby also lies to his mother about which school club he joined.
Violence
LowContent involving violence is minimal and non-graphic, primarily consisting of minor physical altercations common among middle schoolers.
Bobby gets into a minor physical fight with his friend Liam at a dance, driven by jealousy, which results in Bobby's ejection from the event. Another instance involves Bobby accidentally hitting a car while learning to drive with his mother, Gabi, which is portrayed as an accident without significant harm or graphic details.
Profanity
LowThe series includes infrequent, mild language consistent with a younger teen demographic, but avoids strong expletives.
Examples of mild profanity include a student using 'A**' and instances of 'OMG'. A character exclaims 'Oh my God!' at one point in the series.
Witchcraft & Occult
LowNo specific elements related to witchcraft, sorcery, occult practices, magic rituals, demons, spells, or explicit supernatural themes were found in the analyzed content.
The research did not yield any instances or plot points depicting witchcraft, occult activities, or supernatural elements within 'Diary of a Future President'. The show focuses on realistic, coming-of-age experiences.
Substance Use
LowThere is no explicit depiction of substance use by the main or secondary young characters. Mentions of alcohol use by adults, if present, are minimal and not a focus.
The provided information does not detail any specific scenes of substance use by characters in 'Diary of a Future President'. A general comparison in a forum mentioned 'Love, Victor shows the high school aged characters drinking', but this does not directly apply to 'Diary of a Future President' characters engaging in substance use.
Scary & Intense Content
LowThe show presents emotionally challenging situations typical for middle schoolers, such as social anxieties and grief, but these are handled without generating fear, horror, or intense suspense.
Elena navigates various emotional challenges common in middle school, including the complexities of friendship and social dynamics, like avoiding 'mean girls'. The series also addresses the emotional impact of the death of Elena and Bobby's father. These themes are explored with sensitivity rather than employing frightening or highly suspenseful techniques.
Anti-Christian Themes
LowNo explicit anti-Christian themes were identified. The show includes diverse cultural and religious elements, such as a Bar Mitzvah, without portraying Christian beliefs negatively.
The series features Elena attending Joey's Bar Mitzvah, demonstrating the inclusion of non-Christian religious events without any negative portrayal of faith. The overall narrative focuses on universal coming-of-age experiences and family life, and there are no instances of explicit criticism, mockery, or sacrilegious acts directed towards Christian symbols or beliefs.
Other Notes
Target Demographic
Ages 12+ is recommended. While Disney+ officially rates the show TV-PG, some parent review outlets suggest a TV-14 rating would be more appropriate due to its frank discussions of puberty, romantic relationships, and significant LGBTQ+ themes. These elements may be more suitable for pre-teens and early teenagers who can engage with and understand the nuanced social and identity-related content.
Additional Notes
The content, particularly concerning LGBTQ+ themes and discussions of puberty, escalates notably in Season 2, introducing more explicit identity exploration and romantic relationships for younger viewers. Christian parents may wish to engage in discussions with their children about these themes, especially Bobby's coming out journey and the depiction of same-sex relationships, as they may prompt questions or conflict with certain faith-based teachings.
Related Reviews
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