Common Sense Note
Parents need to know that even though this series features witty writing and sharp animation, the characters ultimately leave a bad taste in your mouth because they conduct themselves so poorly.
Families can talk about the benefits of science. How can you use science to expand your knowledge and help people? Does Dexter use scientific knowledge in a positive way? Do the ends ever justify the means?
Common Sense Review
Reviewed By: Deirdre Sheppard
DEXTER'S LABORATORY chronicles the life of Dexter, a child prodigy with a secret lab that he uses to conduct experiments like building a mass-destructing robot or using advanced technology to catch up with the ice cream man. Something's guaranteed to go awry in each episode, with Dexter's sister Dee Dee often having a hand in the trouble. (Their parents are nowhere to be seen, mimicking '50s TV moms and dads in their completely denial of their kids' loathsome behavior.)
What kind of trouble? In one segment, Dexter and his friends play an interactive game that features Robin Hood look-alikes and magicians who battle dragons with swords and bows. As if gruesome stabs weren't enough ("kill" is a term loosely used in this episode), at one point a dragon's arm is sliced off, and after a few seconds he turns into a piñata with candy pouring out of his body. The story twist might be clever; but the endless displays of mocking violence are almost shocking.
Other naughty bits include a pin-up silhouette of a naked woman, which Dexter uses as a mascot for one of his machines. The same episode features a chain-smoking waitress and customers who drink beer. What's more, all of the characters have a tendency to name-call, using words like "idiot" and "stupid". Most importantly, Dexter's parents' obliviousness sends a confusing message -- are these parents really clueless, or are they too lazy to invest the proper time and care necessary to raise their kids?
On a positive note, Dexter and his sister do stick by their parents when necessary. In one segment, the family is stranded in a diner after their car breaks down. When rebel Earl challenges Dexter's puny father to an arm-wrestling match, Dexter builds a robotic arm for his father to use in order to beat the bully. This segment is one of the few instances in which the characters show any mutual respect.
When watching Dexter's Laboratory, expect shrill, piercing voices accompanied by temper tantrums, violence, name calling, and overall disrespect. Kids might enjoy this three-ring circus of a show, but a headache is the only thing a parent will walk away with. If Dexter's Laboratory was synthesized in the cartoon lab, its formula would be 1/10 funny and three parts obnoxious.
Parents looking for an alternative show about science might want to try Bill Nye the Science Guy. Cartoon fans might also enjoy Johnny Test.
Rate It!
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Sexual ContentOne segment features a silhouette of a naked woman. |
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ViolenceThis cartoon frequently glamorizes weapons such as knives, swords, guns, and bow and arrows. |
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LanguageWords like "stupid" and "idiot" regularly pop up in dialogue. |
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Social BehaviorDexter and Dee Dee set bad examples with physical and verbal violence, and their parents are completely aloof. |
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Drug/Alcohol/TobaccoOne episode features a chain-smoking waitress, and the customers drink beer. |
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