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Explorer

(Rated TV-PG, Educational, Starring Salvatore Vecchio, Where to watch: National Geographic Channel, DVD, Online)

  • Is it age appropriate?

    About our ratings

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    Not age appropriate for kids under 8, age appropriate for kids over 12; suggested age 12.

  • Is it any good?

    4.0

  • Common Sense says

    Fascinating docuseries delves deeply into science.

Why We Rated This on for Ages 12 and Up

The good stuff

  • Messages:

    There's a lot of educational material in this show, which often includes strong messages of conservation and respect for the environment.
 

What to watch out for

  • Violence:

    Depending on the subject matter, photographs and re-enactments can be gruesome. One episode included scenes of snakes constricting and killing prey and swallowing animals and parts of humans. Dead animals are used in experiments and dissected.

  • Sex:

    Not an issue.

  • Language:

    Not an issue.

  • Consumerism:

    Not an issue.

  • Drinking, drugs, & smoking:

    Not an issue.
 

What Parents Need to Know

About Explorer

Parents need to know that this fascinating documentary series offers insight on a wide variety of subjects, from the evolution of helicopters and the intricacies of gang life to the life of Jesus and Indian residents' efforts to battle elephants wreaking havoc on their villages. The show's detailed scientific and historical focus is unlikely to grab little kids' attention, and parents will likely want to keep young viewers away anyway due to the strong violence (both real and re-enacted) that accompanies some topics. For example, one episode included multiple scenes of snakes biting or constricting humans and swallowing prey (in two instances, human prey), and photos showed animals dissected, dismembered, and bloody. That said, families of older tweens and teens will learn a lot from this well-researched series.

Did this review help you decide?

Families Can Talk About

  • Families can talk about the research process. How do scientists plan their research? What experts are called in, and how are their views crucial to the investigation? What scientific advances allow researchers to view clues more clearly than before? Why are some scientific and historical mysteries never solved? What would it take to arrive at a clear-cut answer?
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