Crossing Jordan - TV-14

Sappy crime drama too intense for kids.

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Common Sense rates it
2
Seen the show?
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details
  • TV Rating: TV-14
  • Network: NBC
  • Cast: Miguel Ferrer, Jill Hennessy, Mahershalalhashbaz Ali
  • Genre: Drama
  • >Available On: DVD,Download

Parents need to know

Parents need to know that this crime drama follows the work of a medical examiner and therefore focuses intently on death and the circumstances (mostly violent) that lead to death. Scenes depicting dead people or the aftermath of violence can be very graphic (including shots of dead children and babies), and storylines are always emotionally intense. Subplots surrounding intimate adult relationships run through the series.

Families can talk about the often-violent nature of the show's intense subject matter. How do you feel after seeing depictions of dead bodies, even though you know they're not real? What factors make you feel more or less disturbed by seeing images of death? Families can also discuss the kinds of careers that drive people to devote their lives to their work. What are the benefits and drawbacks of being so immersed in your job?

Message

Social Behavior:

The main characters are moral people with good intentions. Sometimes they don't obey all the rules. Criminal activity is limited to obvious villains.

Consumerism:

Drugs/Alcohol/Tobacco:

Drug use is mostly left to criminal characters, but a main character's daughter has a drug problem, and another character may have a drinking problem. Drug and alcohol abuse is always framed as problematic.

Violence

Some visible violence, plus very graphic and disturbing aftermath of violence. Dead children and babies are shown close-up.

Sex

Characters make out and discuss intimate relationships; sexual subjects come up in some plotlines, such as one involving semen.

Language

Minor cursing.

Common Sense says

What's the story?

Reviewed by Sierra Filucci

In CROSSING JORDAN, Jill Hennessy plays Dr. Jordan Cavanaugh, a medical examiner who goes above and beyond her job description to solve the crimes perpetrated on the victims who "cross" her table. Jordan is smart, sexy, and complicated. Before getting her current job, she'd been fired several times for being too gutsy (or inappropriately overstepping her job's bounds, depending on how you look at it). But after she returns home to the comfort of her retired-cop father's arms, she starts breaking cases all over town.

Is it any good?

2

While the idea of a strong female lead in a traditionally male role is appealing, the writing is unfortunately treacly. ("Working so close to death must make you really appreciate life." "Every day ... every day.") Mix the corny sentimentality with the graphically brutal violence of the weekly storylines, and the result is ugly.

Clearly the show is not appropriate for younger viewers, and new parents and pregnant women may want to avoid it as well. Not all episodes are as graphic as the one described above, but many storylines focus on children and other vulnerable folks. The series is so full of clichés and hackneyed storylines that it blends in with the rest of the genre's more mediocre shows.

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Parents and kids say

All Reviews

There are 3 reviews.

4


Posted on 12/13/07 by ilovehimmx10 Kid contributor, age 13
5


Posted on 02/17/07 by Dragonflychic Adult contributor

Love this show!

My kids are 12 and 7 and I even let them watch it most of the time.
4


Posted on 02/01/07 by fallaway6554 Kid contributor, age 13

I'm surprised.

I really like this show. It's well done and I don't think it's sappy or cliched at all, compared to something like 24. (Read Rainbow Six and you will never want to watch Jack Bauer single-handedly save the world again.) Some graphic images are shown, as it IS a show about medical examination. Sexual innuendo is also present, but it's not graphic. No violence is actually depicted. Language is virtually not an issue. Drugs/alcohol are only present in causes of death. This is a good show, and very original. Not a lot of medical examination dramas out there. Deserving of far more than two stars from Common Sense.

Adult Reviews

There are 1 reviews.

5


Posted on 02/17/07 by Dragonflychic Adult contributor

Love this show!

My kids are 12 and 7 and I even let them watch it most of the time.

Kids Reviews

There are 2 reviews.

4


Posted on 12/13/07 by ilovehimmx10 Kid contributor, age 13
4


Posted on 02/01/07 by fallaway6554 Kid contributor, age 13

I'm surprised.

I really like this show. It's well done and I don't think it's sappy or cliched at all, compared to something like 24. (Read Rainbow Six and you will never want to watch Jack Bauer single-handedly save the world again.) Some graphic images are shown, as it IS a show about medical examination. Sexual innuendo is also present, but it's not graphic. No violence is actually depicted. Language is virtually not an issue. Drugs/alcohol are only present in causes of death. This is a good show, and very original. Not a lot of medical examination dramas out there. Deserving of far more than two stars from Common Sense.
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