TL;DR: Alexa & Katie is the "Goldilocks" of tween TV: not too babyish, not too mature, but just right. It’s a multi-cam sitcom that manages to tackle pediatric cancer, financial anxiety, and high school social hierarchies without losing its sense of humor or becoming "brain rot."
If your kid is aging out of Bluey but isn’t quite ready for the high-octane drama of Gossip Girl or the intensity of Stranger Things, this is your perfect bridge.
Alexa & Katie is a Netflix original series that follows two lifelong best friends as they navigate their freshman year of high school. The "hook" is that Alexa has leukemia and is undergoing treatment as the show begins.
Now, I know what you’re thinking. "A sitcom about cancer? That sounds depressing or, worse, incredibly tacky."
But here’s the thing: it’s actually neither. It’s a traditional multi-cam sitcom (complete with a laugh track) that uses that familiar, "safe" format to talk about some really heavy stuff. It’s about resilience, the ride-or-die nature of female friendship, and how to maintain a sense of normalcy when your life feels like it’s falling apart.
There is a specific window—usually between ages 9 and 13—where kids are desperate for "teen" content. They want to see what high school looks like. They want to hear about crushes and "big kid" problems.
The problem is that most modern teen dramas are... a lot. They’re often filled with "Ohio" level weirdness, questionable fashion choices, and plotlines that make most parents want to pull the plug on the router.
Alexa & Katie works because:
- The stakes feel real but manageable: Alexa isn't just worried about her health; she's worried about being "the sick girl" at school. That social anxiety is incredibly relatable to middle schoolers.
- The humor is actually funny: It avoids the "cringe" factor of some older Disney Channel shows.
- The friendship is the North Star: In a world of "mean girls" and digital drama, seeing two girls who genuinely support each other is a breath of fresh air.
Ask our chatbot for more shows that feature positive female friendships
We talk a lot at Screenwise about "digital scaffolding." Just like you wouldn't hand a kid a 500-page philosophy book before they've read The Wild Robot, you shouldn't jump from SpongeBob SquarePants to Riverdale.
Alexa & Katie serves as a perfect entry point for several reasons:
1. It Models Resilience Without Being Preachy
Alexa’s cancer isn't a "very special episode" that gets resolved in 22 minutes. It’s a constant backdrop for four seasons. Kids see her lose her hair, deal with exhaustion, and struggle with the frustration of being "different." It’s a masterclass in empathy.
2. It Tackles Socioeconomic Differences
Katie’s family is headed by a single mom (played by Tiffani Thiessen, for all you Saved by the Bell fans) who works multiple jobs to make ends meet. The show doesn't shy away from the fact that Katie can't always afford the same things Alexa can. In an era of Roblox where kids are constantly pressured to buy the next "skin" or "emote," seeing a character navigate financial boundaries is a great conversation starter.
3. It’s "Safe" Teen Culture
Your kids are going to hear about Euphoria or see clips of mature movies on TikTok. Alexa & Katie gives them the "teen" aesthetic—the lockers, the school plays, the first dates—without the drug use, graphic violence, or hyper-sexualization that populates older teen media.
If your family has already binged Alexa & Katie, or if you're looking to build a "healthy drama" watchlist, here are our top picks:
This is arguably the best modern adaptation of a classic book series. It’s smart, inclusive, and treats tweens like the intelligent humans they are. It covers everything from gender identity to health issues (Stacey’s diabetes) with incredible grace.
- Ages: 8-13
- Why it works: Like Alexa & Katie, it focuses on the power of a friend group.
If your kid likes the multi-cam sitcom vibe—the laugh track, the physical comedy, the "moral of the story" endings—this is the obvious next step. It’s lighter than Alexa & Katie, but it hits that same comfort-watch sweet spot.
- Ages: 7-12
- Why it works: High nostalgia factor for parents, easy-to-digest storylines for kids.
For the older end of the tween spectrum (12+), Heartstopper is a beautiful, gentle look at high school romance and identity. It’s famously "wholesome" despite being a teen drama.
- Ages: 12+
- Why it works: It’s the visual equivalent of a warm hug.
If they want to move into movies, this Netflix trilogy is the gold standard for modern teen rom-coms. It’s sweet, stylish, and stays within the PG-13 boundaries.
- Ages: 11+
- Why it works: It deals with grief (the loss of a mother) and family dynamics alongside the romance.
Check out our guide on the best "first" teen movies for tweens
While Alexa & Katie is rated TV-G or TV-PG (depending on the episode), there are a few things to keep on your radar:
- Health Anxiety: If you have a child who is particularly sensitive to medical topics or has "health OCD," some of the scenes involving hospitals, needles, or the side effects of chemo might be triggering. It’s worth a "co-watch" for the first few episodes.
- Romance: There is some light dating, hand-holding, and "first kisses." It’s all very innocent, but if you’re strictly in the "no dating until 16" camp, you’ll want to be ready for some questions.
- Class Conflict: The show handles the "rich friend / poor friend" dynamic well, but it can lead to discussions about why Katie’s mom has to work so hard or why Alexa’s house is so much bigger.
There is a pivotal moment in the first episode where Alexa, fearing her hair will fall out from chemo, decides to shave her head. In a show of solidarity, Katie shaves her head too (well, a patch of it, before they realize what they've done).
It’s a beautiful moment, but it’s also a great time to talk to your kids about performative vs. real support.
- Is shaving your head the only way to help a friend?
- How do we show up for people when they’re going through something "ugly" or "scary"?
Ask our chatbot for talking points about empathy and illness
Alexa & Katie is a rare find in the current streaming landscape. It’s a show that respects its audience’s maturity without rushing them into adulthood. It’s a "safe" space for tweens to explore big emotions, and it’s one of the few shows you might actually enjoy watching with them.
It’s not "brain rot." It’s not "mid." It’s actually—dare I say it—really good TV.
- Watch the first two episodes together. See how your kid reacts to the cancer storyline.
- Use the "Katie’s Mom" character to talk about the reality of working families and financial responsibility.
- Check the Screenwise Community Data to see what other parents in your grade level are letting their kids watch after they finish this series.