# The Healing Powers of Dude (2020)

> An 11-year-old with social anxiety starts middle school with the help of Dude, a sarcastic mutt serving as his emotional support dog.

Canonical page: https://ember.film/tv/82124

## Facts

- Seasons: 1
- Episodes: 8
- Episode runtime: 30 min
- Status: Ended
- Genres: family, comedy, drama
- Created by: Erica Spates, Sam Littenberg-Weisberg
- Network: Netflix
- Cast: Jace Chapman, Gabrielle Quinn, Sophie Kim, Larisa Oleynik, Mauricio Lara, Tolga Kahraman, Laurel Emory, Tyson Larter
- TMDB rating: 6.6/10
- IMDb: https://www.imdb.com/title/tt10540562/

## Ember's analysis

- Pacing: measured
- Intensity: mild
- Complexity: simple
- Violence: none
- Tone: gentle, warm, sarcastic, sincere, funny

## What critics say

Audiences find the show a warm, gentle family comedy-drama whose heart lies in the bond between a socially anxious boy and his dog.

## Synopsis

The Healing Powers of Dude (2020) is a single-season American family comedy-drama created by Erica Spates and Sam Littenberg-Weisberg for Netflix. Eleven-year-old Noah Ferris, played by Jace Chapman, struggles with social anxiety as he starts middle school, and his lifeline is Dude, a sarcastic mutt who works as his emotional support dog. Larisa Oleynik plays Karen Ferris, Noah's mother, and Gabrielle Quinn, Sophie Kim, and Mauricio Lara fill out the young cast of classmates and friends around him. The engine of the show is Noah's effort to get through each school day, with its awkward encounters, social pressure, and small victories, while Dude's deadpan commentary keeps the mood light. Each of the eight half-hour episodes handles a fresh school-life situation within a single continuing arc, making it an easy, self-contained watch. The setting is a contemporary American town and its middle school. The tone is gentle, warm, and funny, with a sincere look at friendship and anxiety. Fans of Bluey, Andi Mack, and The Thundermans will find a similar mix of family humor and heart.

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