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Innocent

(Rated TV-PG, Drama, Starring Lloyd Owen, Ruth Bradley, Luke Treadaway, Where to watch: BBC America)

  • 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

    British law students tackle ethics and cold cases.

Why We Rated This iffy for Ages 14–18

The good stuff

  • Messages:

    The series deals with violent crimes, as well as ethical issues like racism, unjust criminal systems, witness tampering, and police corruption. The characters struggle to stay within the parameters of the law as they right past wrongs of a flawed justice system. They also wrestle with personal issues like illegal activity and sexual attraction.
 

What to watch out for

  • Violence:

    Crimes like rape and murder are described in some detail (what injuries the victim received and in what order, for example) but not explicitly. Physical altercations like fistfights are brief, but do leave traces of bruises and other injuries.

  • Sex:

    Sex is sometimes discussed in fairly graphic terms: In one scene, a man describes his first sexual experience, saying "it could have been in, or it could have just been up against her leg." Men and women exchange flirtatious looks, and one female character often wears very skimpy tops.

  • Language:

    Rare use of "hell."

  • Consumerism:

    All foods and beverages are brandless.

  • Drinking, drugs, & smoking:

    The students often drink beer in social settings, as well as in the office while they're working.
 

What Parents Need to Know

About Innocent

Parents need to know that although the characters in this British drama discuss violent crimes like rape and murder (as well as details about victims' injuries and deaths), the acts themselves aren't shown. Ethical issues like witness tampering, police corruption, and bribery are central to the show's flawed-justice-system theme, and characters struggle to stay within the boundaries of the law. Drinking and conversations about sexual experience are common in both social and work environments, but teens who can handle the fairly mature subject matter will likely enjoy this intriguing series.

Did this review help you decide?

Families Can Talk About

  • Families can talk about how the media affects our view of the legal system. Does news coverage typically put a positive or negative spin on how justice is served? In what way? How is the system portrayed in fictional TV series like Law & Order? Based on watching this show, what's the difference between the British system and the American one? Families can also discuss how the American justice system works. Who are the various players (police, lawyers, judges)? How do their responsibilities overlap? Where is there room for error or corruption?
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