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Heartland

(Rated TV-14, Drama, Starring Treat Williams, Kari Matchett, Chris William Martin, Where to watch: TNT, Online)

  • Is it age appropriate?

    About our ratings

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    Not age appropriate for kids under 14, age appropriate for kids over 99; suggested age 14.

  • Is it any good?

    4.0

  • Common Sense says

    Organ-donation drama mixes grit and emotion.

Why We Rated This iffy for Ages 14–18

What to watch out for

  • Messages:

    The main character devotes his life to saving his transplant patients, but his dedication to the job -- and his rampant infidelity -- cost him his marriage. He also smokes (despite being a doctor) and continues to sleep around at times. But he does strive for an open relationship with his teenage daughter.

  • Violence:

    Hospital scenes can be graphic and bloody, though they're not as nonstop as on other hospital shows. A head trauma patient is seen bruised and bleeding from a large wound, and the transplant process is shown up close (but there the blood is kept to a minimum). The possibility of patients' death is discussed.

  • Sex:

    Kissing and post-sex bedroom scenes (some with naked figures strategically draped in sheets) are infrequent. The main character's past infidelity and ongoing sexual exploits are common fodder for conversations, and a teen's dilemma about giving into pressure for sex is discussed.

  • Language:

    Occasional expletives like "hell," "bitch," "damn," and "ass."

  • Consumerism:

    Not an issue.

  • Drinking, drugs, & smoking:

    The main character -- a doctor -- is a smoker.
 

What Parents Need to Know

About Heartland

Parents need to know that this hospital-set drama includes shots of trauma victims (usually bloodied and bruised) and scenes of transplants in action, though in the latter case the blood is usually kept to a minimum. The main character is a workaholic doctor/dad whose attachment to his job -- and frequent infidelity -- cost him his marriage. He's also a smoker, despite the fact that he sees its harmful effects in his patients. Mature topics like affairs and teen sex are common, and strong language ("damn" and "bitch," for instance) is sporadic.

Did this review help you decide?

Families Can Talk About

  • Families can talk about why doctors show up so often as TV characters. What's the appeal of medical-themed shows? What other professions get a lot of attention from TV and movies? Why do you think that is? Families can also discuss the serious issues that the show brings up -- including infidelity, smoking, and particularly organ donation.
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Most Recent Reviews

  1. Adult Reviewer
    GroomerJan
    Lives in Oklahoma
    I rate this title on for age 13 and give it 4.0

    This review...

    Helped me decide | Had useful details | Read my mind
    Flag as inappropriate
  2. Teen Reviewer Age 13
    za
    Lives in Tennessee
    I rate this title iffy for age 2 and give it 3.0

    i was raged with disguist

    This review...

    Helped me decide | Had useful details | Read my mind
    Flag as inappropriate

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