Rating: PG (some mild teen drama and scary scenes)
Seasons: 3
Summary(IMDB.com): A young man is magically turned a merman, and discovers his underwater origins, after he comes in contact with the magic waters at the mysterious Mako Island guarded by a trio of mermaids.
My Review:
Filled with magic, gorgeous mermaids, and a great story, Mako Mermaids is a fantastic television series!
Mako Island now has a pod of mermaids to protect it from curious humans. Lyla, Nixie, and Sirena are introduced, each with a different personality. Lyla is strong, sometimes cold, Nixie is curious and witty, and Sirena is sweet. The mermaids also have cool powers, such as freezing and manipulating water, and also becoming invisible. This comes in handy later when they trade their fins for legs.
After a portal opens in the moon pool, and a human boy named Zac falls in, the three mermaid girls must find him on land and convince him to change back to normal. I thought it was so cool that mermen were introduced on the show! It offered a new perspective to mermaid life on Mako. He actually swims a lot faster than the mergirls, and his tail is gorgeous!
Throughout the plot of each season, there is a strong mythical presence, with ancient magic that threatens the mermaids and their existence. At the center of this is Zac, this first known merman, who wields an incredible power. My favorite plotline was written in season two, where the viewer learns more about Mako Island and it's dark history. The viewer is also introduced to new mermaids, and one of them is skilled in creating potions.
However, the constant cast changes and rushed plot in season three made the magic of Mako disappear. Although Cariba Heine (Rikki) makes a cameo appearance, it just lacked an engaging story. Zac can also be arrogant at times, especially when he learns about his powers. New mermaids are introduced in each season, making it hard to connect with the characters.
Even though this is just a spinoff, I enjoyed it more than H20!
I give this series (****) 4 stars.
-Sirenita The Selkie
*note: There is rumor of a final movie to conclude the series. This post will be updated when I learn more!*