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The Cleaner

(Rated TV-14, Drama, Starring Benjamin Bratt, Amy Price-Francis, Grace Park, Where to watch: A&E, DVD)

  • Is it age appropriate?

    About our ratings

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    Not age appropriate for kids under 15, age appropriate for kids over 18; suggested age 15.

  • Is it any good?

    2.0

  • Common Sense says

    Drug/addiction-focused adult drama isn't for kids.

Why We Rated This iffy for Ages 15–18

What to watch out for

  • Messages:

    There are no cut-and-dried heroes here. The main character -- a former drug addict who made a deal with God and now helps other addicts -- is a complicated role model. And he's far from perfect when it comes to his personal life. Other characters (the addicts the main character helps) routinely do things like steal from family members to fuel their habits.

  • Violence:

    Occasional physical violence between characters involving small amounts of blood. The main characters don't use guns, but others do.

  • Sex:

    Plenty of sexual innuendo, but nothing graphic shown. One female character is particularly sexual; for example, she talks about "dropping trou," makes a veiled reference to the size of a man's genitalia, and slept with her boss while he was separated from his wife.

  • Language:

    Pretty tame, but words like "ass," "hell," and "damn" are audible.

  • Consumerism:

    Not an issue.

  • Drinking, drugs, & smoking:

    The show centers on various forms of addiction, so the drug and alcohol content runs the full gamut. Characters smoke cigarettes and drink alcohol, as well as smoke crystal meth, shoot heroin, and more.
 

What Parents Need to Know

About The Cleaner

Parents need to know that, due to the drug/addiction-focused subject matter, this show isn't age appropriate for tweens or younger teens. Main characters smoke cigarettes and drink -- but that almost seems beside the point considering that plenty of others snort and shoot heroin, rob their parents to fund their crystal meth addictions, and worse. For the most part, sexual content stays at the innuendo level, although the sexual tension between certain characters is palpable enough. Some swearing along the lines of "ass" and "damn," and some physical scuffles and gun use.

Did this review help you decide?

Families Can Talk About

  • Families can talk about the dangers of addiction and the many different forms it can take, from drugs and alcohol to sex. Can someone be seriously addicted to other things that are legal and seemingly harmless, like the Internet or coffee or working too much? What factors determine whether something's just a part-time hobby or a full-blown addiction? How/when do you know you have a problem? Teens: Do you know someone who struggles with substance abuse? Have you ever tried to help them? What happened?
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