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The Adventures of Young Indiana Jones

(Rated NR, Drama, Starring Sean Flanery, Corey Carrier, Ronny Coutteure, DVD)
  • Is it age appropriate?

    About our ratings

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    Not age appropriate for kids under 6, age appropriate for kids over 8; suggested age 8.
  • Is it any good?

    4.0
  • Common Sense says

    A thrilling, educational romp through history.

updated 07.04.08

Why We Rated This on for Ages 8 and Up

The good stuff

  • Messages:

    Indy's adventures typically place him in opposition to some rival -- whether they're both on the hunt for some kind of ancient artifact or on different sides of a battlefield -- and generally try to paint the other side as the "bad" side. But the show sometimes gives short shrift to explaining why these opponents are actually in the wrong; just because another adventurer is seeking the same prize as our hero, he's not necessarily a villain. Some early 20th-century conflicts are clearly seen from the Western point of view, which seems to automatically assume that the European or American forces are the good guys, while rebellious ethnic tribesmen must be the bad guys. Failing to explain the larger background of these conflicts does a disservice to viewers, especially younger ones, who may get a skewed perspective of history. That said, one of the joys of this show is watching Indy interact with an extensive roster of important historical characters, ranging from a young Ernest Hemingway to T.E. Lawrence.
 

What to watch out for

  • Violence & scariness:

    Plenty of action, though less than the big-screen movies. Indy's adventures always seem to include encounters with dangerous villains and often lead to fights of all kinds -- fist, gun, knife, sword, etc. Some of these battles are quite intense, and some characters die on screen, but there's little blood or gore. A good portion of the series takes place during World War I, so there are many battle scenes featuring machine guns, bombs, and other types of mechanized combat. Again, many injuries and some deaths, but little gore.
  • Sexy stuff:

    Ever the romantic, Indy finds someone to woo in almost every episode that follows him as a teenager/young man -- though passionate kissing is generally the most that's shown on screen. There's no sex or nudity, though the show hints at some off-screen dalliances.
  • Language:

    Plenty of words like "darn" and "rats," as well as the occasional "damn," but not much stronger language.
  • Consumerism:

    Not an issue.
  • Drinking, drugs, & smoking:

    Plenty of social drinking, and teenage/young man Indy sometimes drinks until he and his pals are falling-down drunk, which is portrayed for laughs. Some characters smoke.
 

What Parents Need to Know

About The Adventures of Young Indiana Jones

Parents need to know that this show isn't just a TV version of the immensely popular Indiana Jones movies -- although, like the films, the series features plenty of excitement as young Indy pursues adventure (and sometimes romance) around the world; there's plenty of action (including fights with weapons); and the series does a decent job of emulating the films' mix of thrill-a-minute drama and light comedy. But with the show's stronger focus on Indy's involvement in historical events and interactions with major historical characters, there's less of a feeling of wall-to-wall escapades. The fight scenes are less polished, and the plots are sometimes thinly developed. But, on the flip side, there's more time for Indy to discuss important ideas about politics, love, friendship, and life.

Did this review help you decide?

Families Can Talk About

  • Families can talk about history. Is a show like this a good way to get viewers -- especially kids -- thinking about history? Does seeing history "come alive" make it more interesting? Why or why not? How accurate do you think the events and people portrayed here are? How could you find out more about the facts of Indy's adventures? Also, what historical figures would you like to meet? Is there any historical moment you wish you could have witnessed -- or changed?
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Most Recent Reviews

  1. Teen Reviewer
    Age 15
    Lives in Pennsylvania
    I rate this title iffy for age 2 and give it 3.0

    Boring

    I really want to watch the real Indiana Jones movies, but they are really violent, so I'm not allowed. I tried to watch these, which aren't as violent, but stopped watching half an hour into it. It was very boring and there was some swearing, such as d--n and h-ll, pretty much every five to ten minutes. Overall, I didn't enjoy one bit of it.

  2. Adult Reviewer
    Lives in Virginia
    I rate this title on for age 11 and give it 4.0

  3. Kid Reviewer
    Age 8
    Lives in New York
    I rate this title on for age 2 and give it 3.0

  4. Adult Reviewer
    Lives in Arizona
    I rate this title on for age 8 and give it 1.0

    it reaked

    The story is ok, but I laugh at the poor soul who came up with this...kid indiana jones thing! You cant turn indiana jones into a tv series! its just not right! booooo! booo! hiss boooo!

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