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Highway to Heaven

(Rated TV-PG, Drama, Starring Michael Landon, Victor French, Where to watch: TV Land, Syndicated, DVD)
  • Is it age appropriate?

    About our ratings

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    Not age appropriate for kids under 8, age appropriate for kids over 11; suggested age 11.
  • Is it any good?

    4.0
  • Common Sense says

    Michael Landon takes morals to a higher power.

Why We Rated This on for Ages 11 and Up

The good stuff

  • Messages:

    The show tackles heavy emotional issues like unplanned pregnancy, death, and personal regret and always includes a strong moral message. The main characters (one's human, the other's an angel) travel the country to help people in distress.
 

What to watch out for

  • Violence:

    Fist fights are common, and some characters carry and use weapons. One scene shows a police officer shoot and kill an unarmed teen. The violence is very realistic, and the physical effects are obvious.
  • Sex:

    When an episode's plot includes romantic interest between adults, there are a few kissing scenes -- but no nudity.
  • Language:

    Mild curse words include "hell." Racial slurs are used when they relate to the plot. One episode about the dangers of racism had characters using terms like "jungle bunnies," "Sambo," "black piece of trash," and the n-word.
  • Consumerism:

    Not an issue.
  • Drinking, drugs, & smoking:

    Occasional social drinking and smoking isn't always limited to the 18- and 21-and-over crowd, but when it's central to the plot, there's often an obvious negative outcome.
 

What Parents Need to Know

About Highway to Heaven

Parents need to know that the main characters in this drama are an angel (who looks human) and his human companion, who travel the country on orders from God to change people's lives for the better. The show's ever-changing content is often emotionally charged, with plots centering on issues like coping with a loved one's death, facing the uncertainty of aging, and dealing with broken relationships. When the subject matter calls for it, language and violence can be very strong (in one episode, racial slurs include the n-word and multiple substitutes, and a teen is shot by a police officer), but the iffy stuff is integral to the show's positive moral messages. This is an excellent choice for parents to share with older tweens and teens, as it brings up lots of great discussion topics.

Did this review help you decide?

Families Can Talk About

  • Families can talk about the many questions inspired by each episode's topic. How would you respond if you were faced with the characters' challenges? How do kids react to difficult situations? From where and whom do they draw their strength? Families can also discuss their own spiritual beliefs. How can faith help in times of stress? Do you believe there are angels among us? What other ways have religion and faith been portrayed on TV? How do the media treat religion and faith in general?

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