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In Plain Sight

(Rated TV-14, Drama, Starring Mary McCormack, Lesley Ann Warren, Cristian de la Fuente, Where to watch: USA, DVD)

  • Is it age appropriate?

    About our ratings

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    Not age appropriate for kids under 15, age appropriate for kids over 18; suggested age 15.

  • Is it any good?

    3.0

  • Common Sense says

    A fresh take on girl power -- with guns, sex.

Why We Rated This iffy for Ages 15–18

What to watch out for

  • Messages:

    Mary is a complex woman who excels at her job and often outshines her male colleagues. But while her professional life is relatively under control, her personal life is messy at best. Her dysfunctional family includes a mother who's usually drunk, a sister who's usually in trouble, and an often-shirtless "friend" with benefits.

  • Violence:

    Characters suffer from relatively graphic injuries (gunshot wounds, suicides, stabbings) that usually involve blood and often end in death. Since the main character is a U.S. marshal, she carries a gun at all times and isn't afraid to use physical force to get what she wants.

  • Sex:

    The sexually charged dialogue is peppered with cheeky euphemisms for genitalia (think "Johnson" and "wee wee") and sex (a woman is assumed to be "a tight little ride"). One scene revolves around a female character faking an orgasm; in another, a woman's naked body is shown from the side as she lies face-down on a bed, although no sensitive body parts are visible.

  • Language:

    Audible language includes words like "pissed off," "douche bag," "damn," "ass" and "bitch."

  • Consumerism:

    Not an issue.

  • Drinking, drugs, & smoking:

    Characters are occasionally shown using both legal (alcohol, tobacco) and illegal (cocaine, marijuana) substances.
 

What Parents Need to Know

About In Plain Sight

Parents need to know that while this drama isn't exactly age-inappropriate for older teens, its strong violence (gunshot wounds, stabbings, etc.) and sexual innuendo (slang, partial nudity) make it a better fit for its intended audience -- adults. Scenes include a murdered girl is shown with her chest cut open, a woman faking an orgasm over the phone in an attempt to convince a male caller that she's having sex with another woman, and more. Language includes words like "bitch" and "ass," and characters smoke, drink, and use drugs.

Did this review help you decide?

Families Can Talk About

  • Families can talk about the fact that the show's central character is a strong-willed woman with visible flaws. Does Mary's habit of keeping lists tell viewers anything about her personality? As a woman working in a predominantly male field, what types of challenges does she face on the job? What techniques and/or strategies does she use to overcome them? Do you admire Mary? Why or why not? Can you think of other heroines like her on TV? Why are there more male leads in series like this than female ones?
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Most Recent Reviews

  1. Parent Reviewer
    Marshall78
    I rate this title on for age 10 and give it 5.0

    Very Good Show!

    We watch this show every Sunday. My husband and I record the eipsodes for later and if we agree sometimes our oldest daughter can watch it.

    This review...

    Helped me decide | Had useful details | Read my mind
    Flag as inappropriate
  2. Adult Reviewer
    mzkat7
    Lives in Texas
    I rate this title on for age 11 and give it 5.0

    This review...

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

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